When it comes to casino gaming, there are generally two types of players… those who love the thrill and unpredictability of luck-based games, and those who like to engage their brains and use skill, logic, strategy, planning and a little bit of cunning to influence their chance of winning. While there’s the element of chance in every casino game, there are some games that do give strategic thinkers the edge. If you’re someone who likes calculating winning odds, weighing up probabilities, and making more informed moves, then you need to know which games to choose. For example, more strategic types often play UK online blackjack games and poker games… where the decisions you make can win or lose the game.
So, let’s take a look at some of the best casino games for the more strategic players out there… the ones where the choices you make matter just as much, if not more, than having lady luck on your side.
Blackjack is considered, by many, to be the gold standard for anyone looking for strategic casino play. This isn’t just about hoping that you can beat the dealer – it’s about knowing when the right time is to hit, stand, double down, or split. And that’s where the basic strategy comes into it. This is a well-known, mathematically calculated strategy that you can memorise (or have on you if you’re playing online) that tells you the best possible play for every possible hand combination.
Strategic players love a game of blackjack because, if you do know the basic strategy, it can drastically lower the house edge. And, we can also look at the possibility of card counting. Obviously, this is an advanced skill that is definitely not encouraged by casinos, but if you know what you’re doing and choose the right games, it can also really help.
Online blackjack is a great option as well, especially if you’re learning, because it tends to be slower-paced, so you have a bit more time to think through decisions.
Some people think of poker as a game of skill rather than just a straightforward gambling game. There are variants like Texas Hold’em or Omaha that require you to not only understand probability and hand strength, but also to be able to read opponents… and then, of course, there’s the element of bluffing that comes into play.
For the more strategic players, poker is about a lot more than just what cards you’re dealt… It’s the whole psychology of the game. Unlike games that are just about pure chance, even with a weaker hand, you can still win if you play smart. While there’s an element of luck that plays a role in the short term, over the long term, it’s the skilled players that win.
Baccarat might look like a game of luck, but any strategic player will know that there are ways you can approach it intelligently. If you focus on placing consistent, low-house-edge bets (like always betting on the banker), you’re giving yourself the best chance of walking away a winner.
Although you don’t need to make any decisions on what to do with your hand like you need to in blackjack, you need to understand the basics of bankroll management and betting strategies if you want to be successful in the longer term.
If you’ve never actually played the game before, you’d be forgiven for thinking craps is all a bit chaotic… fast-paced and with all sorts of different betting options. However, the more experienced player will know that the best way to win in the long-term is by sticking with the bets that have the lowest house edge… such as Pass Line, Don’t Pass, and Come bets.
Strategic players will always make sure they avoid the sucker bets (that promise bigger returns but are a lot riskier) and stick to the more mathematically sound wagers. Understanding the overall flow of the game and knowing when you should press bets or pull back is what separates the casual shooters from those cold, calculated winners.
Finally, we have video poker, which has all the simplicity of slot games along with the decision-making of a poker game. And the secret of success in this type of game is knowing the right strategy for the specific variation of the game you’re playing – whether it’s Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, or Bonus Poker.
If you use an optimal play chart, you can reduce the house edge to some seriously low levels, in some cases, even taking it down to practically nothing. You get full control over what cards you want to keep or which cards to discard – which can actually affect the outcome.
For some, the whole fun of casino gaming is that everything is all about chance… it’s all out of your control – the symbols that land on the reels or where the ball lands on a roulette wheel. However, for the more strategic players, they love a mental challenge – and the element of control. They appreciate the fact that you can practice, learn, get better and improve.
Even though there is no casino game that can ever guarantee a win, there are games that reward skill – so the choices you make influence the outcome a lot more than random number generators or pure chance bets.
If you do want to get more strategy from your casino experience, go for games like blackjack, poker, baccarat, craps, and video poker. Luck will always be a part of the equation, but with these games, smart thinking, practice and skill really can make a difference.
