What Games are Similar to Bridge?
Bridge (which is officially called Contract Bridge) is one of the most popular card games in the world that you can play against other people using a standard deck of 52 cards.
It can also be played at numerous dedicated gaming sites but is not available to play using real money or in the free-play demo mode at any licensed and regulated online casino websites.
Let’s dive in to discover several other games similar to Bridge that you can play at today’s most trusted iGaming sites from a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer.
Which card games are most similar to Bridge?
If you enjoy playing Bridge and want to know which other games are fairly similar, you’ve come to the right place. There are several popular card games you may enjoy playing if you’re looking for something else to play, and some of the main ones include the following:
- Gin Rummy
- Uno
- Blackjack
- Poker
- Five Crowns
Two other games that have also been likened to Bridge in one way or another are classics, such as Go Fish and Baccarat. If you know how to play Bridge like a pro, getting used to playing any of these other fun card games shouldn’t take too long.
Is knowing the odds and implied probability rates when playing card games important?
When playing certain card games, it does help to understand a little bit about the odds of each hand occurring and the implied probability rate attached to each outcome. You may have even asked yourself, what does 52 mean in betting?
It’s the same as saying 5 to 2 odds in the fractional odds format, which is commonly used at licensed and regulated iGaming sites (e.g., online casinos and sports betting sites). When you get to grips with the odds and understand what they are trying to tell you, it can help you make better decisions and place more informed bets.
What are the three odds formats?
The three main odds formats you are likely to come across today are the following:
- Fractional odds, which are commonly used in the United Kingdom more than anywhere else
- Decimal odds, which are more commonly used in most players, especially in Australia, New Zealand, most European countries, India, and South Africa, to name a few places
- American/moneyline odds, which are commonly used in Canada and the United States
However, the decimal odds format is also often used by players in Canada, as well as American/moneyline odds. When you sign up to a licensed betting site, most operators allow you to change how the odds appear on the website with the click or tap of a button.
In other words, choose an odds format you are most comfortable with and then stick with that format.
Examples of the different odds formats and IPRs (implied probability rates)
Using the same 5/2 fractional odds example mentioned above, it would appear as 3.50 in the decimal odds format or +250 in the American/moneyline odds format. The implied probability rate for this outcome would be 28.60%.
Let’s finish with a few other simple examples. An outcome that’s least likely to occur that may only have a 2.00% IPR (chance of occurring) would appear as 50/1 (fractional odds), 51.00 (decimal odds) and +5,000 (American/moneyline odds).
An outcome that’s most likely to occur with, say, an 83.30% IPR would appear as 1/5 (fractional odds), 1.20 (decimal odds) and -500 (American/moneyline odds). Don’t forget that understanding odds and implied probability rates in most card games can give you an edge over the house and the other players.