Favoured across Eastern Europe, Baccarat is a game that involves the player trying to reach – or get as close as possible – to the number 9 before the dealer does. In Blackjack, the player is required to get 21 or as close to it as possible. For those not in the know, these games are considered very similar, as both are a game of card comparing. However, there are many key differences which should be noted before you consider playing either game.
Aim of the Game
Baccarat’s main goal is to get your cards to reach the number 9. There are two players – the Player and the Banker, and both are dealt an initial two cards. While reaching 9 seems easy enough, the game is played in a circular fashion and as such, the player cannot go bust like they are able to in Blackjack. An example of this is if the hand dealt to the Player contains a 9 and a 7 – you would then count past 9 to 0 – not 10 – leaving the hand total as being worth 6. Another card is then dealt out and the game continues. It’s also important to note that face cards count as 0.
For some, it can be quite confusing that the bet is placed on who the player thinks will have the wining hand – and despite the name, putting your money on the Player doesn’t mean betting on yourself. The three betting options available are the Player, the Banker, or betting on a tie. The player also does not choose if they stand or if they hit, as hands are decided directly by the dealer, who uses a set of rules that are predetermined as to when cards are dealt, and these rules are also strict as to when hands can stand.
Strategic Play
Though you can get more complicated with regards to playing strategy, you can also keep your strategy as simple as picking one of the three outcomes. Baccarat has one of the lowest house edges, and if you want to up your chance of winning, the banker is the most common bet to make.
In blackjack, the player is betting on their hand and their ability to win based on their cards. It is the players own choice as to when cards are dealt, or the hand should stand. Cards also take on different values to Baccarat, with the Ace considered to be a wild card or magic card, since it’s value can be set to 1 or 11 depending on the current hand of the player. Should two duplicate cards be dealt, such as two 10’s, the player has the option to split their hand available to them (though some will stand due to how close to 21 that puts them). Blackjack’s strategy is often viewed as more complicated and involved, and many players like the challenge of honing their strategy over time to edge down the house advantage.
While both games are popular like cricket betting in NZ, it is entirely depended on the player as which game is more enjoyable for them personally, and which game they wish to invest more time in learning to play well.