When you’re playing Bitcoin casino games, you generally want to know which ones have the lowest house edge, and which are the easiest to learn. Of all the online casino games available, blackjack and baccarat offer some of the lowest house edges possible. In this article, we’ll break down the blackjack vs. baccarat comparison and take players through the advantages and disadvantages of each game.
Let’s get right into it.
Which game is easier to learn?
For this question, the nod has to go to baccarat. A minimalist version of baccarat with no side bets available is a simple choice between two options: player or banker. There’s no calculation of when to hit, stand, double down, split, or anything like that. There are no blackjack charts to get familiar with. There’s no card counting (an estimation of what favorable cards are left in the deck).
In contrast, blackjack is a game that requires some strategy to maximize a player’s profit potential. For each hand, there is a correct play. To make that correct play, a gambler must also take into account the dealer’s upcard and the special rules of the version of blackjack he or she is playing. The house edge changes significantly when a player is making the best moves. A player who is going by gut feeling can expect to lose more money over time than a player who understands the game on a higher level.
So, is baccarat better than blackjack? Well, when it comes to the learning curve, the point favors baccarat. If you can choose between two options, you can play baccarat like the pros. We’ll ignore the “tie” bet for now. It’s a special bet that carries a much less favorable edge to the bettor, and so we assume that people in hunt of the lowest house edge won’t be making that bet. Blackjack takes much more time to learn. There are even whole books devoted to the topic.
Strategy differences between blackjack and baccarat
For baccarat, the strategy is often quite simple. Gamblers can bet the player or banker, and switch as often as they like. The banker bet is slightly favored, and we will discuss these odds below. Thus, the strategy in baccarat really doesn’t have much to it. For this reason, most of the talk on the topic relates to baccarat betting systems. Instead of describing an in-game strategy, these systems focus on how to adjust wagers from round to round.
Blackjack takes more strategy. Players need to know basic guidelines, at the very least, and should take time to go even deeper into the game. For example, players should:
- Always split aces and eights.
- Never split tens or fives.
- Stand on 17 or higher.
- Hit on 12-16 if the dealer shows 7 or higher.
- Double down on 11 when the dealer’s upcard is 2-10.
And on and on it goes. The strategy of blackjack is somewhat complex when compared to other crypto casino table games. It also plays into the house edge baccarat vs blackjack presents to players.
Baccarat odds vs. blackjack
Baccarat vs blackjack odds are similar, but different enough to make blackjack the game of choice for people who want the best odds possible. Does blackjack have the best odds? Yes, but you must play optimally. The odds vary from 0.5% to 2%, depending on the version you play. But with proper optimal decision making, a player can bring the house edge on a game of single deck blackjack down to around 0.3%.
Does baccarat have the best odds? Not really. Or we could say that baccarat offers better odds only for players who know nothing about blackjack strategy. Each bet in baccarat has its own edge, actually. Banker bets have an edge of about 1.06%, while player bets offer a 1.24% house edge. This relates to payouts as well. While player bets pay 1:1, banker bets often have a small commission, and pay 1 to 0.95. Still, even with all this considered, blackjack’s lower house edge is still standing.
Which blackjack has the best odds?
There are many versions of blackjack out there, including 21 Burn Blackjack, European Blackjack, and Super 7 Blackjack (which offers up to a 5,000x payout when 7s are dealt in certain ways). The best blackjack odds come from a version that follows these rules:
- Payout for Blackjack: 3:2 payout for a natural blackjack (not 6:5 or even money).
- Dealer Stands on Soft 17: The dealer must stand on a soft 17 (Ace and 6).
- Doubling Down: Allowed on any two initial cards.
- Doubling After Split: Permitted after splitting pairs.
- Re-Splitting Aces: Allowed to re-split aces.
- Surrender Option: Early or late surrender options are available.
- Number of Decks: Games with fewer decks (single or double deck) are more favorable.
- Dealer Peeks for Blackjack: Dealer checks for blackjack when showing an Ace or 10-value card.
These favorable rules will lead to the lowest house edge possible. Each rule that changes away from this format will increase the house edge incrementally.
Comparing side bets
When deciding between baccarat or blackjack, it can also help to think about side bets. While baccarat offers a tie bet, it also can feature some pairs bets. Baccarat Pro, for example, offers bets on player pair, banker pair, either pair, and perfect pair, with payouts from 5:1 to 25:1. This brings some exciting profit potential to the game. EZ Baccarat is another version that features some fun side bets. The Dragon 7 and Panda 8 bets, paid out for certain wins on hands hitting those totals, pay 40:1 and 25:1, respectively.
Here, however, the edge is going to blackjack. The progressive blackjack payouts are much larger for blackjack side bets.
Super 7 Blackjack, for example, offers a side bet that pays out when 7s are dealt in certain ways. The bottom payout comes when your first card is a 7 (3:1). The largest payout, 5,000x your wager, is triggered when your first cards are three sevens of the same suit. This is getting into true jackpot territory, especially if you are wagering fairly large amounts in each hand.
The entertainment factor
The final factor in this discussion is how entertaining each game is. A game you enjoy playing is bound to be worth something. After all, we come to casinos with visions of winning, but also want to have a good time. So, which game is more fun? Well, while baccarat can be a simple good time, blackjack probably takes the win here. This is almost certainly true when you factor in live dealer blackjack games, where dealer hype and social player chatter take the game to the next level. Watching the whole table win with multiple players is sure to put a smile on your face.
FAQ
Does Baccarat have the best odds in casino?
Baccarat doesn’t have the best odds in the casino. Blackjack offers an even smaller house edge, which creates better odds for players to have a profitable session.
Is Baccarat more profitable than blackjack?
Blackjack played optimally, is more likely to result in a player profit than baccarat.
What makes blackjack better than baccarat?
Blackjack is tougher to learn, but offers better odds, more exciting side bets, and more engaging live dealer play.
How can I learn blackjack?
Head to our blackjack articles page for breakdowns of the best strategies in blackjack that are easy to understand and apply, even for new players.