Poker
Poker is universally considered one of the deepest, or most multifaceted, card games. It requires a thorough understanding of the rules and different hands, as well as the ability to manage your emotions through the ups and downs – and the ability to read the other players. Bluffing is a key part of poker, and those who can read other players are generally more successful. Texas Hold’em is the most popular form of poker, and the game is extremely popular online. Casino sites like 32Red offer a variety of live casino, new slot machines, and classic games like poker, as well as free spins and more bonuses.
Blackjack
When you play blackjack with optimal strategy, it’s one of the card games with the lowest house edges – that is, the house doesn’t have quite the advantage over players as it does in other card games. Card counting can help players tip the odds more in their favour. Casinos generally don’t take too kindly to customers counting cards, though. Blackjack is a little easier to learn than poker and a bit more beginner-friendly.
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Sports betting
Depending on whether you consider sports betting a “game”, it’s up there with the games that require the most skill. There are many professional sports bettors who have built careers off developing their own secret algorithms and beating the bookies. Tony Bloom (also a successful poker player) built much of his wealth with his betting company Starlizard, and later bought his beloved football club, Brighton and Hove Albion.
Sports betting is a bigger business than ever, and as well as the biggest sports – football, basketball, cricket, etc – many companies offer niche markets like water polo and bobsleigh. Esports is a growing market. Esports competitions draw in as many viewers as many of the biggest traditional sporting events; multiple events have peaked at over 5 million viewers.
Craps
Craps is mainly chance-based but understanding the odds and possible strategies can give players a better chance. Craps is characterized by its fast-paced action and its high energy – gamblers are often excited to play craps, and it’s been used in film and TV a lot for this reason. Craps originated in medieval times, and first arrived in America in the 19th century, where the street version of the game brought craps to the masses.
Baccarat
Again, it’s mostly based on luck, but edge sorting (which is a controversial technique) can increase the player’s odds. Baccarat is particularly popular among wealthy gamblers and widely played in Asia.
It’s a game with a low house edge so it’s a bit more friendly to the customer. Baccarat is associated with elegant settings and high stakes. These cultural associations go way back to the 1400s when baccarat originated in Italy, then became popular in France, where it was played by noble people. It remained a game of the elite for a long time. Baccarat’s association with James Bond has also influenced its image.
Are there any games that aren’t based on skill at all?
Slot machines are based on chance. Most slots in modern casinos are now video slots. The player presses a button and the reels spin, and modern games have special effects and themes (adventure, ancient civilisations, animals, etc). Slots are still popular even though many players know they’re luck-based.
At the other end of the scale, chess, a game based on skill, tactics, and knowledge of game possibilities, is now offered online by some casino sites.
Summing up
The game that requires the most skill… probably depends on who you ask! A poker player will probably tell you poker, and a sports fan will probably tell you sports betting. If we’re talking card games only, most experts would agree that there’s no beating poker for skill. But no matter the skill you have in any casino game, you’re working against the odds, and the house has the advantage.
