ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BLACKJACK

SPECIAL SECTION

blackjack (BJ)

1) A common reference to the game of twenty-one – a card game played between a dealer and one to seven players. Also called vingt-un or vingt-et-un (in France), pontoon (in Australia), van-john (in England) and ochko (in Russia). 2) When the player’s first two cards are an ace and any ten valued card. Also called natural and snapper.   

In casino twenty-one a blackjack (or natural) is an automatic winner unless tied by a dealer blackjack. Historically, casino rules pay player naturals at 3 to 2. (e.g., a $5 bet will win $7.50.) If a natural always wins but is paid at even money the basic strategy player is at a loss of about 2.1%.  If paid at 2 to 1 the player has an advantage of about +2.3%.  The origins of this game are somewhat uncertain but it is known to have been played in this country early in the eighteenth century. It is also said to have been the favorite game of Napoleon. Only in relatively recent years has it been called blackjack.  See Rules of the Game. See Blackjack History. See 6:5¹⁾ 6:5 is an abbreviation for a game in which naturals are paid only 6 to 5. DO NOT PLAY in these games! For more information check The Numbers of 21 section. .
[ blackjackforumonline.com/content/history-of-blackjack.htm ]
[ blackjackreview.com/wp/historical-events/ ]
[ Wiki: Blackjack ]
[ 1864 American Hoyle 212 ]
[ 1938 Asbury Sucker’s Progress 49 ]
[ 1887 U.S.Playing Card Official Rules 228 ]

From the 1864 American Hoyle by Trumps (aka William Bristane Dick)

“Blackjack” and “Twenty-One” in other languages: Albanian: shkop polici | Arabic: لعبة ورق (luebat waraq) | Bulgarian: пиратско знаме (pirat·sko zname) | Chinese: 二十一點 (Èrshíyī diǎn) | German: einundzwanzig / keule | Greek: κοντό ρόπαλο δεμένο με λουρί (kontó rópalo deméno me lourí) | Français / French: vingt et un | Español / Spanish: veintiuna | Italiano / Italian: manganello | Japanese: ブラックジャック (Burakkujakku) | Korean: 곤봉 (gonbong) | Norwegian: tjueen | Português / Portuguese: vinte e um | Nederlands / Dutch: ploertendoder | Svenska / Swedish: tjugoett | Russian: Блэк Джек (Blek Dzhek) Ochko

Footnotes[+]

Footnotes

↑1	6:5 is an abbreviation for a game in which naturals are paid only 6 to 5. DO NOT PLAY in these games! For more information check The Numbers of 21 section.