Poker vs Blackjack – What To Choose?

These two table games are so fascinating and suspenseful that they have often been the subject of movies. However, once they are moved to online play, the nature of each of the games does change to a large extent. Now you are playing against a computer instead of other players in the case of poker, or instead of a dealer in blackjack. But still, if you’re looking for some classic gambling action, either of these games provide that in spades. But which game do you choose?

That’s a tough one to answer, as both games have their diehard fans that swear by one or the other, as well as the fact that there are different online versions of each game to choose from. We’ll take a look at some of the differences between poker and blackjack, both in the online versions and on a real-life casino floor. Before we do that though, let’s see what DuckyLuck Online Casino has to offer.

DuckyLuck Online Casino offers a range of blackjack and poker games, including 14 super-popular video poker games, plus 4 Blackjack games and one poker game in our Table Games section. In addition, you can choose to go to our Live Casino video link-up, where you can play on a casino table operated by a real-life dealer. Here you can choose to join one of 7 blackjack tables or a Hold’em poker game.

The general consensus is that poker is a much more complex game with many nuances and a heap of different strategies for playing. Players tend to take poker very seriously, and because it involves other people round the table, it’s often also about having a psychological upper hand. Signals such as bluffing, having a ‘poker face’, being on a winning streak, can put other players off their game and on edge. Online poker obviously has none of these adversarial interpersonal dimensions, so it’s all down to playing the cards and not the person. That being said, there are online poker rooms where you can play against other people, but body language obviously won’t play a role in the game. 

On the other hand, blackjack ¬played online and in a bricks and mortar casino are very similar. Here you are only competing against the dealer (or the computer), both of which can only play strictly to the simple rules of the game. In a live casino you might be joined by other players, who don’t pose any threat as you are all playing to beat the dealer, not each other. There are strategies and acquired skills to improve winning in online blackjack of course, but unfortunately the main one – card counting ¬– is not one of them. A Random Number Generator shuffles the cards after every game, so even if you’re Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man, you won’t have much, if any, advantage. 

The lower skills needed to play makes blackjack a great game for all levels. Additionally, it’s easier to grasp and improve quickly, especially compared to poker. Playing blackjack online is a great way to enjoy this popular game and offers a few advantages over playing in a live casino; you can play at any time without leaving the house; and if you're a novice you don't have to worry about making any mistakes and embarrassing yourself in front of an audience.

Anyone who wants to try their hand at poker (and blackjack) should first get to know the game’s basic rules and read as much as they can about strategy, etc. The internet is bursting at the seams with advice on how to win at poker and blackjack, so take advantage of this free schooling. Then try your hand by playing both games with low stakes until you are confident you’re ‘in the zone’ and you’ve found your favorite. Whichever game you decide on, remember, gambling is meant to be fun entertainment and not always a way to make easy money, so don’t give up your day job. Enjoy!