Casino table games offer a more interactive gambling experience than pulling a slot lever. Some, like blackjack, even allow players to incorporate strategy.
Blackjack is the quintessential casino card game and one of the few where you can beat the house. The higher your hand ranking, the bigger your payout.
Craps
Craps is a fast-paced game where players bet on the sum of two six-sided dice. The players stand around a large rectangular table, called a craps “layout,” and use casino chips instead of cash to make their bets.
The game is played by one or more players who shoot the dice, trying to roll a number such as 7 or 11. If they fail to do so on the first roll, they establish a point number that they must roll again before throwing a 7.
A player can win money at craps, but the house has a built-in advantage over the long run. To minimize this loss, players should stick to bets with the lowest house edge. These include Pass Line and Come bets, as well as Place bets on the 6, 8, and 10. Other bets, such as Big 6 and 8 bets, pay poorly and are usually avoided by experienced players.
Baccarat
Baccarat (punto banco, chemmy, and baccarat banque) is a game that allows players to bet on the Player hand, the Banker hand, or a tie. This game uses standard decks of cards that are similar to those used in poker and blackjack. Pip cards are worth their face value and the values of jacks, queens, and kings count as zero.
Unlike other casino games, baccarat is scored hand-to-hand and the outcome of one hand does not affect the odds for a later hand. Players should use good money management strategies that include setting loss limits and establishing gaming budgets. This will help them minimize their losses and maximize any upswings in fortune. Baccarat is a slow game, so players should be prepared to wait for the dealer to pay winning wagers.
Pai Gow Poker
Pai Gow Poker is a card game that was created in 1985 and uses playing cards instead of traditional Chinese dominoes. The object of the game is for players to arrange their seven cards into two hands – one with five cards and one with two cards. The player’s high hand must rank higher than the banker’s low hand. If both hands rank the same, it’s a tie (called a “copy” by some casinos).
Players may choose to be the banker and must have enough gaming chips in front of them to pay winning bets. If they do not, the casino will collect their winnings. The banker also loses ties (called “copies”) but is paid even money for wins and pays a 5% commission for losing hands.
Roulette
Roulette is a popular casino game that can be played both in person and at online casinos. It is a fun and exciting game that requires skill and strategy. It is also a great way to pass time and relieve stress. However, it is important to know its advantages and disadvantages.
Players place their bets on a numbered roulette wheel using colored chips, which are specific to each player. The croupier then halts betting, spins the wheel, and rolls a ball in the opposite direction. If the ball comes to a stop in one of the slots, the croupier announces the result and collects all losing bets.
It is possible to beat roulette, but it takes a lot of math and a strong commitment to limiting your losses. Avoid strategies that promise unrealistic profits and always set a budget before you play.
Three Card Stud
Despite being named after poker and using the same hand rankings there’s very little strategy involved in Three Card Stud. Players simply decide on an ante wager before the cards are dealt and either play or decline. The dealer then compares their hand with the player’s and any winning bets are paid out.
Players place a Play wager if they like their Three Card Poker hand and win an Ante Bonus if their hand contains a Pair or better. Players can also make a Pair Plus bet, which is placed after the ante wager and is based on the value of their two cards. As with most casino table games the odds and house edge in Three Card Stud remain relatively high, but it’s still much easier to play than Texas Hold’em.
