Blackjack or “21”: the rules, the types and other features

Card games are probably the most common and popular in casinos. On the other hand, it is sufficient to equip yourself with one or maybe two French decks to start a game by choosing from a wide range of solutions. They range from burraco to poker, passing through scala 40. Also not to be underestimated is the popularity of blackjack, which in some ways resembles the 7 and a half played with Neapolitan cards. We are talking about a game that saw the light in France 4 centuries ago, being baptized to be precise as "21". Once it landed in America, enthusiasts changed the name, taking inspiration from a rule that involved the ace and jack of spades: this is how the term "blackjack" was born, which soon became the main pastime of sailors. Being exported to many nations, blackjack has undergone numerous changes, as different countries preferred to play with different rules.

In blackjack, an ace is worth 1 or 11 points, face cards are worth 10 points, and every other card reflects its face value. Once the bets have been announced, the dealer deals a clearly visible card to each participant in the game. Just like in 7 and a half, players can decide whether to add more cards to the one they have already received or settle for nothing. The aim is to end up with a higher score than the dealer, who always plays second. Regardless, if you go over 21 points, you “bust,” while reaching 21 points with the first cards means getting blackjack, which entitles you to an increased win.

The dealer plays in turn against all the players and stops when he reaches 17 points, in which case he is unable to reach 21. To liven up each single hand is the possibility of the “split”, which allows you to play two rounds in one when you immediately receive two cards of the same value: instead of adding the points, the player can announce a further bet and let each card follow a different fate in that round.

Since there is no single rulebook, the doubts and curiosities of many players seem legitimate. Even an expert is continually intent on discovering the game modes in the different and multiple variations, even in the minor typologies, for example the Lucky Blackjack Game Strategies. In European blackjack the cards are face up, in American blackjack you can use many more decks, the dealer takes two cards from the start (the second of which remains face down) and the blackjack payout can range from 3 to 2 to 6 to 5. In European blackjack, surrender is not allowed at any stage of the game and doubling is not allowed in the event of a split. In short, although the differences are not sesquipedalian, the various versions of blackjack require very different behaviors from the players sitting at the table.

Card counting, however, is always prohibited. Players must rely on their memory skills to figure out how a hand will play out, which is very difficult in American blackjack, which can use up to 8 decks. The star-spangled variant of the game also includes versions that have become popular mainly in North America. Staying on the subject, it is not surprising that Some casinos may even end up at the center of controversy for changing some rules. At this point, however, it cannot be ruled out that in the coming years other versions will not be created, to ensure that blackjack never goes out of fashion.