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Why is it called "blackjack," anyway?

Blackjack is said to be the most widely played casino table games in the world, but how many know anything about the game beyond the basics of “getting as close to a score of 21 with two or more cards without going over”? Sit back and read on for a little extra information to make you sound just a bit smarter the next time you’re jabbering about or over the cards.
First off, you may ask, “Why exactly ‘blackjack’?” Believe it or not, in 19th-century America, the game of “21” simply wasn’t very popular; in order to increase its attraction, some gambling joints offered extra payout on a hand of ace of spades plus either the jack of clubs or jack of spades: the so-called “blackjack.”

While most folks know the basic blackjack vocabulary – “stand,” “hit,” “bust,” “soft 17,” etc. – how about that little rectangle where you place your wager? Are you ready for this? It’s called the “betting box.”

Finally, most players don’t realize that, for sheer odds, blackjack is *the* game to play in the casino; the house advantage at the blackjack tables is right around 0.9%. By playing smart and consistently (what the pros call “tight”), the clever player can win this game.

Very easy, very basic blackjack tips

Blackjack, as is famously known, offers the best odds in the casino: The house has a wee 0.9% advantage over the player and, with a little luck, coming out ahead is definitely possible. So how come so many lose so often? Well, here’s tip number one, then:

• Play tight.

We’re not talking “tight” as in “cheap” here, but rather as in “unwavering.” Once you learn a proper style of play that minimizes losses while exploiting opportunities, you must stick to it with no deviation; ignore that inner voice telling you “you’re hot” or that you “feel it” and stay the course. But how do you learn a good method to beat blackjack?

• Read up.

Look, blackjack just ain’t that complicated a game. Dozens of decent books on the subject are out there, and most of them touch on the basics. Go to a specialty online store like CasinoBooksOnline.com, visit Amazon.com, hit the Borders nearest you, or even check out a decent used bookshop. Grab a book and *read* it. Really. Cover to cover. More than once. The $5-$20 and time you spend now will be rewarded later.

• Start small and set a maximum bet for yourself.

Sure, the bit in Swingers in which our hero finally realizes his dream to play a $100 blackjack hand is memorable and hilarious. You know why? Because he lost and, in the process, screwed himself thoroughly. Funny when it happens to someone else, innit?

Same goes for later on in the game. If you suddenly double your bet just to “catch up,” the flip of a card could well put you 4x in the whole. Now what, high roller?

And the final tip? It’s the same as all the others…

• Play smart.