Baccarat is undeservedly overshadowed by the main casino card games. Baccarat has been called the game of the aristocracy. Introduced in Italy in the late 15th century, the game quickly spread across Europe. It didn’t gain its definitive shape until the early 20th century, when various casinos started to use it. Another baccarat fan is Agent 007, whose hero Daniel Craig in Casino Royale took part in the game.

Baccarat has some well-established rules, which are simple to remember.

1. The dealer shuffles the two decks before the game starts. He may flip cards during the game, but only if he tells the players to do so. This makes it difficult for the player to count the cards and forces some players to quit the game.
2. The players are seated at random in front of the table.
3. The number of players is limited only by the size of the table. After any move a player can leave the table and return to it at any time.
4. One of the baccarat players removes the deck at the request of the croupier.
5. Each player gets two cards before the game starts. The dealer lays them out from left to right.
6. Before the start of the cone, the player must put the amount of money he wants to bet on the table.
7. There is no definition of king, ace, jack and queen in the game. Each card denotes a certain number of points.
8. If the player wins, the bet is doubled.
9. The best combinations are the numbers 9, 19 and 29.
10. 6, 16 and 26 have a much lower chance of winning.
11. The dealer has an absolute advantage in the game. In the event of a tie, the dealer wins.
12. If the dealer manages to score 9 or 19 points, he opens the cards and takes the winnings.
13. The dealer’s numbers of 8 or 18 will ensure that he loses only if someone at the table has 9 or 19.
14. A buy-in is only secured if there is no one at the table with an 8 or 9.
15. No more than one card is bought up, and this is done strictly from right to left.
16. The dealer is the last to buy in.

1. The order of payment in the game is as follows:
   If one player at the table has 8, the other player has 3, and the dealer has 5, the dealer pays the first player, but takes the second player’s bet. If both players score more points than the dealer, the winnings are paid to both players. Loss is only counted if the dealer has the best card on the table.
2. The numbers 10, 20 or 30 are called baccarat.

One of the most popular casino games, which has spread well beyond the gambling zones, is roulette. Its principle is used in many online games, and the minimum entry threshold ensures roulette’s popularity. But newcomers to the casino market often have questions on how to grasp the basic rules of roulette.

History and Rules

Although there is no official confirmation, many sources point out that French mathematician Blaise Pascal was the inventor of roulette. After all, the very definition of the word came from the French roulette (wheel). Currently, there are a few popular kinds of roulette: American and European.

They differ only in the number of cells. The American has 38 (zero and double zero), and the European has 37 (zero). All sections of the roulette wheel are numbered from 1 to 36. These alternate by colour and the zero is marked in green.

Before the wheel is unwound the dealer takes the bets. Players place their chips on the table. When the dealer finishes taking bets, the ball goes around the roulette wheel. If the ball stops in one of the boxes, it either wins the player’s money or cuts off the player’s bankroll.

In the case of a guessed number, the bet is calculated with odds of 35. A guessing a colour will bring the player a win at odds of 2.

Betting and payout

Professional casinos divide roulette bets. Typically, bets are divided into internal and external bets.

Internal

These include bets on a certain number. For example, if a player puts 1000 roubles on the number 35, and it doesn’t fall out, the bet amount is completely burned. If, however, the number does come up, he gets 35000 roubles.

The player is allowed to bet on two numbers. The numbers can be adjacent, but the odds drop to 17. Some casinos allow you to bet on three numbers as well. Also in American Roulette define the following types of bets:

• Corner – a bet on four numbers when the chip is placed in the connecting corner of them. The odds are 8.
• Street – placing in a horizontal strip, odds are 11.

Outside Bets

If we’ve talked about inside-the-field (exclusively numbers) betting before, here we’ll talk about outside-the-field betting. It is more varied, but the odds are much lower.

