Online casinos are quickly becoming the go-to for players who want to enjoy all the luxuries of a casino from the comfort of their own home. Since their inception online casinos have really blossomed and are expanding in a variety of different ways. Today’s sites are a lot more inclusive than they were even 5 years ago and now there are casino games for nearly every type of player and every skill level.

Before beginning to play at any online casino it is important that you understand the rules of all the games you would like to play. If you don’t know the rules and understand them then you will find yourself blindly placing wagers and likely losing hefty sums of money. Below we will briefly describe the rules for the most popular online casino games that you will encounter.

Baccarat

Baccarat is a game that dates back to the 15th century and is popularly believed to have been popularized by the French after it was introduced to them by Italians. The three major types of Baccarat are called punto banco, baccarat chemin de fer, and baccarat banque.The punto banco version of the game involves 0 skill and is complete chance as your move and result are determined by the cards dealt to the opposing player. In Baccarat chemin de fer both players can make informed decisions and thus the game is considered to involve more skill than the aforementioned variety of baccarat.

The most popular type of Baccarat is most definitely punto banco, which is also known as North American Baccarat. In the game of baccarat, cards that are numbered 2 through 9 are worth a point value equivalent to the number on the card. Cards that are either 10, J, Q, or K are worth nothing and Aces are valued as 1 point. The highest card value that you can get is a 9, and if you draw, let’s say, a 6 and a 7 logic tells you that your total would be 13, but because the highest value you can draw is 9, you utilize the right-sided digit; thus, your hand is worth 3 points, not 13.

In punto banco baccarat there are rules for the players (puntos) and the banker (banco). If a player draws a hand (2 cards) whose value is no more than 5, the player then draws a third card. If you are lucky enough to land a 6 or 7 with your first hand then you do nothing (stand).

If a player has stood, then the banker plays exactly as the player initially did, standing with a 6 or 7 and drawing a third card should his first hand not reach beyond 5 points. If the player drew a hand worth 0-5 and was forced to pick a third card, the banker then acts according to the following set of rules:

Player Draws

Banker Draws

Banker Stands

2 or 3

0-4

5-7

4 or 5

0-5

6-7

6 or 7

0-6

7

8

0-2

3-7

9, 10, Face Card

0-3

4-7

 

The possible results of the game include the banker winning, the player winning, and a tie. The person who has a higher hand total takes the cake.

Blackjack

Blackjack consists of a dealer and anywhere from one or two players to as many as 5 to 7 at the same table. The game is fairly simple and the goal is to get as close to a total of 21 without going over while at the same time retaining no more than 5 cards.

Once a player places their bet they are then given 2 cards. The value of each card is added together to determine your hand’s value. Cards 2-10 are worth their face value while J, Q, and K are worth 10 each. Aces are valued as either 1 or 11; you choose based on what is most beneficial for you. Once you are dealt your hand you are given the opportunity to hit (receive an additional card), stand (end their hand there), double (double their initial wager, receive an additional card, and end their turn), split (this happens if both cards are of the same value; you split them to make 2 separate hands), or surrender (meaning you take a half-bet and step away from the game).

If you receive your hand and decide to hit and the third card you receive puts your total over 21 then you “bust” (lose) and any money you wagered is lost. Once all players have either busted, stood, or have taken any of the other options it is time for the dealer to play cards. The dealer plays until he either reaches a total of 17 or more, or his hand total exceeds 21 and he busts. If the dealer busts, all players who are still standing win. The dealer is never allowed to double, split, or surrender. If the dealer stands at a hand worth 17 or above all remaining players who have better hands are considered winners, the others simply lose. If there is a tie the player typically receives his or her bet back. Blackjack (a combination of a face card and an Ace) beats any other hand even if that hand is a total of 21. If two players have Blackjack they both win and split the money evenly.

These are just two of the most popular games that you can find on online casinos, there are a lot of others too. Most people discredit casino games as being too complex or complicated but all it takes is a little bit of reading and understanding to be able to play nearly every game. Even casino games like baccarat do not require much intelligence to be able to play as it is more or less simply a game of chance and involves little to no skill. Games like Blackjack, on the other hand, require skill and you can develop into a superb player in no time.