Blackjack, formerly known as Black Jack and Vingt-Un (in French), is the American subsidiary of an international network of casino games called Twenty-One, which have been around for more than a thousand years. The traditional rules of blackjack are similar to those of card games such as poker or blackjack; the objective is to eliminate the number of cards dealt to you by matching their value with the sum of the amount of money wagered against you. Blackjack can be easily adaptable to any casino games that use blackjack as one of the casino chips.
Blackjack is played on a standard card table and is played according to a fixed pattern called the “house” or “lay” pattern. In a traditional game of blackjack (also called Caribbean Stud Poker or simply Caribbean Blackjack), the players are blindfolded, and cards are dealt from the top, called the flop, out toward the dealer. This rule variation allows the dealer to make unwanted calls before the players have a chance to reply. These unwanted calls are called “edge calls,” which nullify any advantage the dealer might have had and give the blackjack player an advantage.
The second rule variation is called the “ten-card” game. In this variation, the deck is dealt entirely at random, and the dealer deals out ten cards. The players must then color-code their hands by placing them in the appropriate slot, and after that, deal three out to each person. Players may call or raise, but only once, during the course of the game.
Blackjack’s third and final rule variant is called “trash.” In this version of the game, there are two decks, or ten of twenty-one cards, dealt in the same way as the “ten-card” game. After the players have been dealt their cards, they immediately remove one card from the deck (the twenty-one card with the highest ranking first) and flip it over face up. This card now becomes the blind card for the players to compare, and it is the player who has the highest score who wins the pot.
Blackjack’s rules can be changed to make for a more exciting game, such as allowing all players to act without using their betting ability. Vingt-et-un is one example of this. All players are required to act only once, after which the dealer may allow one “action” per round. Each player receives five pre-determined cards from the dealer and may use these cards to call, raise, or fold. After the fifth card is turned over, the dealer will reveal the contents of the deck, and the players are allowed to replace at least one card from the deck with any card that they own.
Blackjack is a simple game with a few basic rules, but can be modified to offer hours of excitement for all ages and skill levels. Basic strategies for winning can be learned by watching others play the game and following their lead. Additional card decks, new playing strategies, and changes in dealer play can all help the game to keep you on your toes. The thrill of winning can make all the effort worthwhile, while the relaxation of playing by yourself will allow you to forget about the struggle. What more could you ask for?
