It’s common knowledge that tarot cards and standard playing cards share a common root, both descending from earlier European card games. Some of the aspects of numerology and cartomancy, too, are clearly present in standard decks of cards. The patterns are everywhere.
But does it translate over to card games like blackjack? The crossover is sometimes apparent and sometimes not. Yet, some of the patterns are so stark that they cannot be mere coincidence. Do blackjack players, themselves, look for meanings in those numbers?
Some do. But what can we see, and what should you look out for if you are playing blackjack for fun with friends, playing McLuck live blackjack online, or visiting a casino in person? Below, we look at some important numbers for blackjack players and parse out what they might mean.
21 – The Cycle Completes
21 is obviously the score that we aim for in blackjack. 21 can be viewed as 2 + 1 = 3, which is often linked to creativity. There’s also the tarot link, with Major Arcana XX1 meaning the whole or the world and completion of a cycle.
20 – Almost There
20 is an interesting hand in blackjack because it is highly favored to win, yet there is also the slightest risk that it doesn’t. In numerology, it has the 2, signifying duality and partnerships, but it is amplified by the 0, which adds strong, unfinished energy.
17 – The House Line
17 is acutely known by blackjack players, as they are well aware that the dealer (in most blackjack games) must stand on this number. The player, meanwhile, is free to do what they want, but the dealer can no longer make a move. 1 + 7 = 8, power, cause and effect, and karma.
14 Fragile Ground
14 is not considered a strong hand in blackjack. In fact, it is weak, although slightly tantalizing, as you might still draw a 7 for 21, but there is a high likelihood that you draw an 8 or above, losing the game. It is precarious and fragile. You can’t stick, but twisting is fraught with peril. 1 + 4 = 5, change and disruption.
13 Unlucky For All
Statistically, 13 isn’t too bad in blackjack. Yes, some casino players believe that 13 is an unlucky number, and we know superstitions like not having a 13th floor persist in large casino hotels, but you could argue that most pro blackjack players would prefer 13 to 14. This matches up with some elements of numerology. 1 + 3 = 4, stability and structure.
11 The Gateway
In numerology, 11 is considered a master number, and we could certainly view it that way in blackjack. It is the premium hand for doubling down, i.e., doubling the bet to see out the round. It is the gateway to opportunity in blackjack, matching up with its numerological meaning of portals and opportunities.
The above is only a small selection of meanings we can look for in blackjack games. Of course, it only scratches the surface, too, not dealing with the meaning of individual cards and suits. Casino history is stuffed full of tradition, superstition, and mystery, so it is highly compatible and indeed complements concepts like numerology and cartomancy. They are natural bedfellows, and you can be sure that many blackjack players touch upon these concepts, even if they don’t know they are doing it.
