It’s little secret today that gaming is at a major peak; we love games of all kinds, in every variation, and in many different contexts. If you’ve ever been near a casino (and likely even if you haven’t), you’ll know the games blackjack and baccarat – perhaps not intimately, but by name at least. These are two super famous games that pretty much every casino everywhere, digital or physical, will offer its punters, and for good reason. They’re also games you can play at home with friends if you fancy – all you really need is a pack of cards and someone willing to stand as the dealer.
There’s nothing like a round of cards with your friends, or at a casino, but why have these two games captured the imagination so much, and which might you prefer to play? Let’s take a closer look!
Blackjack VS Baccarat
First things first. What are the two games? They’ve got quite a few similarities! Baccarats generally considered the simpler option; here, you are aiming to beat the “banker” by getting as close as possible to 9. Players can bet on whether the banker or the player is going to succeed at this!
Sounds somewhat familiar. Well, yes… We’ve got quite a bit of overlap with blackjack. Here, you’re aiming to get as close as possible to (but still under) 21, beating the dealer. Sure, we’re not talking identical (even numbers aside), since in blackjack, you can’t bet on the dealer winning and you’ve got to actually best them… but there’s an undeniable thread of similarity.
If you’re planning to give either of these games a spin – at home, at a casino, or online – you’ll want to put a bit of time into learning the basics! Before you start searching for the best online blackjack site, get a quick rundown of the rules and everything you need to get to grips with the game, and you’ll have a better experience!
But, before you get into all that, you might be wondering, why are these two games so popular? How have they become staples of the casino – and indeed of at-home casino nights – for so long? Let’s check out what makes these games Great with a capital G.
1) You Just Need Cards
Okay, reason number 1 might seem a bit simplistic, but it’s still a core facet of why these games have spread so far and so thoroughly. They’re played just with cards. Now, admittedly, you do need multiple decks for baccarat (and you’ll often see blackjack played with many decks too) and a customized table adds to the fun, but still, fundamentally, it’s just about having some cards.
This makes them attractive games for anybody who’s hosting the events at home, and for brick-and-mortar casinos. It also means they spread online fast, because they were already well-loved, high-demand options, so the online casinos were quick to offer them.
Unlike games like roulette, where you need a big wheel, plus possibly some fancy checks to ensure everybody trusts that it’s fair, baccarat and blackjack have very low equipment requirements, and that has sealed their popularity. And if you’re playing online, as long as you’ve got a decent internet connection, you don’t even need the cards!
2) They’re Middling In Complexity
Another big appeal of these two games? They’re not super high on the complexity scale. Yes, you do need to engage your brain to play, so they’re above something purely luck-based like a slot machine, but they don’t tend to carry the same complexity as games like poker.
You can learn the basic strategy for both of these games fairly easily and while there are often other elements you’ll need to account for, they’re pretty straightforward. One of the nice things about baccarat as opposed to blackjack is that you can bet on whichever hand you think is likely to win (meaning that if your hand is particularly bad, you can bet on the banker), but in either case, you’re dealing with a fairly straightforward points system and not too much else. Baccarat also has a maximum of three cards per hand, while blackjack is unlimited – both of which will appeal to different players in different ways.
In both cases, these aren’t high-stress games where your opponents are watching your every move, and you finish each match feeling wrung-dry.
3) Winning Is Based On You
If you’re someone who doesn’t feel all that lucky, or someone who prefers to “make their own luck,” both baccarat and blackjack might “win” you over (yes, that’s a deliberate pun) because they’re strategy-based. Sure, there’s still a luck element in the dealt cards, but here, you’re not at the mercy of fate. If you’ve done your studying and got a good grip on the gaming approach, you’ve got a better chance of taking home a win.
That’s a nice feeling, giving you some control over the game and the outcomes – and who’s going to say “no” to that?