Online gambling has been becoming increasingly popular and players are now spoilt for choices. You get table games, pokies, slots, sports betting and so much more. There are now endless ways to have fun with gambling. There are even free online casino games nowadays that players can enjoy. That being said, players and especially inexperienced ones often fail to distinguish between blackjack and baccarat which is why in this article, we will be breaking down their differences. Keep on reading.
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What is Blackjack?
Blackjack is a card game where the main objective is to have a hand that totals higher than the dealer. However, the hand cannot be over 21. If it is, it becomes a “bust”, which essentially means that you are out of the game. The game starts off with everyone placing a bet, except the dealer. Then, all the players get two cards face-up and the dealer gets two cards, one face-up and one face-down. If the two cards equal 21, you automatically win. Otherwise, you can either say “hit” or “stay” to indicate whether or not you want any more cards. If your cards go over 21, you will lose.
Once the dealer goes around the table, he flips his face-down card. If the total is 17 or more, they cannot take any more cards but if the total is 16 or lower, they have to take another card. Whichever hand is closer to 21 then wins.
This was the basic outline of the Blackjack game. Now, let’s see how Baccarat is played.
What is Baccarat?
Baccarat is yet another card game that might seem similar to Blackjack. Here, players bet on who they think will score the highest. They can place their bet on the player, banker, or tie. The dealer then deals two cards to the player and banker, face-up. Now, as opposed to blackjack, where the winner is declared by determining who is closer is 21, in Baccarat, the game is decided by which hand is closer to 9. You can get the total score by adding up the two cards. The cards aces through 10 are face value while the tens and the face cards are worth zero.
Now, here’s the thing. When adding up the cards to get the total, the number on the left of the total is dropped off. For instance, if one card is 7 and the other is 5, the total is 12 where the 1 will be dropped only to leave the 2. Thus, only the right digit is considered. This might seem a bit perplexing at first. But, remember that whichever hand is closest to 9 wins the game.
Now, how is the bet settled? Anyone who bets on the player gets the payout if the player wins. Anyone who bets on the banker gets the payout if the banker wins. And, if there’s a tie between the two, anyone who bet on the tie would get the payout. This is the basic outline of the Baccarat game.
Similarities Between Blackjack and Baccarat
Now that we have familiarized ourselves with the games, it is time we break down a few similarities between them. Well, of course, the first big similarity is that both are card games. Next, in both the games there is a player and a dealer. Plus, both the games have pretty much the same objective; to beat the dealer with the highest hand possible. Lastly, another similarity is that both games start with two cards at hand and players can draw more cards if needed. With regard to similarities, this is all there is. While both the games might look pretty similar to the untrained eye, they have major differences. Let us explore what they are in the next section.
Differences Between Blackjack and Baccarat
On the surface, both blackjack and baccarat look quite similar. After all, they are both card games and until you look closer, you don’t really notice the differences. Let us break down what distinguishes the two games.
- One big difference is that players do not have control over Baccarat while they do so in Blackjack. They do not get to make any decisions unlike in Blackjack. In Baccarat, one can only choose who to bet on and the rest takes place on its own. However, in Blackjack, you can get the opportunity to “hit” or “stay” and this directly affects the outcome of the game.
- Another difference between the two games is regarding the betting options. In blackjack, the gamblers are betting on them whereas, in baccarat, they have three betting options.
- Another difference is how you count the total. The calculation is more straightforward in blackjack; you add up the two cards and get the total. However, in baccarat, if the total is of two digits, the left digit will be dropped.
- Lastly, a big difference is the concept of “bust”. In blackjack, you cannot go over 21 because then you would lose or “bust”. However, in baccarat, there is no such thing. The objective is to get a higher hand than the dealer and the highest is 9. There is nothing called “going over” 9.
Final Thoughts
Both blackjack and baccarat are insanely popular games in the casino online scene. They are both enjoyable and allow players to win easy money. However, new players often confuse the rules between the two. That is why we made this simple guide to help you with it.
