Baccarat and Blackjack are some of the most popular casino games worldwide. These games are a mainstay at top online and live casinos as they offer an opportunity to win decent payouts. Beginners can even play Baccarat and Blackjack on live casinos giving a near-reality experience. But although they are both card games, Baccarat and Blackjack differ significantly. If you're wondering which game to play between these two, this article is for you. We'll explore these popular card games and draw a factual conclusion.
Baccarat and Blackjack Gameplay
Baccarat and Blackjack are like day and night regarding the gameplay. In Baccarat, the idea is to predict the side that will get a natural (8 or 9). Players wager on three possible outcomes. You can bet on the Player or Banker to win and receive a 1:1 payout. If this payout is too small, players can bet on a tie, which gives an 8:1 payout, you can play on 22bet. However, the possibility of a tie is relatively low.
On the other hand, Blackjack gamers are dealt two cards before choosing to either "hit" (receive another card) or "stand" (keep their current hand). Blackjack players aim to create a hand value closest to 21 without busting (going over). This makes the game exciting, as you'll have enough time to beat the dealer to the magic number.
The Card Values
We have already mentioned that Baccarat and Blackjack are played using cards. However, the card values in these games are different. In Baccarat, cards 2-9 represent their original face values, with Ace representing a single point and 10-K having zero points. If you get a hand value of K + A, that's just a single point.
In Blackjack, cards 2-10 represent their face values, while face cards, including King, Queen, and Jack, give gamers 10 points. The Ace is the most versatile card in Blackjack, representing 1 or 11 points. Now that's a slight similarity between the two games.
Note that Baccarat hands are counted differently after creating 10 or higher. Assume a player gets 6+6, making a total hand value of 12 in games like Blackjack. But in Baccarat, you'll remove the first digit, giving you a hand value of 2.
The House Edge
The house edge is a theoretical return for the house in each bet, whether winning or losing. So, if a game has a 5% house edge, the maximum you can win from a 100-coin bet is 95. Now you know why casinos can never close shop.
That said, the house edge in Baccarat is usually cast in stone. You'll enjoy a 1.06% house edge if you bet on the banker position to win and 1.24% if you wager on the player. Betting on a tie increases the advantage to 9.5%, so you're better off avoiding this wager. Remember, banker wins attract a 5% commission to the house.
But the house edge can be variable in Blackjack, depending on the game rules and strategy. Usually, the house edge ranges between 0.5% and 2%, making Blackjack one of the friendliest casino games.
Strategy
Baccarat is widely considered a luck-based game, meaning no strategy can give players an edge or reduce the house's mathematical advantage. But players can boost their winning chances by playing even money bets. As for Blackjack, there are many known strategies for reducing the house edge. For example, experienced players can count cards and use betting systems like Martingale and Paroli to gain an advantage. You can also split two Aces and play using two strong hands.
Which is Best to Play?
From the descriptions above, it's evident that Blackjack gives players more control over their gaming sessions. But if you find Blackjack strategies to be time-consuming, Baccarat will serve you well. So, it's all about player preferences.