Best Card Games For Gambling – Casino Games To Play

If you’re into table games, we’ve got some of the best card games for gambling available right here at Platincasino UK. If you’re still new to the world of online casinos, you’re going to want to know your Baccarat from your Blackjack before hitting the tables – the good news is that we’re here to help.

 

What makes Blackjack so popular? What strategies could take you a little further in a game of Poker, and what should you keep in mind next time you decide to place a bet on the player or the Banker in Baccarat? We’ve covered the most popular topics and queries raised by our UK players over the years in this concise guide to the best card games for gambling out there.

 

Ready to know more about these classic casino card games that have entertained the crowds for centuries? We’ve got you covered, read on to find out more.

 

Blackjack – The Aim And Variations Of The Game

Sometimes referred to as the game of 21, Blackjack is hands down the most popular card games in casino history. This is majorly due to the fact that the rules are fairly simple, and even though the strategy might turn out to be rather complex at times, the rules are easy to understand and you’re usually able to get going in no time, even if you don’t have extensive knowledge to back it up.

 

Apart from that, Blackjack also has some of the best odds at beating the house out there, meaning that even if everything doesn’t quite go as planned, the odds are still stacked in your favour when compared to other casino card games.

 

Nevertheless, you’re not going to want to show up at a Blackjack table completely unarmed, which is where this post will come in handy. If you’re already an experienced player then there’s no harm in brushing up on your skills before hitting your next table. Ready to find out all there is to know about one of the best card games for gambling out there? Let’s dive right into it.

 

Blackjack – Casino’s Favourite Card Game

 

As mentioned earlier on, one of the factors that makes Blackjack so incredibly popular is that even if you’ve never played before it only takes a couple of minutes to learn. In a nutshell, here’s a game which requires you beat the dealer with a hand that’s worth up to 21 points in total, but more about that later.

 

Apart from that, Blackjack has an incredibly low house edge when compared to other casino games, which is able to vary according to the strategy you choose to employ while playing. If you’re really good at the game you’re also potentially able to reduce this further when playing optimally, so let’s get started.

 

Other clear advantages as to why Blackjack is considered the best card game for gambling is that each game round is relatively short. This means that you’re able to regulate your game time as you fancy, without needing to account for long waiting time in between rounds.

 

And finally, let’s be honest here; Blackjack is a whole lot of fun. If you’re looking for a card game that’s quick and entertaining, then the age-old game of 21 is definitely one to look into.

 

How To Play Blackjack

 

The game kicks off with each player placing their bet, it’s important to keep in mind here that even though there might be other players present at the table, especially in the case of Live Casino Blackjack, you’ll always be playing directly against the dealer.

 

The dealer will then deal one card face down and another face up to themselves, along with two cards face up to each of the players at the table. In terms of card value, face cards are valued at 10 points, all numerical cards will retain their face value, and the Ace is valued at either 1 or 11 points depending on what is most useful for your hand.

 

Should you happen to be handed an Ace and a ten or a face card during this time, then congratulations you’ve just hit a natural Blackjack and you automatically win the hand. Should the dealer also hit a natural Blackjack during this time then this is called a Push and your wager is returned to you.

 

In this case you neither win nor lose as these equal hands will cancel out one another. If that’s not the case, then it’s soon going to be your turn to act, starting from the player to the dealer’s left in clockwise order.

 

As mentioned earlier on, the aim of the game is to beat the dealer without going over 21. You also have the advantage of being able to see one of his/her cards which could possibly give you an indication of the sort of hand you’re aiming to surpass. In this case, you’re able to:

 

1. Stand
2. Hit
3. Double Down
4. Split
5. Fold

 

Stand: You’re pretty happy with the first two cards you’ve just been dealt and are happy to hold onto them and find out what happens next.

 

Hit: You feel like your current hand could do with a little extra help from the deck. Here you’re able to request one or more cards to be added to your current hand to increase its value.

 

Double Down: Now here’s a move that’s a little more risqué. You’re so confident in your current hand that you decide to double your wager in return for a single card from the deck.

 

Split: Your current hand is made up of a pair of cards of equal value and you feel like they’d stand a better chance at winning if separated. It’s also interesting to keep in mind that two face cards may also be split, irrespective of rank. Here you’ll put out a second wager and your original pair is split into two separate hands on which you’re able to act on independently.

 

Fold: You realise that this round might not be for you and would rather surrender with the option of receiving half your wager back.

