Blackjack and poker are two playing-card games that have been around for centuries. Seeing as we’re talking about two exceptional games that can be found in any casino worth its salt, dedicating a post to both blackjack and poker is more than worthwhile.
Join us as we dive into the objective of these two games, their advantages, disadvantages, similarities, which of the two games has better odds, and finally, how you can decide which card game is the most appropriate for you.
WHY COMPARE POKER WITH BLACKJACK?
Few casino games have stood the test of time and passed with such flying colours. Poker is the most popular card game globally, while blackjack is also extremely popular for its strategy, despite it being a relatively simple game.
Why should the average player compare blackjack and poker? Before playing cash games, it is very important to opt for the game that best aligns with your concept of a fun game.
As we’ll discuss later, poker requires a deep understanding of the game, whereas the concept of blackjack can be grasped in five minutes.
However, poker makes up for that due to its incredible entertainment value, whereas blackjack revolves around the same concept, potentially rendering it mundane for players who strive for entertainment.
THE GOAL OF POKER VS. BLACKJACK
Playing poker and playing blackjack are two very different things, and one of the most glaring difference between the two is that, in poker, players will be looking to beat each other and not the house, whereas, in blackjack, players go toe to toe with the dealer.
Before getting into the specifics, let’s highlight the general goal of both games. In the most popular poker variant out there, Texas hold’em, players must aim to ‘make’ the strongest hand combination according to the list of poker hand rankings.
If you’re just about to start playing poker, we recommend keeping this list next to you while you play.
In blackjack, players strive to obtain a hand value equal to or closer to 21 than the dealer’s total without busting (exceeding 21). The blackjack card values are very straightforward, so it won’t take you too long to learn them.
POKER VS. BLACKJACK GAMEPLAY
Poker and blackjack don’t have the same level of complexity when it comes to their gameplay. As we all know, the simplicity of gameplay makes for a successful game, as long as the entertainment value is there to keep playing.
Have a look at the gameplay of poker and blackjack below to see what goes on during a round of each game.
POKER GAMEPLAY
Here’s a step-by-step guide of how to play poker, specifically, a round of the popular variant Texas hold’em. Keep in mind that other poker variants may differ in terms of the order of betting rounds and the criteria to win.
- The dealer deals exactly two hole cards (face down) to the players.
- The hand begins, so the forced bets (the big blind and the small blind) are placed. The first round of betting occurs, in which players bet, check or raise depending on the hand dealt. Players can also choose to fold — discarding their hands and abandoning the game round if they don’t like their hand’s potential.
- The hand progresses, so the dealer deals three community cards, face up.
- The second round of betting will occur.
- The dealer deals the fourth card.
- The third betting round will occur.
- The dealer deals the fifth and final card. At this point, there are five community cards dealt on the table.
- The final round of betting will occur.
- The remaining players will check or place their bets. After that, they will reveal their hands.
- The strongest five-card poker hand wins the pot.
BLACKJACK GAMEPLAY
Here’s a step-by-step guide of how to play blackjack. Most blackjack variants revolve around this concept, so this guide will serve you well even if you decide to try other blackjack variants in the future.
- Players place their bet.
- Players are dealt their first card facing up. The dealer deals their own first card, but unlike the players’ card, it is faced down.
- The second round of cards is then dealt face-up, along with the dealer’s last card. All parties on the table have two cards at this point.
- Depending on the value of their cards, each player in turn decides how they want to play their hand. If the player is happy with the hand dealt, they ‘stand’ and decline to draw another card. If they need more points, they ‘hit’ and receive another card. Players can continue to ‘hit’ until they choose to stop, reach 21, or go ‘bust’ by going over 21. In some cases, players can also ‘double-down’ or ‘split’.
- After all players are finished making their choice, the dealer’s hand value is revealed. Those with a total hand value above 21, go bust (including the dealer) and thus lose their bet. Those with a higher score than the dealer will win, while those with an equal value will tie (or ‘push’).
POKER ADVANTAGES
Granted, everything has pros and cons, but identifying them will help you pinpoint what you may or may not like in either game. Having said that, giving a blackjack or a poker table a visit is the perfect way to really decipher which of the two games you like the most.
- Poker is a very social game, seeing as poker tables can seat up to ten players at a time.
- Poker offers unlimited room for a player’s skill, given the skill-based nature of the game.
