Blackjack

This is an obvious. As a popular casino game most poker players have probably played it at one time or another. I know I had. There’s so much more to it than what I first thought though, and for many of you that will probably be the same. Blackjack is not about luck and it’s not about simple knowledge. There is a mathematical formula known as Basic Blackjack Strategy which relies on the game being played in an exact way in order to reduce the house edge and increase your chances as a player. If you choose the right variants (fewer decks are better, try to avoid European Blackjack, Pontoon and Spanish 21) and use Basic Blackjack Strategy then you can make a very nice profit from this game. The only downside is that it doesn’t really work online.

Card counting should never be discounted either. As with the conception that blackjack is all about luck, there is also one that card counting is incredibly difficult and involves some Rain Man level of thought. This is far from the case and card counting is actually about adding and subtracting single digits. The math is very basic and it’s more about focus than anything else, as you will need to look normal and keep a running count in your head whilst in a busy environment. Card counting is not illegal, but it is frowned upon by the casinos, so don’t let them catch you doing it.

Baccarat

There is a story that Phil Ivey once won over $10 million playing Baccarat in a single night. He did it in a famous and very exclusive card room in London, and although he allegedly used a trick that allowed him to see which cards he was being dealt, this is a game that can make you a huge profit without such tricks. Baccarat is played against the dealer and there are three different variants of it available. Which one you play is important and this is something you need to watch out for because one of them is strictly a game of chance, and one where skill doesn’t factor in at all.

Baccarat is a little hard to explain in the limitations of this article, but it is one of those games that is very easy to pick up once you begin playing. If you fancy yourself at the Baccarat tables then my advice is that you jump straight in, because there’s no better way to learn the game then by playing it. Just make sure you don’t bet a huge amount to begin with.

Backgammon

As a dice game, this is often written-off as a game of luck, but there is a lot of skill involved. This game is popular in several countries such as Greece, where you will see it played in coffee shops and restaurants. The games are often played for money, and if you fancy yourself as a player then you could win yourself a pretty penny this way. There are also online versions of the game and there is even talk of Backgammon being introduced to certain casino softwares.

Backgammon is actually one of the oldest games known to man, with some suggestions that it could be as old as 5,000 years. As with chess, which we shall discuss next, Backgammon relies on strategy.

Chess

Chess is a very old game and one that requires more skill and strategy than anything on this list. Chess is far from a game of luck and no one in their right mind would think it is, but it has been included here because it is a great game to learn for many reasons. Learning chess can help you to learn all of these other games, as it will increase your patience and your focus, due to the fact that large parts of the game are spent waiting for your opponent to make their move. You’re not going to make a huge amount of money playing this game, but if you find another keen player and gambler then this is great game to make prop bets on. Just remember that this game can take decades to master, so even if you fancy your chances after a few weeks, there’s a good chance that you’ll be nowhere near as good as you think you are.