 

Alternative Blackjack Rules

 

We’ve said this before, and we’ll say it again, not all of the best card games for gambling were created equally and this is certainly true when it comes to Blackjack. When you first hit a Blackjack table online it’s really important for you to be aware of a couple of things in order to help you make an informed choice. These rule variations can completely change the way one Blackjack game performs when compared to another – here’s what you’re going to want to keep an eye out for:

 

1. Number of Decks Involved – When it comes to Blackjack there are usually two options available at this point which include single deck, or multi deck Blackjack. The house edge differs slightly here from one variant to the other (6:5 payouts for single deck games and 3:2 payouts for multi-deck games), with single deck Blackjack generally offered less commonly than its multi deck sibling. From a gameplay perspective, a single deck will involve a substantial amount of shuffling, meaning that game pace is usually slower.

 

2. The Dealer’s Soft 17 – In the game of Blackjack, holding a hand that’s valued at 17 points and includes an Ace is known as a Soft 17. It’s always easier for the dealer to follow set rules rather than make rash decisions on the spot during the course of a game, so for this reason each table will clearly indicate whether the dealer’s going to hit or stand on a Soft 17, with the house edge increasing slightly if they are required to hit.

 

Blackjack Game Variations

 

Like all of the best card games for gambling, the game of Blackjack has given rise to a number of widely popular variations over the years. Even though the basic rules remain the same, not all of these games play out in the exact same manner.

 

A couple of popular Blackjack variations available for play at Platincasino UK include Vegas Single Deck Blackjack, Vegas Downtown Blackjack, Atlantic City Blackjack, Multi-hand Blackjack and Salon Privé Blackjack Live for all you high rollers out there.

 

If you’d like to learn more about how to play Blackjack UK, we recommend you read our handy guide available on Platincasino

 

Baccarat – Rules And Strategy To Consider During Play

 

If you’ve never really played at a casino before but are interested in giving it a try, then Baccarat is generally always a good place to start. Now here’s a game that’s very simple to understand and play, accepts smaller bets, and doesn’t require any complex strategy or knowledge to get started, making it one of the best card games for gambling out there.

 

The premise of the game is fairly basic, both the player and the banker will receive two cards and its your job to predict whether you think the player or the banker will have a hand that’s closest to nine in value; but more about that later.

 

How to Play Baccarat

 

Here’s a game that’s considered one of the easiest to understand, primarily because the dealer is doing most of the work. When playing Baccarat at a casino the first thing you’re going to want to know is that there are two hands; one belongs to the dealer, and the other to the player.

 

Each hand is made up of two cards, which are dealt face up on the table. Before the cards are dealt, players are able to place their wager either on the dealer’s hand, or on the player’s hand. You’re also able to wager your bet on a tie, even though statistically this is the least possible outcome for each round.

 

Once the cards are on the table, you’re going to want to add the value of the two cards found in each hand. Cards between one and nine are worth their face value, ten and face cards are worth zero points, whereas the Ace is worth one point.

 

If the total of your cards is made up of two digits e.g. 7+4 = 11, then you’re going to drop the first number, so in this case your hand value is one. The aim of the game is to land a hand that’s as close to nine in value as possible.

 

If either the player or the dealer receives an eight or a nine-point hand, then this is considered a natural win and the round ends right here. If neither is a natural win, then a third card may be drawn from the deck; one for each hand. The player hand is able to stand on a six or a seven, while requesting a third card for a score between zero and five. Once again, the dealer will be doing most of the work here so there isn’t much for you to worry about.

 

Basic Baccarat Strategies

 

Whether you’re playing video baccarat or sitting at a table in a Live Casino, then all you’re going to want to focus on is where to place your next bet. It’s important to keep in mind that just like any of the other best card games for gambling, the house will always have a slight advantage so, statistically, your best bet is always to bet on the banker’s hand.

 

For this reason, the house pays 95% on the banker’s hand and 1:1 on the player’s hand, implying that if you’ve placed a £1 wager you’ll receive £1 back in that case. Ties pay 8:1 however these are highly improbable so it’s never advisable to place large wagers there.

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Texas Holdem Poker – The Ever-Popular Game

 

Texas Holdem (or Hold’em sometimes) is undoubtedly the most popular Poker variant amongst UK players. Its simplicity and popularity have given rise to a large amount of literature along the years, each of which provide useful information on how to play properly.

 

Ever wondered how to play one of the best card games for gambling when it comes to Poker? Here’s what to expect. Once you take a seat at the table, each player is dealt two cards face down known as hole or pocket cards. After this, all bets are open and each player is able to place his/her wager during this time.

 

Three communal or community cards are dealt face up and placed in the middle of the table during this phase, and this is known as the flop. At this point, there’s an additional round of betting that goes on before a fourth community card is introduced to the table. This card is known as the turn. Right here another round of betting occurs before the fifth and last card known as the river is added to the table.

