The history of cards is an utterly fascinating tale. The rectangular objects were first created in China; and arrived in Europe in the 13th century. Trade had changed their forms greatly, but the concept remained what it always has been. They were tools of entertainment; and entertain they have.
Some may find the evolution of cards themselves fascinating. Others are more interested in how the games have changed over the years. It is important to understand that the evolution of card games has had a profound impact on entertainment; and continues to affect us even centuries later.
Cards have been a part of our entertainment for centuries. Many may not realize that the modern casino games we love today are hundreds of years old. Blackjack and poker have existed for close to half of a millennia now. What is even more fascinating is how unchanged they are.
There are also plenty of card games that have drastically changed over the years. Bridge is a prime example of a game with vastly different rules. In some places the game would be unrecognizable as bridge in the first place.
Some countries see bridge as a casino staple. The game does not fit many of the tropes that we associate with gambling halls. It is a highly strategic game for one thing; which we don’t often think of as a quality of casino games. It is why you aren’t likely to find it at Wildz Casino and other similar sites.
But the topic of strategy vs. luck is still prominent among casino goers. Though there are those who would argue that blackjack and baccarat are not strategy games; nobody can deny that a certain degree of critical thinking goes into playing them. The goal we have is to explore tactics in card playing and look at the evolution of the strategy game.
Not everyone agrees on card game strategy. There are those who still believe that luck is the main attribute one needs to win at blackjack. There is no denying the importance of luck in the aforementioned game. But plenty of hard data proves that a solid strategy can bend even the power of fortune to a player’s whim.
There is no better proof of this than the infamous MIT Blackjack Team. The MIT students and alumni came together and formulated a strategy that would shift the odds. Las Vegas and casinos in general were forever changed after their success. The team remains legendary to this day; with books and films having been made about their exploits and successes.
Strategy is not exclusive to gambling card games. Bridge is the perfect example of a card game where strategy can make or break a play. People have been discussing and perfecting bridge strategies for years; and many have come up with sure ways to win. What is fascinating is that there is a lot of crossover between bridge and blackjack strategy.
The big one is counting cards. Most players and non-players alike are aware of the counting card strategy; at least on a surface level. Amateurs and those with no interest in blackjack are aware that there is a way to count cards and predict what comes next. But few know that astute bridge players can use a similar strategy to come out on top in a match.
Counting cards arises from the fact that both games started with a 52 card deck. Only 4 suits. Only 13 cards in each suit. So – only 4 aces, only 4 kings, only 4 queens etc. It’s logical to assume that if you’ve seen 4 aces played, there are no more aces in the deck. And etc.
While the term “counting cards” can be associated with both games, its meaning differs in bridge. In bridge, players track which cards have been played using inference, memory, and probability—but this isn’t the same mathematically driven system used in blackjack to gain an edge over the house.
There are those that might argue that competitiveness is a big part of strategic gaming. Think of slots as an example. There is really no way to improve your skill as a slot player. The one and only goal in a game like slots is to spin the reel and hope for the best. A game like that can be fun; but it can never be truly competitive. Some online casinos have certainly tried to organize slot tournaments. But they’ve never truly caught on as poker or bridge events have.
Blackjack manages to strike a balance between luck and strategy. It is why a degree of competition exists in the game. But the competition is mostly between players and the dealer. Blackjack tournaments have been successful; and there are many professional level events that still draw a huge crowd. But the lack of competition between players is why amateur-level blackjack events are not a big trend in gaming communities.
Poker is an entirely competitive game. The participants all play against one another; and luck does not play nearly as big a role as strategy. It is why the World Series of Poker tournament is one of the top-rated card-based events in the world. The strategic aspects of poker can be seen in the players’ ability to read and analyze their opponents’ behaviors and predict their next move. A similar strategic approach exists in bridge.
Bridge is one of the most popular card games in the world. Like poker, bridge tournaments are incredibly successful worldwide. The game requires players to come into it with a flexible mindset. It requires planning for sure. But those who stick to rigid plans often don’t last too long in the top tier tournaments. It is said that one must know how much to risk in order to reap the rewards. Since we’ve come to that point; it is time to finally broach the subject of risk and reward.
In this final segment we’d like to talk briefly about the importance of risk in strategy. All casino games come with a degree of risk. But a good gambler must learn to strike just the right balance between putting it all on the line and reaping the benefits of such an endeavor. Many new players make the mistake of bluffing too frequently.
A bluff bid is a massive risk in and of itself; and more often than not it does not work out in the player’s favor. That same sort of bravado can be seen in amateur bridge players who feel like they have something to prove. We understand that throwing caution to the wind can be thrilling; and sometimes even beneficial. But it is a fine art to strike a balance between risk and reward.
