With the creation of the World Wide Web, playing online Blackjack games has become one of the favorite pastimes for gamblers all across the planet. There are many reasons for online Blackjack's vast popularity. For starters, there's the instant availability factor. While in the past gambling enthusiasts had to go to distant gambling destinations in order to experience some casino action, modern Blackjack lovers can now enjoy the game without having to leave their homes. And here's another plus - online casinos are 'open' 24/7.
Another important reason for online Blackjack's overwhelming appeal to players is the incredible diversity offered by online casinos. The selection of online Blackjack games now offered over the Internet is truly mind blowing. But the most important reason for the popularity of Blackjack must be the huge jackpots offered when playing the game. Indeed, unlike land-based gambling establishments, online casinos tend to be very generous when it comes to online Blackjack prize pools.
According to Blackjack historians, the game first appeared in France in the 17th century. The French gamblers used to call it 'Vingt-Et-Un', which stands for '21' in French. 'Vingt-Et-Un' has a lot in common with modern Blackjack, with only a few minor differences.
It is easy to assume that the game is named after a "Vingt-Et-Un" hand featuring a Jack and an Ace of Spades. A player holding such a hand was awarded a special payout. Blackjack's history took an important turn after the French Revolution and the game eventually migrated to North America.
In the early 90's, the game of Blackjack hit the news in a big way when media outlets all over the world celebrated the successes and failures of the MIT Blackjack card-counters. The MIT Blackjack team started out as an after-school club where students gathered to play poker and other card games and have some extra fun. The club eventually evolved into a serious operation. The team traveled to numerous gambling establishments and used card-counting methods to cheat casinos and win large amounts of cash. Eventually, however, they lost control on the situation and were denied access to most casinos in Las Vegas.
Blackjack rules are quite easy to learn. The player's goal is to create a hand with the highest point total as long as it does not exceed 21 points. A hand featuring a point total higher than 21 is said to 'bust.' Cards 2 through 10 are worth their face value, while face cards are worth 10 points. The Aces are worth 11 points unless this would cause the hand to bust, in which case they are worth a single point. Each player's mission is to beat the casino dealer by forming the higher, "unbusted" hand.
It is our advice to online Blackjack novices to practice the game at the play-money tables. Check out the game's rules and the various play strategies you could use. Once you feel confident enough to put your acquired Blackjack skills to the test, move on to the real-money games, where the true action takes place!
Good Luck!
