- Blackjack players love the game because of its inclusion of limited strategy and simple rules.
- Baccarat and Pai Gow Poker can mimic those aspects but in unique ways.
- There are other games that players might want to consider as the best alternatives to blackjack.
You may occasionally wonder what games are like blackjack. Blackjack has many alternatives, but baccarat and Pai Gow Poker often take the top spots. This is because blackjack players can easily pick up these two casino games, which are similar to blackjack, and still get a sufficiently different experience. But the commonalities go far beyond card-based casino play.
When you play blackjack online, you’re hoping for a card draw that aligns with the decisions you’ve made. Baccarat and Pai Gow Poker are similar, but their structures open up new possibilities. Here’s a closer look at Baccarat vs. Pai Gow Poker and what blackjack players might want to keep in mind.
How is Baccarat Similar to Blackjack?
Playing blackjack vs. baccarat (specifically Chemin de Fer) may put bettors in positions where they need to make calculated decisions on whether to stick with the first two cards they’re dealt or take a third card to try to strengthen their position. Although the luck of the draw ultimately determines whether a decision was the right move, the fixed probabilities provide clear guidance as to what the probable best move is in versions of baccarat like Banque or Chemin de Fer and blackjack.
The baccarat rules are also similar to blackjack rules in that there are specific point values for each card that are part of the game. For example, in both baccarat and blackjack, the number cards between two and nine are worth their face value.
How is Pai Gow Poker Similar to Blackjack?
Learning a new casino game can be easy for blackjack lovers in terms of Pai Gow Poker because both card games pit bettors against the house, and bettors’ decisions on the composition of hands can make or break their wagers. Players must understand the likelihood of the dealer holding the cards necessary to beat their hands to make those decisions in both games.
Standard Pai Gow Poker, like the rules of blackjack variants, also allows for a push in certain situations.
Why Might Blackjack Players Love Baccarat?
A blackjack player learning how to play baccarat will notice the main points of differentiation are the fewer number of cards that add to your final hand value and the inclusion of bets with more significant payouts. Face cards and 10s count as zero points in baccarat, while aces only count as one, not one or 11.
When you’re comparing baccarat vs. other casino games like blackjack, you’ll see that baccarat may offer bigger payouts as well. For example, tie bets in blackjack don’t offer any potential rewards, while tie bets in baccarat usually offer 8:1 or 9:1 payouts. This can make baccarat appealing.
Why Might Blackjack Players Love Pai Gow Poker?
Blackjack players may also find themselves drawn to Pai Gow Poker for multiple reasons. For example, payouts for side bets in Pai Gow Poker can be as large as 8,000:1. Pai Gow Poker might also appeal to blackjack players because it includes a joker, which can be used like a wild card in certain situations.
Some of the best alternatives to standard blackjack are actually variants of the traditional game, though.
What Are Some Blackjack Variants That Are Worth Trying?
The scope of luck- and skill-based casino games that owe their origins to traditional blackjack has continued to grow over the course of centuries
Blackjack Switch
If Pai Gow Poker’s process of using a set of cards you’re dealt to compose two hands that compete against the dealer’s two hands is appealing to you, then Blackjack Switch is worth a look. Players are dealt a series of four cards comprising two blackjack hands and have the option to switch the second card of each hand in this variant.
Many Blackjack Switch games also offer intriguing blackjack side bets for bettors who prefer wagers with better payouts. The Super Match wager, for example, can pay up to 40:1 for four of a kind.
Pontoon
When it comes to games like blackjack, Pontoon is most similar in rule complexity and pace of play. The winner in both games is the player with the hand closest to 21, while Pontoon also offers the best rewards for either two-card or five-card hands.
Blackjack fans trying to choose the right casino game between traditional blackjack and Pontoon may enjoy the latter. Getting a hand with a score of exactly 21 also pays out 2:1 in most games of Pontoon, while some blackjack tables offer a lower 3:2 or even 6:5 payout in that situation.
Spanish 21
The variant Spanish 21 is like standard blackjack turned up several notches in that it allows bettors to split their hands up to four times and double down after each split. Also, as in other blackjack-style casino games, the 10 cards are not part of Spanish 21.
