Blackjack – also referred to as ‘twenty-one’ and ‘pontoon’ – is a game that is generally found in a betting house with people attempting their luck on acquiring the elusive ‘twenty-one’. It is commonly presumed that the game came into existence in France during the 1600’s. However, as with many other betting games the precise development of the game remains a mystery.
Chemin de fer was introduced to the U.S. following the French Revolution, but the game did not become popular in the casinos until the casino provided bonus payouts. This was the only method that seemed to get gamblers betting on pontoon. One variant on the reward payout was for a gambler to acquire ‘twenty-one’ with the blackjack card (valued at 10 points) and an ace (valued at 11 points). With the expanding appeal of the game the pay outs were canceled but the name of the game ‘twenty-one’ stayed.
Blackjack is not just about acquiring an immediate ‘twenty one’, but the main challenge is to defeat the dealer without going ‘bust’. The betting house obviously has a house edge over the gambling players in the long run, but with pontoon the gambler holds on to an element of choice.
Since 1931 when America initial legitimized wagering, chemin de fer has grown into a quintessential gambling den game. Furthermore, it is the joining of both ability and mathematics utilized in pontoon that has caused the game to be hugely loved. Black jack gives an attractive proposition to any scientist, mathematician or gambling player wanting to research the scheme of the game.