If you know how to choose a casino table game that's just right for you, your next gambling experience will be much more fun! Take a look at the different ways table games work, what they offer, to find one that's just for you.
Casino table games come and go, their popularity either sustained by continued play, or lost to the wind due to player apathy and disinterest. Although some games may be fun, there is a fine line between the excitement of playing and the overall cost for the consumer.
Eventually, even a very exciting game loses its appeal if the player never seems to bring home the bacon.
On the other hand, the game of Faro used to be quite popular, but the house edge was very small and it was a tough game for dealers to manage and required a Pit Boss to watch the game at all times, so the cost of having it in action was to much for the casinos, so while the game itself may have faded a bit in popularity, the casinos were happy to let it go because the overall win was too small.
As a player, the perfect table game is one that fits your personality, or at least your current mood, so choose wisely and you'll be happy. But what does each game offer? Aside from playing games you understand, you should consider your personality and your overall goals. Do you want to have a wild night with a chance to whoop and holler and see what happens, or do you want to sit sedately and keep to yourself? Are you on a short bankroll, or can you kick-up your heels tonight and not worry about variance and the ups and downs of your chips?
Want to make lots of decisions, or do you want to just make bets?
Strategy Games
You'll have to make decisions on every casino table game, but sometimes the only decision is how much to bet. Blackjack is the most popular table game in the world, possibly because your decision making and playing strategy have a big impact on your success at the game. It doesn't matter which variety of blackjack you play, from Spanish 21 to Double Exposure, you'll make hit, stand and double down decisions on every play.
Let it Ride and craps are also games that employ some strategy, but the decisions made at craps are based on which bets to make, not how to play a specific hand. However, successful craps players do use specific strategies to try and match the way the dice are rolling, so keep that in mind before your start playing.
Of course the ultimate strategy game in the casino is poker. If you're in the mood to pit your wits against other players, poker is for you. If you know how to play poker, that's a start, but remember it takes a long time to get good!
No Strategy Games
Some games don't allow the player to make any playing decisions. As the barkers used to say, "You bets your money and you takes your chances." If you remember playing War at the kitchen table, you can play the same game in the casino. High card wins, it's that easy.
Still don't want to wrack your brain? Try baccarat. The game is as easy as they come. Choose to bet on the player or banker to make the best hand, that's it, unless you want to bet on a tie.
Social Games
Craps used to be the ultimate social game. Players would yell and scream and have a great time when the dice were really rolling. However, while players still make noise at the craps table, blackjack is now highly social too. Players tend to spend much of their time bantering with each other and the dealer, so if you want to talk, 21 is the one.
Three-Card-Poker is also a friendly game, and it moves slower than blackjack, so players tend to talk with each other, much like Let-it-Ride.
Not so Social Games
There are exceptions to every rule, but some games don't seem to attract players that want to talk. Baccarat is considered a quite game, even if the players don't make many decisions. Pai Gow and roulette are much the same. The players may visit with each other a bit, but they seem to be concentrating on their own game most of the time. Roulette players often follow a system like the Labouchere, but then again that's a betting strategy.
High Variance Games
Think of variance as the time between your wins and losses, that makes it easier. The ultimate high variance game is Keno. You won't win very often, but if you do, you might just win a lot! Although craps can be a low variance game, if you play the horn bets and hard-ways, lookout, you're in high variance land.
These days you can turn most any card game into high variance by making lots of bonus bets. The bonus payouts offer big jackpots and lousy player odds. Pass when you can!
Low Variance Games
Baccarat is almost like flipping a coin, so the variance is quite low. Want to experience just a slow, minor swing in wins and losses? Then baccarat and craps (when betting the pass line and don't pass) are for you. War is also low, but the "going to war" rule does detract a bit from the low variance.
Winning Big or Just Cruising
Your desire to maybe win big or just cruise along and enjoy a bit of gaming will be impacted by the game you choose also. Obviously playing Keno or a game with a jackpot bonus might get you a big payoff, but it's not so much the game you choose as the way you wager that will determine whether you win big or not. If you don't want to risk much, you can play Keno for a buck, but beyond that, flat betting at a game like blackjack, baccarat, or the pass line (or don't pass) at craps is what you want to do.
Any game like Let-it-Ride or Three-Card-Poker where you have to make several bets every hand will drain your bankroll quicker, and it's likely the more you bet per hand, the more likely you will lose.
However, if you want to win big, you'll need to bet more as you start winning, risking a greater and greater amount each hand. Of course the ultimate strategy is to simply bet small when aren't winning much and increase your wagers when you are winning more hands. Try it, you'll like it.
