Humans have always played games, from those that children learn to help them master the basics of survival to fun pastimes for adults after a hard day hunting and gathering. Evidence from the most ancient societies has shown that games of chance and skill have been popular for thousands of years.
So, it’s no surprise that every advancement made, from discovering new materials to refining new technology, has always been used to make games more fun as well. This batch of exclusive first-person shooter games makes it more personal to the player through enabling them to design their outfit and name their character. The technological revolution may have had the biggest impact on our gaming culture to date – games that previously required a physical presence and specific equipment have now been rendered in digital form while retaining all their original appeal, while there has also been surprising benefits linked to playing video games.
Indeed, some of the most popular casino card games were among the first to make the transition from in-person table games to the digital forms that are so popular today. But it’s not only online casinos which attract huge numbers of players, this batch of exclusive card games also includes games you aren’t likely to find in an online casino or in a land-based venue, like Gin Rummy and Go Fish. They offer players a challenge without the potential of winning or losing money.
The best online casinos like 888casino allow players to use their sites like a games hub that they can adapt to meet their needs with a batch of exclusive casino games that appeal to them the most. With so many different games on offer, this can be a great way for players to keep track, especially for those that are new to the world of online gaming.
Which card games are most popular
The games you can find in casinos do vary to some extent and popular local games are often included in both land-based and online casinos. However, there are some classic card games that can be found in almost any online casino, including:
Poker
Poker is possibly the best-known casino game based on relatively simple statistics and infinitely complex human interactions. Poker is also known as one of the most strategic casino games available, with players needing to be aware of ‘hands’. Players compete against one another to achieve the best hand, from:
- Royal flush – A run of cards from ten to ace in the same suit
- Straight flush – Five consecutive cards in the same suit
- Four of a kind – four cards of the same value
- Full house – three cards of the same value and a pair of a different value
- Flush – five cards all of the same suit, but non-consecutive
- Straight – a run of consecutive numbers but not of the same suit
- Three of a kind – three cards of the same value
- Two pair – two pairs of cards of the same value
- One pair – two cards of the same value
The intricacies of betting on poker need a little practice to master, but the basics are simple to remember and it’s possible to develop a winning strategy with experience.
Blackjack
Many find blackjack to be the more relaxed version of poker, not least because the players are pitted against the dealer rather than one another. The aim is to have cards totalling twenty-one in your hand, but if you go over, you are bust and you lose.
Playing against the dealer makes blackjack a lot more predictable, as they will always play according to set rules which players can take into account when considering their hand. Although there is a significant amount of luck involved, players that understand the statistics behind the game can use that to their advantage.
There are some basic rules that blackjack experts follow, including:
- Always split a pair of aces or eights
- Always double down on a hard eleven
- Never split a pair of fives or tens
- Never take the insurance
Baccarat
Another game that is played between the player and the ‘banker’ and in each round, known as a coup, the goal is for the player to beat the banker with a higher scoring hand. The cards between two and nine have their face value, with the ten and face cards worth zero and aces worth one point.
To determine which hand has won, the value of the cards is added up, and if the total is a double digit number then the value of the units is the final score. For example, a hand containing two eights would be added to make sixteen and the units total would be six.
The dealer takes a card from the deck and, based on its value, discards a number of cards face down. Then they deal two cards each to the player’s hand and the banker’s hand and if either has an eight or nine the game is over.
If the game continues, then cards are added according to drawing rules known as the ‘tableau’ which determines which hands receive another card. Like many card games, baccarat is simple to play, but the real skill lies in understanding the maths behind the game and the betting options that are most likely to result in a win.
There are various casino games available online, all with differing rules and strategies meaning there is a game suitable for everyone. Card games are among the most popular with technology and software allowing casino providers to introduce live card games with real-life dealers which has helped contribute to the success of casino card games online.