The Best Alternative Card Games at Online Casinos in 2020
Despite the casinos being huge in places like Las Vegas and Macau, it might surprise you as to the lack of variety of the card games on offer. Even the world’s biggest casinos tend to cater to the classic versions of blackjack, baccarat and hold’em poker alone, paying little attention to other great card games. It’s a question of space on the casino floors, even if they are among the biggest entertainment complexes in the world.
Obviously, the question of space is not a pressing one at online casinos. In theory, you could have an unlimited number of games on the websites. That includes scratchcards and slots, with popular titles including the Queen of Atlantis slot, but bridge fans will inevitably be drawn to the multitude of card games. Below we look at some of the best you’ll find online right now:
Quantum Blackjack Live
A game that fuses the classic elements of blackjack with supercharged technology, Quantum Blackjack has been a massive hit for software developer Playtech. The game, which can be played live with real cards and dealers, or in virtual format, plays like classic blackjack but with a neat twist. Namely, a random number generator runs alongside the game, potentially awarding “Quantum Multipliers” that can increase your winnings by up to 1,000 times. You can see the attraction, and it’s become a real breath of fresh air at Playtech online casinos.
Pai Gow Poker
It’s now 35 years since Sam Torasin invented the game of Pai Gow Poker, which was inspired by the popular Chinese Pai Gow dominoes game. In essence, though, it’s a classic poker game, albeit one that takes a bit more strategic thought when making the two best hands from five cards. Pai Gow Poker is mostly available as a virtual game (software-based), but it is possible to play with real dealers live at some online casinos.
3 Card Brag
3 Card Brag is a variant of Three Card Poker that has become popular for players who do not wish to put too much strategy into a poker game. You play against the dealer, and whoever gets the best hand with those three cards will win. The payout and simple betting strategy (doubling down, etc.) are similar to blackjack, making 3 Card Brag good choice for beginners. You can find live and virtual versions of the game online.
Blackjack Surrender
Is there a more daring strategy game than Blackjack Surrender? The main difference between this game and regular blackjack games is that you can give up half-way through the game (surrendering) in return for half the stake. That might not sound too appealing, but some players swear it is a superior strategy. If you feel the odds are not in your favour, give up and surrender half your stake. It obviously takes a lot of practice to execute this strategy, but, once learned, it can tip the odds in your favour.
Progressive Jackpot Caribbean Stud
If you look hard enough, you’ll probably find some versions of Caribbean Stud in poker rooms in land-based casinos, but online casinos keep an ace up their sleeve with certain variants. The standard version of Caribbean stud, which is sometimes called casino stud, is essentially five-card stud, with players battling the house rather than each other. Some online versions use software to create a progressive jackpot prize for the game. The prize is funded by taking a very small fee from each wager (usually 1% or less). In theory, the top prize can run into millions of pounds until it is awarded to one lucky player.