We’re always looking for entertainment, and online gaming has helped provide a cure for the boredom experienced by many.
There’s one type of game that many people turn to, and that’s card games.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular types of card games that you can play online. Specifically, we’ll look at poker, blackjack and baccarat.
But first, let’s explore the ways in which you can find these card games online.
Where can you find card games online?
Historically, card games have been played in person between family and friends or in brick-and-mortar casinos.
As time has moved on, online versions of these popular games have grown in popularity. One of the best places to look is online casinos. These virtual establishments offer a wide range of card games, such as poker.
Some casinos may host regular poker tournaments that you can take part in from the comfort of your own home. Some competitions have amazing prizes with potentially significant payouts.
So, it’s worth spending some time researching which is the best online casino for card games. Some specialize in these types of games, rather than slot machine games. You may find a much better experience, as well as bonuses and deals, with those online casinos.
With advances in web development, the overall experience may only improve.
The best online card games
There are scores of card games that you can play online — too many to include in this single guide. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular ones:
Poker
Poker is a game that’s been around for a long time. Some people say variations of the game stretch back to the 10th century.
However, in our day and age, there are a few key variations of the game. One of them is Texas Hold ‘Em. With between two and ten people playing in a single game, there’s a lot of scope for excitement and drama, which makes it an enthralling game to play.
This type of poker game is all about working out your probability of winning based on the cards dealt, but it’s also about psychology and strategy, including working out what your opponents may have and influencing their behavior based on those suspicions. It’s where the phrase “poker face” comes from.
As part of the game, players are dealt two cards each. The dealer then deals another five cards, face-up, in stages. Using the cards they’re dealt, plus the additional five cards, players must make the best 5-card hand they can. This can be in the form of pairs (matching numbers), flushes (matching suits) or straights (five consecutive cards in a row).
Given its popularity, you can play Texas Hold ‘Em poker at almost any online casino.
Blackjack
Blackjack is arguably the most popular card game in the world, no doubt because of how easy it is to play. The game is also known as pontoon or 21, which refers to the objective, which is to reach a score of 21, or as close to it as possible without going over, with the cards you’re dealt.
The aim is to beat the dealer or bank, who also plays in the game against you and the rest of the players at the table.
All players are dealt two cards. If, for example, you receive an ace (worth 11 or one in blackjack) and a ten of diamonds, you have a perfect score of 21, which is the strongest hand.
However, if you’re dealt a two and four, you have the ability to request a new card to try and get your score as close to 21 as possible. If you exceed the target of 21, you go bust and lose the game. You also lose the game if the score you have is lower than the dealer’s hand.
Baccarat
Baccarat is another hugely popular card game. Like blackjack, it involves playing against the dealer.
The aim of the game is for players to correctly guess the possible outcome — whether the bank will win, whether the player will or whether it will be a tie.
The outcome is decided when two cards are dealt to the bank and two to the player. It’s also possible for a third card to be dealt to both hands.
It may sound a little tricky, but it’s hugely popular, particularly in parts of the world such as Macau, Canada, Sweden and Finland.