People who enjoy traditional blackjack may find the transition to Spanish 21 easy because the rules and payouts are similar. Some Spanish 21 games further change the experience by offering bonus payouts.
Comparing Table Games Like Blackjack
The table games that bear similarities to blackjack vary greatly in how similar they are and in which ways. What they all have in common is that they are based on chance, and none guarantees a win. Comparing the card game odds and card values also covers one of the main differences between games like blackjack and Pai Gow Poker. Here’s a closer look at these games:
| Game | How It Works | Role of Strategy | House Edge Range | Similarities to Blackjack |
| Baccarat | Players place bets on whether the player’s hand or banker’s hand will have the highest score, with the highest hand value being 9 or less | In variants like Banque and Chemin de Fer, bettors decide whether to receive a third card | Between 1% and 5%* | Numbered cards between two and nine count for face values, while player decisions rest on probabilities of card draws |
| Blackjack Switch | Players try to compose a hand with a score as near to 21 as possible without going over in order to beat the dealer’s hand | Players decide whether to switch cards between hands and make other decisions like hitting or standing | Between 0.5% and 4%* | Game rules are based on traditional blackjack with payouts similar to standard blackjack |
| Pai Gow Poker | Players try to divide seven cards up to form a five-card hand and a two-card hand that will both beat the dealer’s hands | Players decide how to compose both of their hands given the cards dealt to them | Between 2% and 3%* | Bettors base hand composition decisions on what gives them the strongest hands with limited knowledge of the dealer cards |
| Pontoon | Players try to compose a hand with a score as near to 21 as possible without going over in order to beat the dealer’s hand | Players decide whether to double down, hold, split, stand, and in some games, surrender | Between 0.5% and 4%* | Game rules are based on traditional blackjack with payouts similar to standard blackjack |
| Spanish 21 | Players try to compose a hand with a score as near to 21 as possible without going over in order to beat the dealer’s hand | Players decide whether to buy insurance, double down, hold, split, stand, and surrender | Between 0.5% and 4%* | Game rules are based on traditional blackjack with payouts similar to standard blackjack |
* For games with standard rules. Variations will alter the house edge.
Table Games Similar to Blackjack FAQ
Here are some commonly asked questions about games that are similar to blackjack:
Is Baccarat Easier Than Blackjack?
Not necessarily. Blackjack players may have to adjust to remembering that face cards and 10s have no value in baccarat and that the ideal score is nine instead of 21. However, there are versions of baccarat like Punto Banco which take the decision-making out of bettors’ hands for third cards and simplify the betting process.
What Casino Games Are Similar to Blackjack
Baccarat and Pai Gow Poker boast tremendous similarities to blackjack, such as the role of player strategy on the house edge and scoring systems that assign disparate values to specific cards and hands. There are also numerous blackjack variants that exclude certain cards and expand the strategy decisions compared to traditional versions of blackjack.
What is the Closest Casino Game to Blackjack?
Opinions are somewhat divided, but in terms of separate games that aren’t just blackjack variants, baccarat usually gets the most consideration for a card game that bears similarities to blackjack. This is because baccarat versions like Banque and Chemin de Fer also give players the objective of composing a hand with an ideal score and the option to take additional cards.
Which Casino Games Require Strategy?
That depends on how you define strategy in this context. All casino games could be said to require strategy if your definition includes simply choosing which game to play, which bets to place, and how much to risk. Games like blackjack enhance the role of strategy, though, by giving players decisions after bets are placed that have a limited influence on outcomes.
Is There a Limit on the Number of Cards You Can Draw in Blackjack?
No, there isn’t a limit to the number of cards you can draw in blackjack. The only rule that you need to keep in mind is that your total hand value must be 21 or less. As long as your hand meets this requirement, you can keep on asking for more cards.
Some variants of blackjack also reward you for drawing more cards without going bust. These variants include what’s known as the Five Card Charlie rule. This rule turns you into an instant winner if you manage to draw five cards without going bust.
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