Baccarat and blackjack are two casino table games loved by millions of people around the world. If you’re a new player, you may be wondering which one you should play. In this post you’ll learn about their basic rules, how to play each game, and discover why you may prefer one over the other next time you play at an online casino for real money.
Baccarat
Baccarat is a simple comparison card game in which you wager on whether the player or banker hand will win or whether it will be a tie. The winning hand is the one that gets closest to a total value of nine. In baccarat, you’re not playing against anyone but simply wagering on the outcome of each hand.
Baccarat odds are 45.8% in favour of the banker, 44.6% in favour of the player, and 9.6% in favour of a tie. This translates to a house edge of 1.06%–1.24%, depending on whether you’re playing optimally or not.
How To Play Baccarat
Playing baccarat is easy. All you need to do is place a bet on the player hand, banker hand, or whether the game will end in a tie. Once all gamblers have made their bets, two cards are dealt for each. The cards are then revealed and each hand’s total value is assessed.
Exactly how this total hand value is determined is a little more complicated than just adding up the face values of the cards. In baccarat, 10s, jacks, queens, and kings are worth zero, an ace is worth one, and cards 2–9 are worth their face value. You combine the value of the two cards to get your total hand value. For example, a hand with an ace and a 6 is worth seven.
Things get a bit more complicated when your total hand value consists of double digits. In this case, the first digit of the hand value is dropped. For example, if you have a 4 and a 9, your total hand value is 13, but your final hand value is actually three because the first digit is dropped.
There are two other important rules to note. Firstly, in certain scenarios, a third card will be dealt — which happens when the player’s hand value is between zero and five or when the banker’s hand value is between zero and two. Secondly, if the player or banker is dealt an 8 or 9, this is known as a natural 8 or 9 and is considered a winning hand. A natural 9 always beats a natural 8.
After the hand values are determined, the hand that’s closest in value to nine is the winner. Payouts are ±100 for a winning player or banker wager, but winning bets on the banker almost always come with a small commission fee due to its favourable odds. A successful tie wager offers higher payouts of +800 because of its far lower odds. All players who lose the wager, forfeit their bets.
Quick Baccarat Tips and Strategies
Interested in some baccarat advice to improve your game? Here are some quick tips on how to be a better baccarat player when playing both offline and online baccarat:
- Know the rules
- Consider a betting strategy
- Bet on the banker for the best odds
- Ensure you know the dealer’s commission for the banker bet
- Avoid side bets
Blackjack
Blackjack is similar to baccarat in the sense that it’s also a comparison card game. Unlike baccarat, however, you’re always betting on a successful outcome for your hand. The winner is the player who gets closest to a hand total of 21, or a higher value hand than the dealer without going bust, that is, exceeding 21. Another important difference is that you’re actively competing against the dealer and making choices that could affect whether you win or lose.
Blackjack odds are 49.1% in favour of the dealer, 42.22% in favour of the player, and 8.48% in favour of a tie. This results in a house edge of 0.43%–2%, depending on how you play each game.
How To Play Blackjack
At a glance, blackjack is simple to play. The aim of the game is to get 21 or to get a higher value hand than the dealer without exceeding 21. If your total hand value exceeds 21, you go bust and lose your wager.
The game begins with each player placing a bet to join in the game. Once all bets are made, the dealer deals two cards to the player and themselves. The cards dealt to the player are both face-up, while only one card dealt to the dealer is face-up.
Players must then assess the value of their hand and decide on their next move. The hand value for cards in blackjack are as follows:
- Ace: One or 11, depending on the total value of the hand
- 2–10: Face value
- Jack, queen, or king: 10
If a player gets an initial hand value of 21 (an ace and a 10, jack, queen, or king), this is called a ‘natural blackjack’ and the player automatically wins. If the player’s hand total is less than 21, they can choose to hit (get another card). The player can hit as long as their total hand value remains below 21. Once a player is happy with their hand, they can choose to stand (keep their current hand). If they’re not happy with their initial hand, they can also choose to surrender. They will forfeit half their wager and be out of the current hand.
Once all players are happy with their hands or have surrendered, the dealer reveals their face-down card. If the total value of their hand is 16 or less, they must hit. If it’s 17 or higher, they must stand.
After all actions have been completed, the hand value of each player and the dealer is assessed to determine the winner. If the player wins, they receive a payout with ±100 odds — except when they land a natural blackjack. In that case, they receive a payout with +150 odds. However, if the player loses, they forfeit their wager. If there’s a tie, their wager is returned.
Quick Blackjack Tips and Strategies
Interested in information to give you the edge when playing blackjack? Here are some of the best winning strategies and tips for blackjack:
- Split a pair of 8s or aces
- Never split 10s
- Almost always double down on 11
- Stand on 17 or higher
- Use a blackjack strategy chart (if allowed)
Should I Choose Baccarat or Blackjack?
If you’re wondering whether to play baccarat or blackjack, it all depends on what you’re looking to gain from the game.
If you’re looking for an easy game, baccarat is the obvious choice. All you need to do is decide whether you want to bet on the banker or player, or go for a riskier wager and bet on a tie. Baccarat can offer better odds to casual players who aren’t necessarily interested in learning complicated gaming strategies.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more complex game where you can influence the outcome, blackjack is the game for you. When you play blackjack, knowing whether it’s statistically the right move to hit, stand, or split based on the cards in your hand as well as the dealer’s up card, will affect whether you win or not. Although luck still plays an important role, you can improve your chances of winning by making considered decisions. Serious players can also leverage optimal decision-making to increase their odds.
Ultimately, the simplicity or complexity of each game will affect whether you want to play one or the other. That said, you may also be asking yourself another question: why choose between the two games when you can play both?
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