• Three dozen – bets on the numbers 0-12, 13-24, 25-36. If the player is able to guess which sector the ball will fall into, the bet is calculated at odds of 3;
• Vertical columns – a bet on hitting the ball in a cell, which is located in one of the three selected columns;
• Colour – the most common type of bet. The player must guess the colour of the cell in which the ball hits. The odds are 2;
• Evenness – a player guesses the evenness of the dropped out number. Factor – 2;
• Small/Small – sector 0-18 means small numbers and 19-36 – big numbers. Odds of guessing a sector is 2.

Interesting facts

• The order of placement of roulette colours has not changed since the 19th century.
• Roulette’s popularity only increased after the banning of casinos in the 20th century in the United States.
• One of the most famous domestic roulette fans was Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. He spent a lot of time in casinos, which inspired the great writer to write his novel The Gambler.

Strategies

Beginners, as well as professionals, are convinced that there is a pattern in roulette and it is quite realistic to derive. Many players have already tried to create their own strategies, but there is no single correct and winning one. There are only tactics that bring winnings over a short distance. One of the most popular is the Martingale principle, where a player doubles each of the following bets to make a profit.

From Ancient Egypt and ancient Greece, through medieval Saxony to the present day, craps has always been a popular game. The very definition of Craps, which has stuck with us, is false, as Craps is used in many different forms of games. Only in Craps is the discarded dice used as the player’s only weapon to ensure victory.

The game consists of a miniature board and two dice marked with 1 to 6. The playing area is marked out and flanked by a boundary fence to prevent the dice from falling out. The game can be played by up to 20 players. The shooter is the player with the dice. Players can place bets before making their rolls. The dice are usually changed after eight hours of play, as the edges of the dice are worn out.

The goal of the game

The goal of craps is as transparent as possible. Players must guess the number that appears on the arrow’s roll. With the advancement of casino craps games came variety. Players can bet on the range, evenness and total of the drawn numbers.

The rules of craps

Players take turns lining up so that the arrow is constantly changing. The dealer keeps a close eye on the player’s throw, which must be made in accordance with the rules. The dice must hit the far side, the roll must be made with one hand, and if the dice fall off the table, the game is replayed.

Craps for the Shooter

There are two stages in the game:

• Come Out Roll;
• Point Roll.
  The first roll of the dice is called the Come Out Roll. It determines the number of Point Rolls. If the player rolls between 4 and 10, he goes to the second stage and the number is fixed. On a roll of 2, 3 or 12 Craps are declared – a situation where the player has definitely lost and the position of the shooter passes to the next player. A 7 or 11 gives the player the win and the right for another shot.

In the second phase the shooter must roll either a 7 or a set number of Points. If the Point is struck, the shooter is declared the winner.

Betting in the game

The game has been so modernised over time that there are now several key definitions:

• Pass Line – a bet on a player’s win. It counts as a win if the first horse rolls a 7 or 11. When a Point is determined, the player continues to play, and loses if a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled;
• Don’t Pass Line – loss is calculated on a roll of 7 or 11, and gain on a roll of 2 or 3. On 12 the player gets his money back;
• Come – a bet, which is made on Point. Winning at 7 or 11, losing at 2, 3 or 12. Unlike previous types of betting, the bet cannot be edited or retracted before the end of the game;
• Don’t Come – loss at 7 or 11, win at 2 or 3. Comeback at 12. Any other number moves the bet to the Don’t Come Point. In the second leg wins on a roll of 7;
• Pass Line Odds is a bet that serves as a complement to the Pass Line;
• Don’t Pass Line Odds – an additional Don’t Pass Line bet;
• Big Six – if 6 comes before 7, the bet is calculated as a win. If the opposite is true, it is a loss;
• Any Craps – winning on a roll of 2, 3 or 12;
• Craps Two – winning on a roll of 2;
• Big Eight wins on 8 before 7. The opposite is a loss;
• Craps Twelve wins on a roll of 12.

Features

Pass Line Odds and Pass Line Combination Bets and their antipodes are the most popular line bets. Craps is a game with a minimum entry threshold, which is ideal for those new to the casino betting market.

A slot machine that brings profit to the player by scrolling and making certain combinations on the playing field is called a slot machine. Nowadays, slot machines have gained popularity on the internet – there are several well-known publishers that distribute products to online casinos.

