When the weather takes a turn for the worst, it’s not always easy to find things to help pass the time. However, we believe that cards are the answer every time. Whether it’s about a solo challenge, a casual get-together, or a high-stakes competition, cards have something to offer for everyone.
As you read on, we’re going to explore some of the best options out there so that you can be sure of plenty of entertainment on the dreary days.
Blackjack: A Timeless Classic
Whether it’s online blackjack or a game around the table with friends, this is a game that has caught the attention of players for centuries. The appeal of this game is that it is the perfect blend of luck and skill. The luck element builds the excitement, while the ability to use skill and strategy allows players to take control. Another big draw here is that the game is extremely simple to play. The aim is to get as close to 21 as possible without going bust. You are trying the beat the dealer rather than the other players.
Blackjack Basics
If you are alone, you can opt to play blackjack online or, with friends and family, you can play around the table. It starts with a standard 52-card deck, and each player is dealt two cards. These are both face up, meaning that they can be seen by anyone else playing. The dealer also receives two cards; however, one of them is face down and hidden. Numbered cards all have their face value while picture cards are worth 10. The Ace is a little special and can be treated as a one or an 11.
Players make their decisions based on the cards they have as well as the one that they can see the dealer has. The options that they have are:
• Hit: This means asking for another card to be dealt
• Stand: Keep only the cards you hold now
• Double Down: Double your bet and then receive just one more card
• Split: If you have two cards of the same value, you can choose to split them and play two separate hands
The dealer has to follow certain rules as the game plays. Generally, they must hit if their hand is worth 16 or less. They must stand if their hand is 17 or more. If anyone exceeds 21, they are classed as bust and out of the game.
A Look at Blackjack Strategy and House Edge
Like other casino games, there’s no escaping the fact that blackjack is influenced by luck. However, there are steps that players can take to have a significant impact on the outcome of the game. This is done by mastering basic strategy.
Basic strategy charts are handy tools that tell you the optimal move to make depending on your cards and the up card of the dealer. The charts are based on complex mathematics as they guide you to the move that has the best probability of reducing the house edge and seeing you win.
Lowering the house edge is amazing when you consider the fact that blackjack already comes with one of the lowest of all casino games. That being said, a low house edge doesn’t guarantee a win, but it does make it more likely.
Blackjack Variants
Something else that makes blackjack perfect for anyone sheltering from the weather, is the sheer variety it offers. There are numerous versions of the game that each come with their own tweaks and rules. Some of the most popular of these include:
• Spanish 21: When you play this version of blackjack, all of the 10s are taken from the deck before you start. The benefits of this variant are that players can double down at will and can also be dealt up to 11 cards.
• Double Exposure: This blackjack game starts with both of the dealer’s cards being face up. This means that you know from the outset what you need to beat. This can help your decision making, knowing if you need to take a risk.
• Atlantic City Blackjack: This variant is all about side bets. These include perfect pairs, bust it, and 21+3. Players also have the option to surrender and sacrifice half of their wager after seeing the dealer’s up card.
• European Blackjack: This version states that the dealer must stand on a soft 17. This lowers the house edge when compared to the classic version.
• Blackjack Switch: This game sees players being dealt two hands and allows them to switch the top cards of each hand when the first round of betting is done.
• Live Dealer: If you’re stuck indoors alone, you can still play with other real people. By logging in to play live blackjack, you can see a professional dealer as they host the game. You can also interact via messages and have a truly immersive experience.
Poker - The Game of Skill
Another top card game to explore if you’re stuck indoors because of the dreadful weather, poker is one that may take some time to master. This game is so popular as it brings together luck, skill, and even psychology. The basics of poker are that players need to form the best 5-card hand based on private cards and community cards. Just like blackjack, poker has a number of variants to enjoy. Here’s a look at the most popular:
Texas Hold’em
This has to be the most popular version of poker. When you play this, each player has two private cards and there are five community cards that are shared by all. Players need to form the best hand possible and can use any combination of their private and community cards.
The game follows an order of betting rounds as it plays, and this is how it looks:
• Pre Flop (prior to community cards)
• Flop (first three community cards)
• Turn (fourth community card)
• River (fifth community card)
During each betting round, players can choose to bet, call, raise, or fold.
