Blackjack enjoys an illustrious history in the culture of gambling. It is often the first game that a new gambler learns, and one that has a strange ability to remain fresh no matter how many times you have played it. Why is this so? Because blackjack consists of a unique mix of chance and skill that requires a player to stay sharp and focused at all times. Though considered a much simpler game than, say, poker, blackjack is a perennial favorite. As long as people find pleasure in gambling, you can be sure they will be playing blackjack.

You might be surprised to learn that blackjack, which originally was known by the name twenty-one, was not very popular when it was first introduced in the United States. At this point, the only objective of the game was to assemble a hand that totaled 21. Many seasoned gamblers did not feel this version of the game offered enough action. To spark interest, a number of casino owners had to get creative. Some started offering wildly lucrative (and, to the casino itself, ruinous) payouts in an effort to attract players to the tables. One such bonus was a 10-to-1 payout if the player's hand consisted of the ace of spades and a black jack (either in the suit of clubs or spades). This hand was called a blackjack and the name stuck even though the bonus payout was eventually gotten rid of in order to keep the casinos afloat.

One important thing to bear in mind when playing blackjack, either online or in a brick-and-mortar casino, is that the house has a statistical advantage over the players that will ultimately reveal itself. This, of course, is true of many popular games of chance. But blackjack is unique in that each player has an element of genuine choice, and thus savvy players can actually reduce the casino advantage to a small percentage by playing what is known as basic strategy. This strategy determines when to hit and when to stand, and also determines when doubling down or splitting is the correct action.

The foundation upon which basic strategy is built derives from the player's point total and the dealer's visible card. Under the conditions that are optimal from the player's point of view (single deck being paramount among these), the house advantage over a basic strategy player can be as low as 0.16%. That really goes a long way toward leveling the playing field. Its no surprise therefore, that you really have to do quite a bit of scouring to find tables that offer the game in this format. But persistence in this endeavor, as in all others, is worth it.

The basic blackjack strategy is not for everyone. There will always be a certain type of gambler who likes to fly by the seat of his pants, relying solely on guts and intuition in a bid to beat the house. This is not the most advisable approach, unless your primary interest in playing blackjack is to have fun. For those players more interested in protecting their money and possibly expanding it, a little proven strategy is always a good thing.