No matter which online casino you frequent, you will surely have noticed that both poker and blackjack are always amongst the most popular games available. Of the two, blackjack is the more straight-forward and less dramatic option, while poker in its many different forms is often the game where the money’s at. It should be no surprise, for example, that most of the world’s richest and most successful gamblers are avid and experienced poker players. It does take more practice and generally a serious starting bankroll to book any kind of considerable long-term success, though.
As most things in life, both poker and blackjack each have their upsides and their downsides. Therefore, we figured that it would be interesting to take a bit more detailed look at the key differences between these two popular online casino games. We’ll also briefly go over the odds structure for each game, and why one game or the other might be more suitable for you.
Of course, regardless of the game, always remember to gamble responsibly. As the industry slogan goes: when the fun stops, stop. And do some research on which online casinos to use, something that www.casinokix.com have looked at in depth.
Poker and blackjack at your online casino
We’re assuming that you are here because you already have some experience with at least a few of the more popular games at online casinos, but just in case, we’ll quickly explain the basics of poker and blackjack here below.
Poker is probably the best-known and most popular online casino game. It refers to a family of card games with varying rules in which players wager over which hand is best according to those specific rules. The game has been around since the early 19th century and experienced a great surge in popularity during the second half of the 20th century, especially after the start of the World Series of Poker in 1970.
Blackjack is probably one of the few online casinos that can rival poker’s popularity worldwide. It’s a fun game with a rather low barrier to entry, as the rules are quite easy to learn. Based on a standard classic deck of 52 playing cards, where each player competes against the dealer (also referred to as “the house”) individually. The goal of the game is to get a total card value of 21 or as close as possible to 21, without exceeding it.
Key differences between poker and blackjack
Despite the fact that both games are online casino classics, they have considerable differences, which means that one might suit your gaming preferences and risk profile more than the other. The major difference between the two probably lies in the approach to each game and the basic strategies required by each game.
- Strategy: Success in blackjack is dependent on a combination of a strict strategy, some experience and knowledge, and a certain amount of luck. Becoming a successful poker player can be the result of different, often very personalised strategies, as well as a knowledge of psychology and the techniques of deception, also known as “bluffing”.
- Competition: A big difference between these two online casino games lies in the type of competitiveness each one offers. In poker, players are facing each other and the house influences very little. In blackjack, players can try and outdo each other, but they are always playing an individual game against the house.
- Interaction: Blackjack players, in theory, don’t need to interact with other players at all if they don’t want to. Poker is much more of a social game in which skills like using and reading body language or online behaviour can mean the difference between losing or winning big.
- Odds: In comparison to blackjack odds, poker odds are much more skill-based. Blackjack players take on the casino, which makes the odds structure more straight forward. The house always has an edge, but an experienced player with a solid strategy can lower this considerably compared to a beginner. In poker, the odds of winning can vary enormously. It’s not only about getting a winning hand, but understanding the odds of getting the necessary cards for that hand based on the limited information you get from the table and the other players.
As you’ve probably understood by now, much of each game’s suitability to your preferred gambling style depends on what kind of competition you’re most comfortable with. The good thing is that you can easily switch between the two as well at practically every online casino. If you get a kick out of competing with other players and are confident in your poker face, then poker is probably more exciting for you. If you prefer a bit more structure or a more solitary approach while still applying a certain amount of skills, then blackjack might be ideal for you.