- Players can adopt the most eccentric strategy possible if it suits their play style. On the other hand, they might adopt a ‘tighter’ game plan, whose acceptable ranges of hands are lower.
- Players will see a significant improvement in their game plan the more they play the game.
- The more experienced players can reduce the house edge significantly and potentially make serious money as well.
- Understanding pot odds will give you a solid foundation of which hands are worth playing in which situations.
- There are several poker variants that each bring something different to the table, which is perfect for players who love to experiment with different versions of the game.
POKER DISADVANTAGES
Here are the disadvantages that come with most poker games.
- Poker isn’t a very accessible game since it takes a long time to learn. This may occasionally deter people from learning about the game.
- Although card counting is possible in poker, counting cards effectively is relatively hard since most cards are dealt face down.
- Your expected profits are substantially lower if you’re in an early position at the table.
- Poker requires immense focus and doesn’t generally revolve around fast plays. A professional poker player takes their sweet time to think about their move before acting.
- Seeing as there is significant skill required in the game of poker, new players may find it hard to win consistently, if at all.
BLACKJACK ADVANTAGES
Now, it’s time to have a look at the advantages of blackjack. Remember to consider both its advantages and disadvantages before coming to a conclusion about which is the better game.
- Blackjack is a very simple casino game to learn — making it a much more accessible game than poker. A basic understanding of blackjack can be reached in about five minutes.
- The game is very fast-paced; it is possible to play between 30 to 40 hands per hour.
- Seeing as blackjack isn’t played against other players, you won’t have to deal with any gaps in skill.
- The house edge can be lowered to just one-half percent (0.5%) when a basic strategy is followed.
- Blackjack is the perfect playground for card-counting techniques; however, keep in mind that casinos might not permit their players to count cards.
- Certain blackjack games offer some favourable rules to players, such as the Early Surrender.
BLACKJACK DISADVANTAGES
- There are very limited moves you can make, which might render blackjack too simple for certain players.
- Big wins in blackjack aren’t possible unless you invest a lot of money in the hand at play.
- More hands played per hour results in a higher loss frequency, which is synonymous with an increase in house edge.
- A card counter won’t have any luck counting cards in online blackjack owing to the continuous shuffle machines.
- Blackjack dealers have a predetermined set of rules that dictate when they should hit or stand; therefore, it is impossible for them to make a mistake.
- Losing streaks are very common in blackjack.
5 SIMILARITIES BETWEEN POKER AND BLACKJACK
The great thing about poker and blackjack is that they do have some similarities between them. Here are the common factors between these two incredibly popular games.
1. PLAYERS CAN PLAY AT THE STAKES THEY PREFER
In blackjack, poker and many other casino games, players are free to adjust their stakes as they see fit. In poker, players can invest as much money as they want, whereas in blackjack, players can opt for high-stakes tables.
2. DECISION-MAKING IS FUNDAMENTAL
Being successful in both games is contingent on correct decisions. In poker, players must evaluate the pot odds vis-à-vis their position at the table.
In comparison, blackjack players must evaluate the chances of busting when deciding to hit, as well as keeping in mind the chances of the dealer beating them if they stand.
3. VARIANTS GALORE FOR BOTH GAMES
Both blackjack and poker include several different variants to discover. This is a superb trait for players who enjoy toying around with different variations of the game they enjoy. Don’t take this for granted!
For example, despite the fact that baccarat has several variants, none of them truly offer all that much of a difference from the base game.
4. STICKING TO A STRATEGY IS KEY
Whether you decide to play blackjack or poker, sticking to a strategy is fundamental. With such an abundance of strategy articles, charts and videos out there, players really have no excuse to disregard strategy and wing it.
5. REDUCING THE HOUSE EDGE IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE
One of the biggest advantages you’ll learn about once you start playing either game with strategy is that your house edge will decrease. Following a strategy, as well as garnering enough experience within the game, will see the house edge take a nose dive.
5 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN POKER AND BLACKJACK
Now come the key differences between these two card games. Before playing blackjack or poker, it’s important to take note of how the two games differ.
1. POKER IS PLAYED AGAINST OTHER GAMBLERS, BUT NOT BLACKJACK
One of the main differences between the two games is that poker is played against other players, whereas blackjack is played against the house.
This difference is problematic because other players can and do make mistakes, whereas the dealer cannot, as they have predetermined actions assigned to them.