Slot machine design

Slot machines remain popular offline as well. There are thousands of slots in different categories and orientations located in gaming areas all over Europe. Initially, slot machines were entirely mechanical, but over time they have been computerised. The playing field in front of the user has several reels on which the pictures are depicted. The pictures are usually identified with the theme of the slot machine.

As a rule, in addition to the playing field, slots have basic information about winning combinations, jackpot, possible bonuses and player bets. The native language of most machines is English. The inscriptions on them are similar in different versions of the slots:

• Play\Spin – the reels start spinning;
• Coins\Bet Per Line – the number of coins for one spin. Can be edited by the user;
• Max Bet – automatically sets the maximum bet;
• Denomination – the cost of one credit (coin) in a slot machine;
• Help – game rules;
• Gamble – a function provided in some machines. Activates an additional round in which the user can double their winnings;
• Hold – stops one or more reels.

The rules of the game

A player to start capital is needed. Contribute funds to the slot machine can be either directly or with the help of a club card casino. In online versions, the money is made by means of a deposit.

The player in the Coins item indicates the number of coins he puts on one spin. After that, it is necessary to run the reels by pressing the Play button. Some slots have a special lever which, when pressed, activates the start of the reels. Once the reels are stopped, the combination will appear on the playing field. If the combination is winning, the player is paid a certain amount of money. In case of loss, the user can continue playing the game.

Slot machines differ from each other. There are varieties with jackpots, gamble and more combinations. The user can put on certain lines, or even play online slots, the variety of which is even greater, and the graphical shell has improved over the years.

A roll of bonus symbols activates various bonus games. Their rules can be found in the Help menu.

Payouts are awarded for winning combinations. The number of combinations depends on the reels. If there are three, then even two similar pictures can bring a plus. If there are five, then, as a rule, the user needs to collect three pictures of the same denomination.

The jackpot is the biggest payout provided by the slot machine. In some slots the jackpot is cumulative, and in some it is set by the slot machine owners. The feature may not be available in slots, depending on the casino.

Varieties

The classic mechanical slot machine, which had only three reels, has undergone a major change. Now, from device to device can change not only the number of reels, but also the number of lines. Along with this, the number of combinations also increases. Gaming slots have their own classification and are divided according to bonuses, jackpots and other criteria that are set by the casino.

A passion for learning, a love of the game, constant practice and plenty of free time make newcomers to the world of blackjack real masters. An important skill for any professional blackjack player at 21 is knowing how to count cards. And you don’t have to be a prodigy or a good mathematician to do it.

Hi-Lo

The simplest counting strategy, formed from the word high-low. Its principle is to gradually eliminate possible card choices by using the number 1. Cards of value 2-6 are marked +1, as leaving the deck is advantageous to the player. Cards 7-9 are not marked at all – they benefit both the player and the dealer. The remaining cards are marked -1, because the fewer cards in the deck of 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace, the less favourable the deck becomes for the player.

Running Count

If the previous tactic only works for a single deck, and most blackjack casinos use 4 or 6 decks at a time, it will be less effective than the graf walking strategy over distance. It is all about constantly counting points and dividing by the remaining number of decks. Conventionally, if there are 5 more decks in play and the player’s score is +5, the running graph strategy divides the player’s advantage by the number of decks. Thus the remaining cards are evaluated as +1.

Types of strategies

You can find several other effective strategies on the internet that work for beginners and experienced players alike. But Hi-Lo is one of the best, and is the basic strategy used in most Blackjack card-counting tactics.

How do I improve my card-counting technique?

