The game Blackjack has not always been known as such. It was originally called
Vingt-et-Un, which is a direct translation 🧲 of Twenty-one. In order to understand why
Twenty-one is known more commonly as Blackjack in the modern-day, we must first 🧲 journey
back to the very beginning of this casino classic to discover not only how it has
become such an 🧲 iconic game, but also how it has moved from its birthplace, travelled
around the world and evolved to become accessible 🧲 to the masses.
Blackjack can be
played in many venues all around the world, whether that be down your local casino
🧲 establishment or on your chosen device connected to the internet. So, whether you fancy
a game with your friends in 🧲 person, or by logging into your online casino account for a
game of Sky Vegas live Blackjack whilst lounging on 🧲 the sofa, there are various ways to
enjoy the classic.
Are you ready to travel back in time, to the very 🧲 beginning of
Blackjack’s journey, to find out just why Twenty-one is called Blackjack?
Read on to
find out more. Where it 🧲 all began
The origin of this casino classic is still under
debate, with some historians believing that the first signs of 🧲 Blackjack can be found
dating back to ancient Roman times. It is said that the Romans would use painted wooden
🧲 blocks in place of the cards we use today. And although it is known that the Romans
loved to gamble, 🧲 there is no concrete evidence to back up the idea of Blackjack
originating here.
Therefore, it has been agreed by historians 🧲 and researchers alike,
that due to the evidence, the true origin of Blackjack dates back to 1700 France.
Thought to 🧲 derive from another popular card game called Chemin de Fer, also originating
in French casinos, Blackjack was first known as 🧲 Vingt-et-Un, which simply translates to
Twenty-One. Amongst other speculations, it is said to have been favoured by the French
monarch, 🧲 King Louis XV, as games are known to have been played inside the French Royal
Court at the time of 🧲 his reign.
Spreading the word
As the popularity of the game grew
within France, more and more players joined the tables to 🧲 see if they could win a hand
against the dealer. So, when French colonists crossed the seas to American shores, 🧲 they
took the game with them.
It was during the 19th century that a French woman called
Eleanor Dumont, who had 🧲 immigrated to America and was known to be a very skilled
dealer, started to travel around the states, making a 🧲 name for herself by playing the
game, whilst also helping to spread the word about this iconic game. It wasn’t 🧲 long
before Dumont decided to plant some roots and open up her own establishment in Nevada
City, California. She ironically 🧲 called her business Vingt et Un. Her tour around the
States paid off, as she saw people travelling from all 🧲 over the country to visit her
venue.
Evolution
When we entered the 20th century, Blackjack was still known as
Twenty-one, but this 🧲 was all about to change. Thanks to casinos introducing a
promotional offer to entice more people to try their luck 🧲 at the game, the venue
introduced additional prizes for certain hands made. The most popular was an offer
called Blackjack. 🧲 It was comprised of a player having to be dealt a hand totalling 21,
made up of the Ace of 🧲 Spades and either the Jack of Spades or Jack of Clubs, both being
the black Jacks of the deck.
When the 🧲 promotions fizzled out, the name stuck. And that
is how Twenty-one came to be known in many places around the 🧲 world, as Blackjack.
