While many casino-goers may be able to tell you the clear difference between multiple different games, what about us laypeople? Surely there’s only so many different ways you can deal and play with the same old cards? As it happens, games such as blackjack and baccarat are very different beasts!
Why compare blackjack and baccarat?
Both baccarat and blackjack are two of the world’s most popular casino card games. Their main appeal is likely in the fact they’re very easy to get to grips with – and are both super-fast!
But that’s where the similarities end, beyond the fact that two hands of cards are used in either game. Why might you want to play blackjack, and why might baccarat appeal to you instead?
Blackjack in brief
Blackjack is a two-player game where you or the dealer must make a total of ’21’ from your hands. You’ll receive two cards as your hand and can choose to hit or stand. Hitting means adding another card to the total while standing means keeping your hand as-is. When you stand, the game passes to the dealer.
If the dealer goes beyond ’21’, they’re ‘bust’ (the same applies to you). Dealers also need to follow certain rules (such as having to ‘stand’ on a total of 17). There are also plenty of different side bets, but let’s move on to baccarat.
Baccarat in brief
Baccarat is a two-hand game, one being yours, the other being the banker’s or dealer’s hand. Essentially, the aim of the game here is to score a total as close to nine as possible. The player bets on which hand they feel is closest before the reveal.
Baccarat, like blackjack, can get a little more complex. Certain rules apply, for example, when it comes to allowing a third card to add to either hand. However, for many players, it’s one of the fastest casino games to get into.
Differences in strategy
A key difference when considering both blackjack and baccarat is, of course, strategy. Blackjack is much more complex! You need to decide on hitting or standing from play to play. There’s a lot of guesswork!
Baccarat, meanwhile, is as simple as guessing which hand has the best total. It’s a lot more down to luck and gut feeling.
It’s also true that while baccarat can be quite fast-paced, there’s time to make decisions. Blackjack is altogether more frantic – and, in some cases, tenser!
Differences in risk
Do also consider that baccarat, on the whole, carries a larger house edge. This means there’s probably more chance of you winning at blackjack than baccarat, despite the relative complexity.
That said, baccarat balances this with the potential for bigger potential prizes. Players tend to choose between the two games on whether or not they’d prefer bigger prizes less frequently. Of course, there are different twists on either game, too!
Differences in availability
While both blackjack and baccarat are amazingly popular worldwide, it’s safe to say blackjack has the edge! Very few casinos online and offline avoid serving blackjack, while baccarat is considered more niche.
That said, the rise of live casino games has led to baccarat finding firmer support online. For example, studios such as Evolution Gaming help bring the title to the masses.
Conclusion
It’s safe to say that blackjack and baccarat have differing merits, risks, and potential. It’s easy to see why some may get the two games confused! However, dig deeper into the mechanics of these games, and you’ll find two very different casino experiences.
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