Once you’ve learned the basic techniques and strategies, it’s best to be smart about which online casino you’re playing at. There are also a few other important considerations:

1. Trust in the chosen strategy and do not stray from it. It is important to realize that strategies bring pluses at a distance, so it is not worth to go out after a long minus.
   2) Without constant updates, you will risk losing money. Practice the new strategies, try them out, and discuss them with the other players. This way, you’ll not only get a grip, but you’ll also get to know the blackjack market in depth.
2. Going from an online casino to a real one is hard enough. At home, you may comfortably count the cards while writing them out in the spreadsheet, but you’ll never do it in the casino. In addition, there are many distractions in the casino that may interfere with counting. Mental toughness and the ability to detach is incredibly important when playing in a casino.
3. Luck is a rare phenomenon in blackjack, which is more suited to movies than reality. You need a steady bankroll to count your cards competently. Minima and highs are also important. Money when counting cards is matched against time – everything needs to be spent a little at a time.
4. Any kind of strategy can lead to loss over a short distance. You must be prepared not only for long term gains, but also for substantial losses.

Better known in the former Soviet Union as 21 and point, blackjack has become an integral part of casinos and online casinos around the world. The card game’s fanbase is growing largely due to the low entry threshold and high chance of winning.

The game involves 6 decks of 52 cards each. The dealer hands out cards from the shouse, and the player’s goal is to beat the casino by scoring 21 points, or as close to it as possible. In fact, it’s the casino that is the opponent in Blackjack.

Card values

• Ace – Meaning 11 or 1. The number depends on the combination the player has accumulated. If it is close to 21, an Ace denotes a 1. If the player holds a card face value of 10 or less, then an Ace stands for 11.
• Kings, queens and jacks are 10 points regardless of the cards in hand.
• A face value of 2 to 10 is the same number as the card.

Starting the game and calculating the bets

Before the game starts, the user must place a bet. In an online casino, three choices are given: a draw, a croupier win, or a player win. In the casino, however, the player should only bet on his victory. The dealer deals one card each, after which the process repeats. After receiving two cards, the player may request another one or stay with the hand.

If the player wins, the winnings go to him. Blackjack triples the bet, and if the croupier wins, the casino takes all the bets. Play continues until there are no cards left in the deck.

Blackjack variations

The above game is a classic blackjack game. There are several other variations used in popular casinos:

• Baden-Baden – if the dealer has blackjack, the table loses regardless of the cards in hand;
• Spanish – a game with no tens. In the case of blackjack in both (dealer and player), the win goes to the gambler;
• Pontoon – winning the casino at a draw and compulsory completion of the player’s cards in the case of 14 or fewer points;
• Progressive – the first ace in the game claims the jackpot;
• Switch – a game with a super bet where the gambler can substitute a card.

Tips from the pros

In order to successfully play blackjack and earn money, the professionals recommend following these guidelines:

• Understand the rules of the game. Fortunately for beginners, there aren’t many;
• Blackjack, like any other card game, has several strategies that need to be followed. The gambler will find it useful to learn the most popular ones;
• Recognize winning combinations quickly;
• Pay attention to the card count when playing in the casino.

Many casinos offer players a demo mode. Before starting to play for money, users are advised to go through several tutorial games.

The most popular tournament card game in the world is poker. Lately, more and more users have flocked to online poker where dozens of tournaments with hefty prizes are being played every week. But in order to get established in the world of poker, a newcomer needs to learn the basics.

History

The game was first mentioned in the 16th century, and has been played for more than 450 years. The game originated in Europe, with players from France, Spain and Italy arguing over who invented poker. The rules of the game have been modernized over time, reaching the current standard only in the 19th century. In America, on the other hand, the game was split into several variations, some of which were named after states.

What is Poker

Poker is a card game where the player’s goal is to be the only player at the table. This can be achieved either by collecting winning combinations or by bluffing. Before the turn starts, two cards are dealt face up. Only the player knows the value of the cards. Subsequently, the dealer dealt five cards alternately, and the player must remain the only active player at the table by all means available.

Before starting to play poker, many professionals warm up by meditating, practising and deciding on their strategy for the match.

Terminology

Poker is a game with a high entry level, which makes it the most popular card tournament game. The player not only needs to memorize the combinations, but also learn a few important terms. There are up to a few hundred terms in the game, depending on the type of poker, but a few basic ones are essential in each variety:

• Bankroll – the amount of money all players have;
• Stack – The amount of chips on the table for all players;
• Buy-in – the amount of money players pay to enter a tournament;
• Blinds – The blind bet, which goes from player to player;
• Hand – The cards dealt by the Dealer;
• Starting Hand – The two cards dealt to the player;
• Pot – The amount of money on the table during a single turn.

