» Some people believe that Blackjack is based on some European card games. French “Vingt-Un” (21), “Trente et Quarente” (20 and 30), “Chemin de Fer” (Railroad), Spanish “One and Thirty” and Italian “Baccara” and “Seven and a Half” come to the United States in the 19th century and were very popular. For some time casinos and gambling houses were forbidden. In the Western part of the USA gambling was legal from the 1850’s to 1910. In Nevada gambling was illegal from 1910 to 1931. In 1931 gambling was legalized in Nevada. When casino gambling was legalized Blackjack became one of the most popular games. Casino gambling and Blackjack were very popular. Blackjack was played at nearly every casino and gambling house. The most popular types of Blackjack were played with one or two decks. In 1956 the first article about Blackjack was printed. The first article about Blackjack was titled “The Optimum Strategy in Blackjack”. Roger Baldwin explained how to reduce the “House”, or casino, advantage based upon probability and statistics. “Beat the Dealer” was published in 1962 by the Mathematics Professor Edward O. Thorp. It was Edward O. Thorp who developed and wrote about the first card counting systems. “Beat the Dealer” was one of the most popular books. A lot of people read books about casinos, casino games and gambling. People wanted to implement Thorp’s strategy. Thorp’s strategy seemed complicated and difficult for some players. Julian Braun was one of the most important contributors to modern Blackjack strategy. Mr Braun improved Dr. Thorp’s code. Blackjack History

» "Blackjack" ia also called "21". Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games in the world. Blackjack rules are easy to understand and to learn. The players don't play against each other. If you obtain a hand value closer to twenty-one without going over than the dealer does, you will win your hand. The objective of Blackjack isn't to obtain a hand value as close to twenty-one as possible without going over. The objective of Blackjack is to Beat The Dealer! The most powerful hand possible is a hand value of twenty-one in your first two cards. An ace and a ten valued card will give you 21 or blackjack. When you receive a blackjack, the dealer will pay you three chips for every two that you have bet. If both you and the dealer have blackjacks your bet is simply retained by you. If both you and the dealer have blackjacks you neither lose nor win. The dealer must hit until he has seventeen or more. If a player obtains a hand value less than or equal to twenty-one and greater than the dealer's hand value the a player wins an amount equal to his wager. If both a player and the dealer has the same hand value, it is known as a "push". A push bet is neither won nor lost. If both your hand and the dealer's hand is a bust, you lose your bet because the dealer always plays out his hand last. The dealer always plays out his hand last, which gives the dealer his greatest advantage over the players. Players have the advantage of flexible play. Players have four options. Players determine when to hit, when to stand, when to split (play two separate hands) and when to double down (double your wager in favorable situations) About Blackjack

» Bets and the Deal. Blackjack is played on a semicircular shaped table. The blackjack tableis covered by a green or blue colored felt. The dealer stands behind the table. The dealer deals cards in a clockwise direction from one or multiple decks. After shuffling all cards thoroughly, the dealer will give one of the players a plastic card. One of the players has to"cut" the deck wth the plastic card. To cut the deck, the player has to insert the plastic card into the deck. After shuffling and cutingt the deck, the dealer "burns" one to five cards immediately placing these unseen cards into the discard box before the deal of the first hand. You will see a sign on the table. On the sign minimum and maximum bets allowed will be posted. Minimum bets are usually $1. 00, $2. 00, $25. 00. Maximum bets are generally $500. 00 or $5,000. Minimum and maximum bets higher through special arrangements with the house. You can make your bets with house chips. Sometimes you can make bets with cash. All winnings are paid with house chips. Chips can be purchased at the tables. If you want to cash your chips you must go to the Cashier. When all the bets are made all players and the dealer are dealt two cards each. After all players have played out their hands, the dealer will turn his hole card face up and, if necessary, hit his hand until he has a hand value of seventeen or more. When one or two decks are played, the dealer will deal from his hand and the player's cards will be dealt face down. When there are four or more decks, the cards are dealt face up from a "shoe". The shoe is a plastic box which sits on the table holding the portion of the deck remaining to be dealt. The shoe provides the dealer with a convenient way to handle four or more decks. The house has one more advantage when dealing from the shoe. The more decks a house plays, the more favorable the odds become for the house against the card counters.   Bets And the Deal

» Insurance. The insurance option is simply another form of wager that is offered to the players when the dealer has an ace showing. If you think that the dealer has a blackjack you can take the insurance. If you win the insurance bet, the dealer will pay you by simply leaving your original wager on the table Insurance

» Blackjack Terminology. Push happens if the hand value of the dealer and of the player is equal. If there is a ‘Push’ nobody wins and nobody loses. You have a bust it the total of your hand goes over 21. Shoe is a plastic box, which stands on the table and from which the players receive cards.  ‘To cut the deck’ means ‘to insert a plastic card into a deck’ Blackjack Terminology

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