Blackjack – also referred to as ‘twenty-one’ and ‘pontoon’ – is a game that nowadays is often found in a casino with people trying their fortune on achieving the elusive ‘twenty one’. It is commonly presumed that the game came into existence in France amid the 17th century. However, as with most other casino games the precise evolution of the game is still a mystery.
Chemin de fer was brought to the US following the French Revolution, but the game did not become popular in the casinos until the house offered bonus payouts. This was the only method that seemed to get players wagering on pontoon. One variation on the reward payment was for a player to acquire ‘twenty one’ with the blackjack card (valued at 10 points) and an ace (given a value of eleven points). With the expanding appeal of the game the pay outs were phased out but the name ‘pontoon’ remained.
Chemin de fer is not simply about acquiring a straight ‘twenty-one’, but the primary adventure is to beat the dealer without going ‘bust’. The betting house clearly has an edge over the black jack players in the long term, but with twenty-one the player holds on to a bit of choice.
Since 1931 when America initial legitimized betting, pontoon has grown into a classic casino game. Furthermore, it is the blending of both ability and mathematics employed in twenty-one that has caused the game to be massively loved. Pontoon gives an appealing adventure to any academic, math guy or betting player wanting to analyze the strategy of the game.
February 16th, 2010
Caleb
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