2. THE GAMES DON’T OFFER THE PLAYER THE SAME CONTROL OVER THEIR HANDS
In blackjack, you can hit, stand or split pairs. Although those are quite a good number of options, players cannot really back out of a situation.
For example, if you manage to bring your hand value to a total of 18 and the dealer’s upcard is an ace, then you’re looking at a loss in most cases. Hitting will probably end up in a bust, while standing will mean that the dealer ends up closer to 21 than you are.
Unlike blackjack, poker allows players more control of their hands. If players wish to sink money into their hand and bet large, they are free to do so.
With that said, players are equally free to fold during showdown (the last betting round) if they don’t like their odd of winning. In such situations, having the option of backing out is vital to avoid losing more money than you initially anticipated.
3. WINNING BIG HAPPENS DIFFERENTLY
In blackjack, winning big is only possible if you invest a lot of money in your hand, elevating the risk factor. While you can say the same for poker, one doesn’t necessarily have to invest heavily in their hand to win large sums of money.
After all, if multiple players are active during the pot, the potential to win a lot of money will be there without compelling you to bet heavily.
4. THE HOUSE EDGE FLUCTUATES DIFFERENTLY
One of the biggest downsides that every poker player faces is the presence of whales (experienced players). Having other players with great skill at the table will take a toll on your house edge, since the margin for error will be lower.
With enough whales at the table, your house edge risks rising to a huge percentage, which is why you should consider switching tables in such cases.
5. THE LUCK FACTOR
When playing blackjack, you’ll be relying on luck more than you will on skill. Although skill is definitely an important factor to consider in both games, the element of luck will make or break your chances of winning.
In poker, bad luck can be circumvented by bluffing, but when playing blackjack, bad luck will result in a bust — an immediate loss of your bet.
After a certain period of time, a player’s dependence on luck in poker will decrease, but in blackjack, luck will always determine the fate of your hand. This is why following a blackjack strategy is important.
WHAT SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE ARE REQUIRED IN POKER?
Poker takes gambling to a whole other level with regard to the requisites for a winning player. Here are the skills needed to start making money in poker with a basic level of consistency.
- Patience: The key trait that every poker player must have. Keeping your emotions in check and waiting for your time to strike is extremely important in poker.
- Understanding the risk-return tradeoff: Evaluating whether a hand is worth betting on relative to the community cards and other players is invaluable in poker.
- Basic understanding of mathematics: Although poker players don’t have to be card counters, it is important for them to have a good grasp of basic mathematics to determine the likelihood of specific cards being present.
WHAT SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE ARE REQUIRED IN BLACKJACK?
Although blackjack and poker differ in more ways than one, most of the skills required to win at poker hold for blackjack. Nevertheless, here are a few more skills that can help you win more at blackjack.
- Ability to learn strategy: Sticking to a basic strategy through thick and thin will help you save a lot of money.
- Be disciplined: Staying level-headed is a very undervalued trait. It’s important to keep your emotions in check and to avoid betting for long stretches of time, especially if you’re on a losing streak and winning seems excruciatingly hard.
BLACKJACK VS. POKER ODDS
Having a good idea about the odds of both games will help you tailor your bets accordingly. To that end, here’s a brief look at the odds of the most significant outcomes in blackjack and poker.
| Poker odds | Blackjack odds | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand | Probability of drawing | Hand value | Probability of drawing |
| Royal flush | 0.000154% | 21 | 4.8% |
| Straight flush | 0.00139% | 17-20 | 30% |
| Four of a kind | 0.0240% | 1-16 | 38.7% |
| Full house | 0.1441% | No bust | 26.5% |
| Flush | 0.1965% | ||
| Straight flush | 0.3925% | ||
| Three of a kind | 2.1128% | ||
| Two pair | 4.7539% | ||
| One pair | 42.2569% | ||
| High card | 50.1177% | ||
SHOULD YOU PLAY POKER OR BLACKJACK?
In summation, both games are considerably different. The best way to decide which game best aligns to your tastes is by giving both of them a go and gauging their entertainment value.
Have you come to a conclusion about which game you prefer? If not, there’s absolutely nothing to worry about.
The great thing about playing either game at an online casino is that, in most cases, you can try playing demo modes — free poker or blackjack games in which virtual funds are used. Registration may be required before access to the demo can be granted.
If you wish to try playing poker games and blackjack games without sifting through blackjack and poker sites, you can do so at the same casino: EnergyCasino!