Ever wondered how the modern, insanely popular game of Blackjack appeared? Well, that’s the question of interest to millions of researchers who wanted to know the origin, the beginning of card counting and the inspiration for the game as it is today.

Origins

Many researchers claim that the Blackjack that we know today did not have the name as it is. There were these two games, in the 15^th and 16^th century, one Italian, Sette e Mezzo (Seven and a half) and one French, Trente-un (Thirty-one) that are believed to be the predecessors of Blackjack. This was long before the really closest to Blackjack game appeared in France, called the Vingt-et-un (Twenty-one), in the 18^th. It was one of the most popular card games at the time, and it was King Louis XV’s favorite.

Now, the theory is that the Italian and Spanish versions of Blackjack actually influenced the French version, which was later on spread in America. But this was not until the 19^th century. The game, also known as 21, was brought to America, New Orleans in 1820, by the French colonizers. But at that time, gambling was not allowed, so as the card games became legalized in Nevada, 1931, the game became known as Blackjack and the first ground rules were established. Today the game is available on every single casino site and netbet.ie offers (believe it or not) 18 different variants.

Card counting

Yet, not even then did the card counting start. In fact, it started 30 years later. Naturally, within that period of time, players were fully dedicated to learn how the play the game best and how to win big. Many names pop out in the 1950s. There were System Smitty, Jess Macrum, Greasy John – players who are rumored to have been counting cards long before the secret of counting was revealed. In 1957, Baldwin, McDermott, Baldwin and Maisel, four big players of Blackjack published a book called Playing Blackjack to Win and told the world that it is all in card counting.

This was later on confirmed by Ed Thorp, who used the most ancient computers to investigate whether you can really have an advantage in Blackjack by counting cards. He came to an unforeseen discovery that using a “ten-count system” you can successfully go around the other players and win. He published this in his book Beat the Dealer in 1962 and made it a huge book hit. It was also believed that this is when Vegas bloomed.

The first big card counter

Al Francesco, the first big Blackjack player, was making a lot of effort not to be noticed that he counted cards. So, he would go to a casino with his brother, he would stand beside him and he would count the cards. As soon as he would see an opportunity, he would bet big. But soon, the pit boss would see that and would offer him a free room. This is the time Al Francesco became the “Big Player” in the Blackjack world.