 

At this point, players are able to compose their best hand possible using a combination of their two hole cards along with any of the other five laid out on the table. This stage is known as the showdown.

 

Learning How to Play Texas Holdem Poker

 

Before you understand the game, you’re going to want to know all about the setup with regards to Texas Holdem. The table can hold anywhere between two to ten players, with tables hosting less than four players known as short-handed tables.

 

To determine who will kick off the first round, a card is typically dealt to all players face up, with the highest one winning. In his case that particular player is considered the dealer for that round and a white chip is placed in front of him/her known as the button.

 

After this, all following rounds will include rotating the button to the next player on your left in a clockwise fashion. Before the cards are dealt the first time there are also a series of forced bets or blinds that must occur. The small blind is paid up to the player to the left of the dealer, while the player to the left of the small blind player is responsible for wagering the big blind.

 

Once the cards are dealt and the blinds are paid up, each player is able to look at their cards; this stage is known as the pre-flop. Whenever it’s your turn, you’re then able to take one of the following actions:

 

1. Check – this refers to betting zero. Players are not able to check during the opening round where the must either match or raise the big blind bet, or surrender and fold.
2. Bet – the opening bet of a new round
3. Call – to match or raise a bet
4. Fold – to surrender and discard your cards while forfeiting any previous bets
5. Raise – to increase the size of the current bet
6. Re-raise – to make a second raise bet in the same betting round

 

Should a player decide to raise the current bet, then all other players must call the same amount to remain active, including those who have already acted previously. If, on the other hand, a player decides to fold the money in the pot from any prior calls will remain there for the rest of the table to potentially claim.

 

If no player raises on the big blind, then the player in that original position has the option to raise or check. It’s important to keep in mind however, that if a player chooses to raise then s/he will not be able to do so again unless they’ve been re-raised as opposed to being called. A Texas Holdem betting round will officially stop once all players have either folded or called on the last raise.

 

Texas Holdem – Strategic Tips

 

Even though there’s a certain element of luck involved in all the best card games for gambling, in the case of Texas Holdem Poker there’s also an element of skill or knowledge that comes into play in order to be successful at the game. Here are a couple of pointers which could potentially increase your chances of winning.

 

1. Know Where you Stand

 

The best position to be in when playing Texas Holdem is definitely whenever the button is sitting right in front of you. Whenever you’re on the button you’re the last person to act in three out of the four betting rounds available, and whenever it’s your turn you’ve already got a clearer picture of how many players are still active in that particular round, which could influence your betting decisions If any.

 

The worst position to be in is definitely the small blind, as you’re required to act first after the flop, turn, and river. Sometimes you’re able to use this to your advantage by approaching gameplay aggressively, however it’s always better to act after other players in general.

 

As a general rule, the less players are still present at your table, the more aggressive your gameplay should be.

 

2. Keep Track of Other Players

 

It’s easy to get all caught up in your head and lose track of any other players sitting at your table when playing an intense round of Poker, however it’s always a good idea to be aware of how many chips are left in their balance and what sort of hands they could be holding based on the community cards on display.

 

Keeping an eye out on player trends can also be helpful when trying to determine which players are more prone to bluffing for instance, especially when it comes to Live Casino Poker. Also, if a particular player has never bet anything over £5 in the past and is now raising a £50 bet this should raise a couple of red flags for that particular round, and might be an indication of a very strong hand.

 

3. Value your Flop and Know When to Get Out

 

If your hand is currently looking strong enough to take a look at the flop, don’t give it away to other players for free – at least raise a minimum bet just to get them moving. You’re in an advantageous position right here that could help you weed out any potentially weak players.

 

Nevertheless, folding right after the flop might feel a little strange especially if you’re still new at this, however it takes skill to know when to cut your losses and exit with grace. Even if you start off with a great hand, the flop could literally destroy your plans in seconds, and sometimes letting go and calling it a day is the wisest thing you and your bankroll could choose to do.

 

Strategy And Luck In Gambling Card Games

 

As mentioned earlier on, even though the element of luck is always going to play a vital role when it comes to the best card games for gambling, there’s also an element of strategy involved in each game in order to fine-tune your experience.

 

For this reason, it’s always a great idea to really read up before any particular game in order to ensure that you are both knowledgeable and informed before hitting the casino tables. That being said, just like anything else practise makes perfect.

 

If you’re still new to the world of online casinos, consider playing a couple of rounds on a video version of your favourite games. This will remove all social pressure while allowing you to focus on your next move, or try something different, against substantially smaller bets.

Best Card Games For Gambling – FAQ

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