Without understanding and learning these terms, a player should not get into poker.

The deck

Due to the several varieties of poker, completely different decks are used from game to game.

• A 36-card deck is only used in one variety. It is rarely used due to the fact that the combinations are unfamiliar to professional players.
• 52 cards – This is the most common deck, used in the vast majority of games.
• 54 cards – includes two jokers. Used very rarely.

Combinations

Another crucial detail to learn is the combinations a player can put together.

• The flush royal is the biggest combination on the table. It consists of a ten, jack, queen, king and ace of the same suit;
• Straight Flush – Five cards of the same suit, taken in turn;
• Four of a Kind – Four cards of the same rank;
• A Full House – Two cards of one rank and three cards of a different rank;
• Flush – five cards of the same suit in any order;
• Straight – five cards in order. May be multi-suit;
• Set – three cards of the same rank;
• Two Pairs – two pairs of cards of the same rank;
• Pair – two cards of the same rank;

If any of the cards on the table are the same, the one with the higher rank wins.

How do I learn to play poker?

After learning the rules, a beginner can start playing. Before you get started you should watch some tournaments, so as to understand the basic mechanics of the game. Trading is also important.

Trading

A trade is a list of terms that a player uses to make the dealer understand what the player wants to do with his pot.

• Bet – Betting;
• Call – To call the highest bid on the table;
• Raise – raising of stake by the amount of money specified by player;
• Fold – leaving a game;
• Check – skipping a turn.

Trading is one of the key aspects of the game of poker. Without good haggling skills a player runs the risk of losing the entire pot and dropping out of the game.

Mistakes

A common mistake most new players make is to take all of their deals. The player must learn to pass up completely unprofitable moves. Any money in poker is important.

Experienced players are able to spot in advance how competitors at the table behave in stalemate situations. Beginners do not have such experience, which is why they act only in accordance with their own strength and some experience they have gained during the game, which is not always correct.

It is also typical for beginners to endlessly raise their bets during the game. Professionals set their own pot and act solely on it, setting minimum and maximum bets. Beginners, on the other hand, do not have any limits.

The only way to avoid such mistakes is experience. Even the leaders of the poker market once started at the bottom and did not understand how to act in difficult moments of the game. Practice is the best approach to the world’s top card game.

Most players who enter the online casino market do so purely for the sake of winning. Special strategies have been invented to make more money, some of which are effective. In this material, you will learn about the best strategies for playing online casino games.

The device of an online casino

It’s worth realizing that the site you play at is the middleman between you and the slot machines. Yes, the minimum functions online casino can change – assign your own type of coins, edit minimums and maximums. But the rest is up to the provider of any slot machine or roulette.

This information is relevant for licensed online casinos with a lot of positive feedback. Playing on the offshore resources, the user must be aware that his potential earnings are entirely in the hands of illegal casinos. They often have cases of scams, plums of large sums and bans on the payment of funds, so playing at unlicensed casinos is not recommended.

Mathematical expectation

It is important for the player to understand that the outcome of previous spinning roulette does not affect the next one. If we take the reel without the green zero, the chances of falling black and red there are absolutely equal. If five times in a row on the reel fell black, then this can happen in the sixth time with a 50% chance.

Popular Strategies

Below are the best strategies that are popular with many users of online casinos.

Maximum-minimum

Gradual change in bets from spin to spin. In the first spin the user must put one ruble in the second – 1000, and then alternate similar rates to the payment of the maximum winnings.

Giving

When entering a slot machine, the player must “gift” it with the maximum amount. If defeated, the amount should be halved in the next attempt. And so on until the winnings are maximum. The cycle must be repeated several times.

Parlay

Математическая позитивная прогрессия. После плюсового исхода игрок должен поднять сумму ставки вдвое. Перед началом работы со стратегией пользователь определяет банк, с которым выходит из игры.

