[ English ]

Blackjack – also referred to as ‘twenty one’ and ‘pontoon’ – is a game that nowadays is normally seen in a betting house with players attempting their luck on acquiring the elusive ‘twenty-one’. It is widely believed that the game started in France through the 17th century. However, as with most other betting games the precise evolution of the game is still a mystery.

Chemin de fer was brought to the States after the French Revolution, but the game didn’t become favored in the betting houses until the house provided payouts as a bonus. This was the only way that seemed to get gamblers wagering on pontoon. One variation on the bonus payment was for a player to acquire ‘twenty-one’ with the blackjack card (given a value of 10 points) and an ace (worth 11 points). With the increasing popularity of the game the pay outs were phased out but the name ‘black jack’ stayed.

Blackjack isn’t simply about acquiring a straight ‘twenty one’, but the primary challenge is to defeat the croupier without busting. The betting house clearly has an advantage over the gambling players over the long term, but with pontoon the player retains an element of choice.

Since 1931 when the U.S. initial legitimized wagering, blackjack has developed into a quintessential betting house game. Furthermore, it’s the joining of both ability and mathematics used in twenty-one that has made the game hugely popular. Chemin de fer provides an alluring proposition to any academic, mathematician or betting player wanting to examine the strategy of the game.