To be a success at Texas Hold’em, you need to have a good understanding of hand rankings, opponent behaviour and probability too.
Omaha
This version of poker is similar to Texas Hold’em, but there are four hole cards for each player rather than two. The big difference here though is that players have to make their best combination by using two hole cards and three community cards. This can make things a little tricky and thought is needed about which hole cards to use.
Seven-Card Stud
As the name may suggest, Seven-Card Stud involves players being dealt seven cards. Some of these are face up and others are down. The winner is the player who makes the best five-card hand from the seven that they are dealt. As you move through betting rounds, more of the face down cards are revealed.
Five-Card Draw
This version of poker sees players start with five cards that are all face down. After the first round of betting, players have the option to dispose of up to three cards and replace them with new ones from the deck. After the final round of betting, there is a showdown and this is what determines the winner.
Baccarat - The Elegant Card Game
This is a game that’s all about chance and it can certainly add a degree of excitement to those days when the weather means that you have to stay put. If this is a card game that you’ve never tried, the good news is that it’s exceptionally simple. That’s just one of the reasons that this game is so popular among gamblers.
Baccarat Basic Gameplay
When playing baccarat, the aim is to correctly predict whether it’s the player’s hand or the banker’s that will have a total closest to nine. Here are the basics that you need to know to play:
• Card Values: Cards two to nine have their face value. Aces are worth one. Tens, Jacks, Queens, and Kings are worth zero.
• Hand value: This is the total of the cards that you hold. However, you only take into account the digit on the right. This means that if you had a value of 17, it would just be the seven that was counted.
• Betting: Players bet on the Player Hand, the Banker Hand, or a Tie
Knowing this, you can now start to look at playing the game yourself. Here’s a look at how the game plays out:
• Dealing: Both the player and the banker are dealt two cards
• Determining the Winner: If either hand is a natural (a total of eight or nine) then no further cards are dealt and the highest hand wins
• Drawing Rules: If no one has a natural then a third card can be drawn
• Resolving the Hand: When all cards have been dealt, it’s a case of looking at whose hand is closest to none
Betting Options in Baccarat
The bets in baccarat are easy to understand. Here’s a look at the options that you have:
• Player Bet: This is when you bet on the Player’s hand to win. Generally, this has a payout of 1:1
• Banker Bet: This is a bet on the banker to win. This bet usually has a higher house edge
• Tie Bet: Betting on both hands having the same total. This outcome is fairly rare and so the payout is much higher at around 8:1 or 9:1
Baccarat Strategy and House Edge
While the other card games we have looked at require a degree of skill, baccarat is 100% about luck. However, you can increase your chances of winning by having a good understanding of how the game works and the betting options available.
The house edge here is low when compared to other casino games. This is especially true when you look at the Banker bet. This means that this game is a great option for those looking for card games with an increased chance of a win.
Solitaire - The Solo Game
If the weather means that you’re stuck at home alone, then Solitaire could be the perfect card game for you. This game is enjoyed by millions of people around the world and offers the perfect way to escape from the dreadful outdoors.
The aim here is to manipulate cards so that they achieve a certain goal. Often, this is about them being in ascending order, from Ace to King. Just like the other card games that we’ve looked at, Solitaire also has a number of variants. Here’s a look at the most popular of these:
Patience
This is the most common version of solitaire. To play, you use a standard 52-card deck. You then need to move all cards to four foundations. This is one for each suite and cards need to be in ascending order from Ace to King.
Spider Solitaire
This version of solitaire is a little more challenging and uses between two and four decks. The aim here is to create eight descending sequences of cards in the same suite. You can move cards between columns as long as they are in descending order and the same suite.
Final Thoughts
No matter what the weather throws at us, card games can provide the perfect escape. They offer the chance to lose ourselves for a while, without the need to worry about when the weather may take a turn for the better.
The games that we’ve looked at can all be played online or around the table. The online versions means that you can enjoy what’s on offer even if you’re alone until the bad weather passes. The number of variants on offer mean that once you’ve got to grips with the classic versions, there’s so much more to explore.
