Blackjack – also referred to as ‘twenty-one’ and ‘pontoon’ – is a card game that nowadays is usually found in a betting house with people attempting their fortune on acquiring the elusive ‘twenty-one’. It’s commonly presumed that the game originated in France around the 17th century. However, as with most other gambling games the precise evolution of the game is a mystery.
Blackjack was brought to the U.S. after the French Revolution, but the game didn’t become popular in the betting houses until the casino offered bonus payouts. This was the only method that seemed to get players betting on twenty-one. One variant on the bonus pay out was for a gambler to make ‘twenty one’ with the black jack card (given a value of 10 points) and an ace (given a value of 11 points). With the increasing appeal of the game the bonus pay outs were phased out but the name of the game ‘chemin de fer’ stayed.
Twenty-one isn’t simply about achieving a straight ‘twenty one’, but the main adventure is to beat the dealer without busting. The betting house certainly has an edge over the gambling players in the long term, but with black jack the gambler holds on to an element of choice.
Since 1931 when America first approved wagering, chemin de fer has grown into a traditional casino game. Furthermore, it is the combination of both ability and math used in pontoon that has caused the game to be hugely loved. Chemin de fer provides an appealing proposition to any scientist, math guy or gambling player looking to examine the strategy of the game.