Blackjack has long been a popular game in land-based casino venues worldwide, originating way back in the 1700s when it was known as Vingt-et-Un, translated as ‘Twenty-one’. While we don’t know any of the specific rules of the old French game, we do know that its name has been carried into the modern day where the game aims to beat the dealer with a hand closer to 21.
If you’re curious about how the 21 card game came to be known as ‘Blackjack’. To encourage people to try out the game for themselves, casinos started offering prizes for hands that were dealt with either a jack of clubs or a jack of spades (the two blackjacks) alongside an ace of spades. Eventually, the term ‘Blackjack’ came to be equated with the game of 21, and the rest is, as they say, history.
As one of the most universally popular casino games both online and offline, Blackjack has come a long way from its roots as a simple card game. Plenty of upgrades and developments have been built into Blackjack over the years to help it evolve into an enjoyable game with plenty of depth, side-bets, and overall allowing it to become a skilled game that players actively want to improve at.
When you’re starting out playing Blackjack for the first time, it can often be helpful to try it out in virtual mode first to get the hang of the gameplay, the terminology, and how payouts are awarded. Virtual Blackjack works similarly to the live alternatives, except for the fact that you’ll be playing a solo game with an automated deck of cards. Although it’s dubbed a less intimidating way to play (because you’re just playing against a computer), the payout systems are generally comparable to those available in live Blackjack games, so our automated options are not only for new or inexperienced players. There are great payouts to be had in our table Blackjack alternatives, although we would always recommend reading through the specific game's paytable that you want to play as payout ratios could differ.
Live Blackjack is generally quite fast-paced in contrast to automated Blackjack as there will be time limits for each move, and the dealer will hand out cards quickly rather than when you choose. However, this does mean you get to enjoy a great authentic experience that you wouldn’t necessarily see in a table game - and being able to play virtually alongside other players is part of the fun of this fan-favorite game.
Live Blackjack is another option for those looking to play online, and it provides a very different experience from the table game version. When you load up your live Blackjack game of choice, you’ll be transported into a dedicated lobby filled with like-minded players from around the world, all tuning in to a live stream with a professional croupier or host. You’ll often get to change the camera angle and adjust the game interface to better suit your gameplay preferences.
If you want to win, and of course you want, you need a hand that is closer to 21 than the dealers without going over that magic number. The longer answer is that there are side-bets and different variants available which all come with their own unique rules and make answering this question quite tricky without being vague.