Buffster

Five times in a row the user has to make spins of a strictly defined amount of money. After the fifth spin, the amount of money changes, but the number of spins remains.

Progression in line

1, 2, 4, 10, 20, 50, 100 – this is the amount of bets a player who has decided to work with in-line progression must make. Spins must go exclusively in a single line. The developer’s idea is that at least one of the seven spins will bring a win. If a win is achieved, the progression should reset to zero.

Catch-up

Gradually increasing the bet amount before the spin. When a win is achieved, the strategy returns to zero and the player must restart with the starting sum.

Martingale

Used when playing Roulette. With every subsequent bet until the winning amount is doubled.

D’Alamber

Before the strategy can be used, it is necessary for the player to set a minimum increment. If a bet loses, the amount of the next bet is reduced. If it wins, it increases. Example:
Step – 100

1. 100 (winnings);
2. 200 (winnings);
3. 300 (loss);
4. 200 (win);
5. 300.

Пирамида

The principle is taken from a geometric progression. The user raises the bet amount when he fails. Winning means returning to the initial bet.

Three bets

A strategy for playing slots. User determines the bet amount of 1, 2 and 3 coins. He bets three coins first. If he loses, he goes down one. So until five consecutive scrolls with one coin are at a loss – only then does the machine close.

The Nevada Gaming Authority’s Bill Zehnder is the best person to talk about casino gambling. The American has published three books in which he gives advice to beginners and professionals alike.

Finding a place to play in a casino

First and foremost, a player should forget about online casinos. They are dishonest and act solely on the basis of their interests. The market is overcrowded and extremely unstable, and online slot machine owners do not care about their reputation. They also include casinos without gambling licenses, which are designed solely for their own profit.

In them, the player not only loses all his money, but also supports illegal gambling with every bet. Such casinos evade taxes and profit from people’s mania.

In Russia, casino activity has long been regulated. Clandestine slot machines are becoming fewer and fewer in number, and their popularity is falling. A total of four gambling zones have been established in Russia:

• Siberian Coin. Located in the Altai Territory;
• Primorye. Located in Primorsky Krai;
• Amber. Located in Kaliningrad region;
• Krasnaya Polyana. Located in Sochi.

Each of these gambling zones complies with the requirements of Russian legislation.

Dealer Watching

Bill has rarely come across quality dealers. According to him, there are no more than 100 professionals in the world. Therefore, before playing blackjack, a player needs to decide on the most inexperienced, in his opinion, dealer in the casino. Zender himself has sometimes made his mark by keeping a diary of croupiers who often show players their cards and make mistakes.

Attention to detail

You don’t want to be distracted by stripper girls and bikini-clad croupiers. Such tricks are used to make the player lose focus. Often, the casino can lower the odds of winning, which the user may not notice due to distractions.

Get out on time

Just like in bookmaking, casinos have a certain margin that allows the owners of the establishments to win over the distance. Roulette is said to have a 5% advantage over the player. A guest of an establishment may win the first, second and even third time, but will surely lose once. Knowing when to quit is one of the keys to staying in the black.

Slot machines will lead to minus

According to Zender’s observations, slot machines are not the best way to make money. Bill himself used them only as entertainment. If a player decides to try to make money from slot machines, however, he is advised to play for maximum funds and go in with a bet of five dollars or more.

Do not play keno

The player’s chance of winning in keno is as small as possible. Some casinos have a dealer’s margin of victory of up to 35 percent, and in Zender’s memory no one has ever managed to guess all 20 numbers.

Training – the road to success

Bill has written about how the casino’s minimum edge is only in video poker. There, the player has the best chance of winning, but the casino is still earning, even at 0.5% advantage. This is due to the poor training of the players. The more insight a player has into poker, the better their chances of winning, as randomness is extremely rare.

Clock and drinks are on you

Some casinos will take away wristwatches from dealers to prevent players from keeping track of time. The best way out of this situation is with a quality wristwatch and a time clock that’s exactly right for grooming. Free drinks are another casino trick. The owners understand how much a player can lose, so they try to prolong their stay at the tables for as long as possible with free drinks and treats.