Blackjack’s Surprising Past
Blackjack is hands down the most popular casino game out there. It could be because of the low house edge or it could be because many people enjoy skill-testing games; either way, this game really knows how to draw in a crowd. Read on to learn five interesting facts about blackjack for the next time you find yourself hovering around the blackjack table.
- Where did blackjack come from?
Originally, the game of blackjack was called “Vingt-et-Un”, which means 21 in French due to the game’s French origins. The game is still casually referred to as twenty-one in most casinos.
- Why is it called “blackjack”?
You might be wondering when Vingt-et-Un changed its name to blackjack. When the game made its way to America, the name changed due to an appealing bonus given to players for receiving either a jack of spades or a jack of clubs.
- Napoleon Bonaparte’s favourite hobby was Blackjack.
It’s a well-known fact that Napoleon was an avid blackjack player and would use this game to kill time while in Exile on the isle of Elba.
- Blackjack gave rise to Las Vegas.
Up until the 1930s blackjack was banned in the United States and could only be played underground. Eventually the state of Nevada legalized blackjack and the Las Vegas strip grew from there.
- What is a “snapper”?
In blackjack, a “snapper” refers to a natural blackjack which is when a player is dealt an ace and a face card. The chances of getting a snapper are 4.8%, so the typical reaction to receiving such a lucky hand is to snap down the cards right away, hence the name snapper.
Now that you know some obscure facts about the most popular casino game out there, you’ll be able to take on the dealer like a seasoned pro—or at least you’ll sound like one.