Blackjack is one of the oldest and most popular casino games. It is a draw card game that pits a player against the dealer. The object of the game is to achieve a higher score than the dealer.
In order to win, players must draw cards that total equal to or less than 21. If a player exceeds 21, they are awarded a “win” and can either keep the bet or cash out.
There is some evidence that playing blackjack may actually increase cognitive ability. A study published in The Journal of Gambling Studies found that people who played blackjack for an hour or more exhibited better problem-solving skills than those who did not play. This suggests that playing blackjack may help people improve their ability to think abstractly and solve problems. Another study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology found that people who played blackjack for five hours or more over four days exhibited increased intelligence quotients (IQs) relative to those who did not play.
The study participants were asked to complete tests measuring their verbal, numerical, and spatial reasoning abilities. It is unclear if playing blackjack caused these increases in intelligence or if people with high IQs are more likely to play blackjack. However, the findings suggest that playing blackjack may have cognitive benefits for some people.
