The Best Card-Based Casinos Games To Try OutMore About Hold'em, Blackjack, And Baccarat |
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Online casinos have allowed more people than ever to experience traditional casino games. Because you play from the comfort and privacy of your own home, you don’t have to be nervous or embarrassed about trying something new. The best online casinos will have beginners’ rooms and tables where the computer offers more guidance to players. Also, if you choose to play a live casino game, the dealer will be able to answer your questions in real time.
Card games aren’t the casino games that new players instinctively flock to, mostly because they have more rules to learn than other games like online slots and roulette. But this can also make them more fun and rewarding; because they involve more skill and strategy than the luck-based games you feel like you have more influence over the outcome. Take poker for example; you don’t always need the best hand at the table to win, you just need to play in such a way that the others become convinced that you do.
So, if you’re looking to try something new at an online casino, which card game should you try first? There are loads to choose from, some with familiar names and others you won’t have heard of before. Here are some of the best:
Texas Hold’em Poker
Probably the most well-known form of poker and one of the most recognisable casino table games, Texas Hold’em Poker is played all over the world. It’s not the simplest form of poker available and you will want to read up on some tips before starting to play. However, most online casinos recognise this game requires practise and have their own ‘how to play’ posts and beginners’ rooms. Some will even let you play for free during an introductory period.
Players are dealt two face-down cards and asked to decide whether they want to play with them or fold. Those who play are then dealt up to five community cards. You win by making the best hand possible between out of the seven available cards. Hand rankings are the same as other forms of poker, with a royal flush at the top and a pair at the bottom.
Knowing when to play and when to fold is one of the key aspects of Texas Hold’em Poker. If you go in with a strong starting hand, you’ll be in a better position when the next cards are dealt.
Blackjack
Blackjack pits all the players against the dealer rather than each other, making it a more sociable and less competitive game. Players are dealt a pair of face-up cards, while the dealer is dealt one face-up and one face-down. Each player in turn is then offer further cards, with the aim of having a higher total than the dealer’s. Any score over 21 is a bust, while 21 itself is blackjack and usually pays 1.5x your wager.
There are advanced options for more adventurous players. These include double down – where you double your wager and are then dealt just one more card – and split. Split is only available if you have a pair of cards, and you can double your wager to split them into two separate hands, effectively giving you twice the chances of winning, or losing. Each game of blackjack is short, so you don’t have to worry about getting stuck into a lengthy battle, making it perfect for some fun during short breaks.
Baccarat
The favourite card game of none other than James Bond himself, Baccarat is less common online but definitely worth trying. Sometimes called Punto Banco, it looks like a simplified version of blackjack and is very easy to play. Instead of playing to 21, the winning cards this time will be the nearest total to 9, or any number ending in 9 e.g. 19, 29 etc.
Players place their bets on one of three options: banker to win, player to win, or a tie. Two hands are dealt, one for the dealer and one for all the players. If neither hand equals 6, 7, 8 or 9 then one additional card can be dealt, but each hand will never be more than three. After both hands have been given their extra cards, if applicable, the winnings will be paid out.
Baccarat is often touted as a high stakes game, but don’t let that stop you from giving it a try. Online casinos won’t squirrel the games away in private rooms, making them easily accessible to anyone who wants to give them a try. Just remember, don’t bet on the tie, it rarely pays out!
In Summary
There are many other great card games available at online casinos, including other versions of poker like 3-card poker, stud poker, and Omaha poker. These will use the same hand rankings as Texas Hold’em poker but change the number of cards you can get and how you bet. Card games can take a bit longer to get into because you have to learn all the rules and practise the best strategies, but they are loads of fun to play and great to do with groups of people.