Fun Facts about Card Games You May Not Know

An Introduction to Card Games

Card games at a casino are basically any game which involves cards. That immediately excludes slots and roulette (except in California, but that is for another article) but includes baccarat, blackjack and poker. Thus, without further ado, let’s break down four top quality card games which you can play at land-based casinos and also at online gambling sites.

Blackjack

The first game on our list is blackjack, which is also known as the game of 21. The aim of the game is to sit at a table and beat the dealer. In blackjack, you try to build a hand with a value as close to 21 as possible. Anything above 21 is a busted hand which automatically loses. This applies for the dealer’s hand as well.

There are many variations of blackjack both at land-based and online casinos. However, in all versions the aim is to beat the dealer by building a hand that is closer in value to 21 than his/hers is. The best possible hand, from which the game takes its name, is Ace with a 10-value card. It is worth exactly 21 and it cannot be beaten.

Blackjack Fun Facts

Contrary to what many may believe, blackjack originated in France around the early 1700s. The name ‘blackjack’ is an American invention, with the original game called ‘vingt-et-un’, which translates to ‘twenty-one’.

Blackjack is known for having very fun side bets. The side bets are mostly available for online blackjack games, giving the player the option to wager a little on the side. The two most popular side bets in blackjack are Perfect Pairs and 21+3. These can see you earn a minimum 5:1 pay out for a successful match.

Blackjack has become one of the most popular forms of gambling in recent times. Many movies, such as Rain Man, The Hangover or 21, feature blackjack as the go-to game in Las Vegas. The game of 21 has certainly risen in popularity over the past several years.

Baccarat

The next game on our list is baccarat. The most common form of the game requires players to bet on which of two positions, Player or Banker, will have a value closer to 9 once all the cards are dealt. The game starts with two cards being dealt to each position, and there are some scenarios where a third may be dealt.

Baccarat has three variations and the most popular form is Punto Banco. However, at the vast majority of land-based and online casinos, it is simply referred to as Baccarat or Mini Baccarat. The other versions of the game are chemin de fer and baccarat banque. You will never find these other versions available to play online, but they are still very popular in some European casinos.

Baccarat Fun Facts

What you may not have known about baccarat is that the game has been around for ages. No one is entirely sure exactly how, when and where the game originated. The majority of sources claim that the game was developed in France, particularly because of chemin de fer, which is a French variation on baccarat.

Regardless of the game’s origins, one claim to fame that baccarat has is that it was the first game played in a James Bond movie. Back in 1962, when Sean Connery brought agent 007 to life in Dr. No, he was playing the French baccarat game chemin de fer, at Les Ambassadeurs in London.

Poker

One of the most popular card games in casinos is poker. The history of poker dates back to the 19th century. There are several different versions of poker, such as Texas Hold’em and Stud Poker. However, nearly all of them trace their roots back to draw poker. This game sees players receive five cards and they are then able to exchange some to try to build the best possible hand.

In most versions of poker, players will gamble on themselves to beat their opponents. Strong poker hands include four-of-a-kind, a straight, flush or royal flush. However, players may also try to bluff their opponents, which means pretending that your hand is stronger than it is. If your bluff is successful, you would have scared off the other players who would forfeit the hand and you’d end up with the pot. One of the key things to know about poker is that it’s all about placing bets, calling or going all-in. You can also ‘check’ which means not wagering any extra cash.

Casino Poker

There are also single player poker games, which are known as Casino Poker. These include games such as Three Card Poker, Casino Hold’em and Caribbean Stud Poker. The aim of these games is always to form the best possible poker hand; however, players are taking on the house rather than each other.

Each form of Casino Poker offers something slightly different. There are some very basic games and others that are a bit more involved. Many of them also offer enjoyable side bets, giving players more chances to win. Some are even linked to progressive jackpots.

Poker Fun Facts

All forms of poker are played with a complete deck of 52 cards, meaning every single number from the deck is represented four times in the different card suits. The game is played with poker chips which represent a certain amount of cash. But let’s take a look at some interesting facts which made up the game back in the day.

According to some reports, the longest game of poker lasted a tiresome 8 years, 5 months and 3 days. In 1881, the Bird Cage Theatre hosted a poker game called the Bird Cage Tournament. It was made for high rollers with a buy-in of $1000. Take what you will from this tale, but it just goes to show how competitive poker can be.

Just like blackjack, where knocking on the table suggests a ‘hit’, poker can also be played without any words. In poker, by knocking the table twice, you are non-verbally telling the players and dealer at the table that you are checking (not placing any wager).

Contrary to what many may believe, poker was born in France and not in the United States. Poker may have developed into the game it is today in the US, but originally it was a French game known as Poque.

Closing Remarks

Hopefully you have enjoyed learning a bit about the various different card games you can play at a casino. All of them can provide hours of fun and they offer the chance of great winnings. You will find nearly all of these games available here to play at Spin Rio, including in our live dealer casino, so why not take your seat today and put your card skills to the test.