Read our in-depth overview of the rules and strategies in popular card games. This will help you discover the thrill of gambling and start winning at classic games like blackjack, poker and baccarat.
Blackjack
Planning to visit a real or online casino soon, you may want to learn the rules of one or more card games. This will definitely increase your chances of winning big.
Blackjack, also known as 21 is a good introduction to the world of gambling. The main objective of the game is to beat the croupier by stacking 21 points on your hand. According to the rules, you cannot exceed this number. If you collect more – you lose.
Each card in the deck of 52 cards has its own denomination. For example, kings, ladies, jacks bring 10 points, and aces – 1 or 10 points depending on the value of your other cards. The gambler will need to place a bet before he and the dealer get 2 cards each. However, one of the dealer’s blackjack cards will lie face down and the other face up. You will then have to choose from:
- Hit (get another card);
- Stand (end your turn);
- Double up (take another card up the bet);
- Split (split the cards to get another hand).
Before playing blackjack for real, it is wise to practice the skills. You can do this by taking advantage of the demo version of the machine at an online casino.
Baccarat
Baccarat is said to be a classic card game where the outcome depends entirely on luck. The rules of baccarat require the gambler to place a bet on the player, dealer or draw before the deal is dealt. The goal is to reach a number as close to nine as possible. So, if the player gets a combination total of nine, it is considered a natural win. When it comes to the value of the cards, the gambler must understand that face cards such as jacks, kings and queens have a zero value, aces count as one, and number cards correspond to the number on them. For example, if a player has a six and a jack, the total is six, if a gambler has a three and a seven, the score will be 10.
Baccarat is the preferred choice because of the low casino advantage. The player’s bet is 1.24 per cent, whereas for those who bet on the croupier, the casino advantage is 1.6 per cent. When playing baccarat, professionals advise avoiding betting on a draw because the payout on a casino draw is often 8-1. Therefore, the casino advantage leaves 9.5%, which makes this a difficult and risky bet.
Poker
Poker is most likely the first game that comes to your mind when you think of casino card games. It is available in the following variations:
- Three Card Poker;
- Texas Hold’em Poker;
- Stud Poker;
- Omaha;
- Pontoon;
- Spanish 21;
- Caribbean.
Each of them adheres to similar rules. To play poker not only luck is important, you need to be good at math, analyse the behaviour of your competitors and have patience. Whichever game you choose, you will be playing against the players, not the dealer, unlike blackjack and baccarat. The game is played clockwise and the cards must be dealt the same way each time. For example, the gambler has been dealt two covered cards before they can deal the initial bet, known as the ante. After the bet, they can:
- Check (decide not to bet and stay in the game);
- Call (match the highest bet);
- Raise (increase the bet);
- Fold (drop their hands).
Each player must try to put together the best combination available with their cards. Possible winning combinations include a flush royal, flush four, flush, full house, and straight. You need to be smart, cunning, and know how to bluff to win, especially since this is allowed in any poker game.
Three Card Poker
Three-card poker pits players against the dealer. Each gambler and the dealer are dealt three covered cards. The goal is to have a stronger hand than the dealer. Players start by making an ante bet before they receive their cards. They can discard them (refuse the ante bet) or continue to play to see if they can outplay the dealer or not.
Texas Hold’em
This is the most popular of all poker variations. Texas Hold’em has simple casino card game rules. The basic rules are as follows: the game consists of one dealer, a small blind and a big blind – they are the ones who run the game. Once these roles are defined, gamblers are dealt two closed cards each. Then each player looks at their cards and makes a move, three community cards are placed on the table, the gamblers make another move, the fourth community card is placed face up and the betting round begins. Finally, the last card of the river is dealt face up on the board. The players then make their last move and when the cards are revealed. The gambler with the highest combination wins.
Stud Poker
In herd poker, players compete against each other to put together a winning combination of open and closed cards. It is played by two to eight gamblers competing against each other. The moves used in herd poker are the same as in almost any poker game: check, bet, call, fold, and raise.
Once the game begins, gamblers place a bet and receive their cards. This is a variant of poker where players receive both open and close cards.
Caribbean Poker
The rules of Caribbean poker are quite simple. The dealer deals himself and each gambler five closed cards, but one of his cards is dealt face up. Players check their cards and either discard them or continue playing, trying to beat the dealer’s hand.
This is the perfect game for those who cannot keep a face impartial because there is no bluffing or cheating. In this kind of gambling, the dealer reveals the cards after the players have made their move. In this case, he checks for the presence of the ace/king combination. If it is not present, the gamblers are refunded their bet and the dealer loses.
Omaha
Omaha shares the rules of the casino card game with Texas Hold’em. Participants receive four covered cards, and five community cards are added to the table. The gambler must put together the best possible combination of two pocket cards and three community cards.
Pontoon
Pontoon is similar to Blackjack: collect a hand worth 21 or as close as possible without going over the threshold. But a gambler who reaches 21 with only an Ace and face or 10 card declares it, and then immediately shows his hand.
Spanish 21
This variation of poker uses a Spanish deck of 48 cards instead of 52, with no 10 cards – face cards are 10 instead. As a result, players are less likely to have a 10, making Spanish poker more profitable for casinos.
In a gambling card game such as poker, the casino has no interest in the outcome because the gamblers are playing against each other. This is why some even believe that there is no casino advantage in classic poker. Casinos make money by charging certain amounts of money for hosting the game.
Understanding the moves and the dealer’s advantage in each game is important if you want to win. You will now be able to make an informed decision on which game to choose the next time you go to a casino or launch an online venue to play slots.
