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Blackjack – one of the most iconic games – has evolved for decades.

Nowadays, you can still play land-based versions of the game, or you can switch to an online platform that can offer a much wider variety, including live Blackjack.

However you prefer to play, there are options for everyone. As you find some new games, you might also want to find out some facts about the game that you didn’t already know.

Here, you’ll find some things that you may have never known about one of the most popular casino games in the world…

The origins

The exact origins of the game Blackjack are still clouded by much mystery, but many believe that it likely originated in French casinos in the 18th century.

Blackjack was originally known as “Vingt-et-Un”, which means “21” in French. It reflects the main objective of the game, which is to reach a hand value of 21, or as close to 21 as possible, without exceeding it.

Blackjack terminology

Aside from the objective of the game, another major aspect to know about a game of Blackjack is the unique set of terms it has.

Here are a few to know:

Hit – This is when you accept an additional card from the dealer.

Stand – When you decide to keep your current hand and decline more cards.

Split – The separation of a pair of cards of the same rank into two separate hands, which now have their own bet.

Double down – Doubling your initial bet and receiving only one more card.

The role of the Jokers

Back in the early days of Blackjack, a standard deck of playing cards was used, which included the Jokers.

Today, the Jokers aren’t included and they’re not used to create hand values, which simplifies the game and some of the confusion that Jokers could bring.

The house edge

With casino games comes a house edge and Blackjack is unique among other games as it has one of the lowest house edges of all casino games.

There is a basic strategy that can be used in Blackjack, however, it’s important to remember that the game is based on chance so the use of this basic strategy still cannot guarantee success.

Different types of Blackjack available to play

Of course, classic Blackjack is the most well-known version of the game, but there are numerous other variations and side bets to explore.

Here are a few that you might want to try out:

Blackjack Switch – In this game, players are dealt two hands and can switch the second card between them to try their chances at gaining a better hand.

Spanish 21 – This is played with a Spanish deck of cards, which lacks 10s and features unique rules, like automatic success when you get 21, even if both player and dealer reach 21.

Double Exposure Blackjack – In a switch to a standard Blackjack game both of the dealer’s cards are exposed, which gives more information to players, so different playing decisions can be made.

Live Blackjack – In this game, you’ll be faced with a live dealer online and the game will be live-streamed straight to your device, replicating a land-based casino experience.

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With just a few things that might make you question what you know about Blackjack, did anything surprise you? And will you be playing a brand-new variation anytime soon?