Casino table games come and go, their popularity either sustained by continued play, or lost to the wind due to player apathy and disinterest. Although some games may be fun, there is a fine line between the excitement of playing and the overall cost for the consumer.
Eventually, even a very exciting game loses its appeal if the player never seems to bring home the bacon.
On the other hand, the game of Faro used to be quite popular, but the house edge was very small and it was a tough game for dealers to manage and required a Pit Boss to watch the game at all times, so the cost of having it in action was to much for the casinos, so while the game itself may have faded a bit in popularity, the casinos were happy to let it go because the overall win was too small.
As a player, the perfect table game is one that fits your personality, or at least your current mood, so choose wisely and you'll be happy. But what does each game offer? Aside from playing games you understand, you should consider your personality and your overall goals. Do you want to have a wild night with a chance to whoop and holler and see what happens, or do you want to sit sedately and keep to yourself? Are you on a short bankroll, or can you kick-up your heels tonight and not worry about variance and the ups and downs of your chips?
Want to make lots of decisions, or do you want to just make bets?
Strategy Games
You'll have to make decisions on every casino table game, but sometimes the only decision is how much to bet. Blackjack is the most popular table game in the world, possibly because your decision making and playing strategy have a big impact on your success at the game. It doesn't matter which variety of blackjack you play, from Spanish 21 to Double Exposure, you'll make hit, stand and double down decisions on every play.
Let it Ride and craps are also games that employ some strategy, but the decisions made at craps are based on which bets to make, not how to play a specific hand. However, successful craps players do use specific strategies to try and match the way the dice are rolling, so keep that in mind before your start playing.
Of course the ultimate strategy game in the casino is poker. If you're in the mood to pit your wits against other players, poker is for you. If you know how to play poker, that's a start, but remember it takes a long time to get good!
No Strategy Games
Some games don't allow the player to make any playing decisions. As the barkers used to say, "You bets your money and you takes your chances." If you remember playing War at the kitchen table, you can play the same game in the casino. High card wins, it's that easy.
Still don't want to wrack your brain? Try baccarat. The game is as easy as they come. Choose to bet on the player or banker to make the best hand, that's it, unless you want to bet on a tie.
Social Games
Craps used to be the ultimate social game. Players would yell and scream and have a great time when the dice were really rolling. However, while players still make noise at the craps table, blackjack is now highly social too. Players tend to spend much of their time bantering with each other and the dealer, so if you want to talk, 21 is the one.
Three-Card-Poker is also a friendly game, and it moves slower than blackjack, so players tend to talk with each other, much like Let-it-Ride.
Not so Social Games
There are exceptions to every rule, but some games don't seem to attract players that want to talk. Baccarat is considered a quite game, even if the players don't make many decisions. Pai Gow and roulette are much the same. The players may visit with each other a bit, but they seem to be concentrating on their own game most of the time. Roulette players often follow a system like the Labouchere, but then again that's a betting strategy.
High Variance Games
Think of variance as the time between your wins and losses, that makes it easier. The ultimate high variance game is Keno. You won't win very often, but if you do, you might just win a lot! Although craps can be a low variance game, if you play the horn bets and hard-ways, lookout, you're in high variance land.
These days you can turn most any card game into high variance by making lots of bonus bets. The bonus payouts offer big jackpots and lousy player odds. Pass when you can!
Low Variance Games
Baccarat is almost like flipping a coin, so the variance is quite low. Want to experience just a slow, minor swing in wins and losses? Then baccarat and craps (when betting the pass line and don't pass) are for you. War is also low, but the "going to war" rule does detract a bit from the low variance.
Winning Big or Just Cruising
Your desire to maybe win big or just cruise along and enjoy a bit of gaming will be impacted by the game you choose also. Obviously playing Keno or a game with a jackpot bonus might get you a big payoff, but it's not so much the game you choose as the way you wager that will determine whether you win big or not. If you don't want to risk much, you can play Keno for a buck, but beyond that, flat betting at a game like blackjack, baccarat, or the pass line (or don't pass) at craps is what you want to do.
Any game like Let-it-Ride or Three-Card-Poker where you have to make several bets every hand will drain your bankroll quicker, and it's likely the more you bet per hand, the more likely you will lose.
However, if you want to win big, you'll need to bet more as you start winning, risking a greater and greater amount each hand. Of course the ultimate strategy is to simply bet small when aren't winning much and increase your wagers when you are winning more hands. Try it, you'll like it.