Table games have been a staple of both physical and online casinos for a long time, providing the same gamble as in-person table game options while being accessible from almost anywhere. However, this accessibility also means that there can be a lot of variety – and that makes it hard to choose what to play.
Whether you are new to the world of table games or an experienced player looking for new options, understanding the best table games can be important for using your free time well. But what table games stand out the most?
Blackjack
Blackjack, also known as 21, is one of the most popular table games globally. The objective is simple: beat the dealer with a hand value closer to 21 without going over. Each card has a specific value, with face cards worth 10 and aces worth either 1 or 11.
While blackjack is simple on paper, strategy is crucial. Knowing when to hit or stand based on the dealer’s up card is effectively a skill in itself, and Blackjack also often features side bets and variations (such as Blackjack Switch or Spanish 21), which can add an extra layer of excitement.
If you are looking for something straightforward but surprisingly deep, Blackjack can be an ideal table game to start with.
Roulette
In roulette, players place bets on where they think a ball will land on a spinning wheel. Bets can be placed on individual numbers, groups of numbers, colors, or whether the number will be odd or even.
The game features two main types of wheels: American and European. The American wheel has an additional double zero (00) slot, increasing the house edge compared to the European wheel, which has only a single zero.
This is another table game that sounds simple on paper but can actually be surprisingly thrilling to play. Having so many betting options allows players to take bigger or smaller risks in each betting round, and it is an easy game for brand-new players to pick up.
Poker
Poker is a classic that almost everybody will have heard of. The most popular form is Texas Hold’em, where players are dealt two private cards and use five community cards to make the best five-card hand – but there are countless variations of the game to try.
Poker requires a combination of strategy, bluffing, and understanding of odds in a way that not many other games offer. Players must decide when to bet, raise, or fold based on their hands and their opponents’ actions.
It can be tricky to learn poker at first, but once you understand the basics, you are all set to try the many different variant games that exist across the world.
Baccarat
Baccarat is a straightforward table game with a low house edge, making it appealing to many players. The objective is to bet on which hand, the player’s or the banker’s, will be closest to a value of nine. Players can also bet on a tie between the two hands.
The game involves minimal decision-making, as the dealer handles most of the action, drawing cards according to preset rules. Baccarat’s simplicity and fast-paced nature make it an attractive option for players seeking straightforward, high-stakes action.
Craps
Finally, we have craps, a simple dice game with a fast pace. Players bet on the outcome of rolls or sequences of rolls, with options including pass/do not pass bets, come/not come bets, and various proposition bets.
The game’s complexity can be daunting for beginners, but learning the basic bets and strategies can provide a solid foundation for all kinds of other games. Craps is also varied enough to be engaging at any level of skill or experience without being so complicated that a new player can’t learn it through practice.
While it is difficult to learn any online casino or table game as a new player, sometimes you just need one hook or raw anchor to get you invested. Trying out different game types never hurts – even if you realize you do not enjoy a particular game, you know to avoid it in the future.