So you’re intrigued about the game of 21? Well, you’re in the right place! Blackjack, pontoon, twenty-one, whatever you call it, it’s one of the most popular card games in the world.

At first glance 21 might seem like an intimidating game. There’s a lot to consider; there are multiple players in a game, there’s the dealer, you need to make calculations, and decisions get made quickly. But once you understand the basics, you’ll understand why people love the game so much.

4 Fun facts about 21

Trivia time! Let’s take a look at some fun facts about this game.

1. 21 is for conquerors

Did you know that Napoleon Bonaparte was a big fan of 21? He played the game for years, especially when he was exiled to the island of Elba. You don’t have to be a conqueror to enjoy 21, but the game can help you to become a quick decision-maker and force to be reckoned with.

2. Card counting isn’t actually illegal

When you watch movies and TV shows that depict 21, you wouldn’t be blamed for getting the impression that card counting is strictly illegal and extremely risky to attempt in formal games. The truth is that while formal gaming houses do not want you to count cards, it is not illegal. You cannot outlaw thinking and that’s essentially what card counting is. However, you may be asked to stop playing if you seem to have an obvious edge.

3. Black Jack is a game of probability

The decisions you make in 21 make a difference because they impact the game’s probability. Essentially, with each move, you have to weigh up how likely it is that you will get a card that will lead to you a total of 21. There are a lot of cards valued at 10, which means that you have a high probability of getting a card valued at 10 with each turn. While it’s important to try to get to 21, the real aim of the game is to beat the dealer, so focus on the probability of the dealer beating your hand.

4. Where the name ‘Blackjack’ came from

There is some debate about where the name Blackjack came from, but one version is particularly interesting. The game was originally called “Vingt-et-Un” (French for “21”). To help popularize the game, dealers would give better odds if players could get to 21 with an ace and a ‘blackjack’ (spades or clubs). In some versions of the game, the black jack still has a special value.

What is 21 Gold and how does it differ?

Playing 21 with a few decks of cards on a table can be fun, but it’s not always practical. Sometimes you want to have a quick game without all the setup. The 21 Gold web game is an online version of the traditional BlackJack game that throws in a few interesting dynamics.

Traditional BlackJack

In the traditional game, you generally play alongside multiple players who all play against the dealer. The objective is to have a hand with a total value of 21 or as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it. Face cards are worth 10, Aces are worth 1 or 11, and the remaining cards are worth their face value. The dealer deals two cards to each player and two to themselves, with one card face down. The player can choose to "hit" (take another card) or "stand" (keep their current hand). The dealer then reveals their face-down card and must hit until their hand value is 17 or higher. If the player's hand is closer to 21 than the dealer's hand, or if the dealer's hand exceeds 21, the player wins. If the dealer's hand is closer to 21, the player loses.

How to play 21 gold

Whether you play 21 Gold in the app or mobile browser form, the gameplay is the same. Instead of only one hand, 21 Gold gives you four lanes to fill at the same time. The aim is to achieve 21 in the four lanes as many times as possible before the game timer ends. You take new cards from the deck provided and must decide which lane to place them in to get the highest possible score. There are loads of ways to maximize your score like achieving five-card combos or using the ‘wild jack’ (a back jack) to automatically win a lane.

How to win 21 Gold

The 21 Gold game is designed to be social and enables you to play against people from across the US and beyond. That means that you need to develop your skill and experience levels if you want to win. Here are a few 21 gold game tips to get you started:

• Don’t be afraid to use the ‘Undo’ button if you make a mistake

• Hold on to the low cards to that you have options in lanes that have high values

• Aces are worth 11 or 1 so think about how you can use it best to achieve 21

• Get way more points when you achieve back to back 21 lane clears

To win at 21 Gold you need to be able to make decisions quickly and use your black jacks wisely. The more you play the faster you’ll get and the more you will win! 21 Gold allows you to earn real cash and prizes just for winning and it’s all based on skill. You can play for free or for as little as $1 and can withdraw your winnings whenever you want.

Where to play 21 Gold

21 Gold is one of the awesome web games made by AviaGames. You can enjoy 21 Gold as both a dedicated game app and a mobile browser game that doesn’t require any download. Whether you play on the app or in the browser, your user data is exactly the same. Plus, 21 Gold also uses a legit fairness algorithm that ensures that you play against opponents with a similar level of skill and experience. Isn’t that awesome?

Now if you’re ready start winning real cash by playing 21, Download 21 Gold now or play it directly in your mobile web browser!