Forget blackjack and baccarat, these are the hottest new card games to hit online casinos
There have always been two sides to casino gaming – the slots and the tables. In a physical casino, this segregation is physically apparent, while even online, the two types of games are invariably under separate menus on the site. Slots are perceived as more innovative, with new games coming out every week, while table game are seen as being for traditionalists.
Yet that is not necessarily the case. Sure, roulette and craps have been around for decades, but when it comes to card games, modern online casinos like Ninja Casino Canada are offering far more than the usual blackjack, baccarat and 3-card poker. Here, we take a look at some of the latest card games you can play at online casinos.
Dragon Tiger
Card games don’t have to be complicated to be fun. Dragon Tiger is about as simple a game as you can get. It used to be something of an elusive legend, played in remote corners of Asia but today, it is starting to appear in more and more casinos. It’s essentially a one-card version of baccarat. Instead of Player and Banker, you have Dragon and Tiger. Each are dealt a single card, and you must predict whose will be the higher.
3-Card Rummy
This has little in common with the traditional rummy game you might have played with your grandmother as a kid. It is a game played against the dealer that has more in common with blackjack. You are each dealt three cards, player’s face-up and dealer’s face-down. To win, you need a lower total than the dealer. Ace to 10 score at face value, while face cards are worth 10. Pairs, triples and suited runs have null value. The dealer needs a hand value of at least 20 to qualify, failing which all bets are returned. The player’s decision, therefore, is whether to play or fold on based on the strength of his or her hand.
Cribbage
Here’s a game that was, according to legend, invented by English poet Sir John Suckling in the early 1600s. To this day, it is played in traditional pubs in rural England. The game they play is fun, but the rules are quite complex. However, a simplified version has been created by software company 1x2 gaming and is starting to pop up at some online casinos. Player and dealer are each dealt four cards, plus there is a community card called the crib. Points are scored by pairs, flushes and straights, a little like poker, but with Ace scoring low only. The object is to reach a set target score before the dealer.
All Aces Poker
No study in card games is complete without at least a brief look at the game that has spawned more variations than any other. All Aces is a form of video poker that is much beloved of those who study odds closely. The rules are the same as any other video poker game, but the increased payouts for four-of-a-kind or better mean that despite greater volatility, the house edge is less than 0.1 percent if you follow optimum strategy.