Card games are among the most popular types of gambling games for many players, as well as a source of entertainment not only for adults but also for small children. Thanks to various versions differing in rules, complexity, and overall playing time, everyone can find something to enjoy. Find out which card games are the most widespread here, and which ones you can also play for money with friends, or even in land-based casinos or online casinos.
Gambling card games
For many players, card games where they can play for real money are very attractive. In these games, the element of chance is often combined with a well-chosen strategy, and for players to actually win, they must not only master the rules of the game but also carefully choose their next moves. Although their final win is in the hands of luck, if it favors them, they can take away more than just the good feeling of victory.
Poker
This most famous gambling game can be played by 2 – 10 players at a time, whose goal is to obtain the strongest hand combination and thereby beat the opponents’ combinations at the table. It is played with a single deck of French cards (52 cards with heart, club, diamond, and spade symbols). Currently, there are more than 1,000 variants of this game, with the most famous being Texas Hold’em or Omaha. Among Czech players, however, you can also find draw poker, which uses a deck of German cards (32 cards).
Blackjack
This game is ideal for all great strategists, as to achieve the best result, players must bet on the right tactics. After the first two cards are dealt, players are asked by the dealer to decide whether they want another card or not. Their goal is to get a hand total as close to 21 as possible without exceeding this limit and to surpass the dealer’s card value with their own. If a player exceeds the 21-point limit, they lose, even if the dealer also exceeds this limit.
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Detailed information about blackjack |
Baccarat
This card game requires two players and a banker. At the beginning of the game, both receive two cards, and their next move depends on the version of the game they are playing. While in Punto Banco, the rules for each situation are precisely defined, in Chemin de Fer or Baccarat Banque, they can decide for themselves whether to take a third card or not. The players’ goal is to get a hand value as close to 9 as possible and to beat the opponent.
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Detailed information about baccarat |
Mariasch
This game is designed for 3 players and uses one-headed or two-headed German-type cards, aptly named “mariasch”. This game is characterized by specific terms and the pub environment atmosphere, as it was most often played by regulars in favorite pubs. The goal of the game is to fulfill the chosen contract and score as many points as possible. There are two basic versions of the game: licit mariasch or chosen mariasch, which differ from each other in some rules. Two players can play a simplified version called licked mariasch, and for four players, there is a variant called four (sometimes referred to as cross mariasch).
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Detailed information about mariáš |
Gotes
Another popular game using Mariasch cards is gotes. One deck of cards is laid out on the table face up, and all players place bets on them (they can bet on multiple cards at once). The banker then gradually reveals individual cards from the second deck. Players’ potential winnings are paid out based on which turn the card they bet on is drawn. The banker reveals 8 cards in each round, divided into 4 turns. In the first turn, 3 cards are revealed, in the next two turns 2 cards each, and in the final turn, the eighth card is revealed, and the game is evaluated, and potential winnings are paid out.
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Detailed information about plátýnko |
vingt-et-un
This is a Czech variant derived from the French card game vingt-et-un, from which blackjack also evolved. However, it differs in the way point values are counted. Almost any number of players can participate in this game, with one of them acting as the banker (according to pre-agreed rules, players take turns in this position regularly). Just like in blackjack, players try to achieve the highest total with their cards without exceeding the 21-point limit.
Card games for fun
The rules of these games are usually very simple, so even the youngest players can enjoy them. Although almost any game can be modified so that players can play for money, these games are usually played just for fun. However, this does not mean that even the most passionate gamblers will not enjoy them. The course of the game is usually fast-paced, making each round exciting and engaging.
Pony
In the basic version of this game, mariasch cards are used, but it can also be played with a French deck of cards. Any number of players can join the game. One of them shuffles the cards at the beginning and then deals the same number of cards to all participants (including themselves). Players then lay down cards from their hands face up according to the rules or draw more cards from the deck. The player who manages to get rid of all their cards first wins.
Kent
This game is intended for an even number of players, who are divided into pairs. Each player is dealt four cards, and another four cards are placed face up on the table. When the cards are revealed, players can gradually exchange cards from their hands, but always only one card at a time. First, they must lay down a card from their hand, and only then can they take a card from the table. The goal of the game is to collect a set of four cards of the same value and signal to their partner. The partner then announces “Kent”, winning 1 point for the pair. If they also manage to gather a set of four cards and signal to the other player, they announce “Double Kent” and earn 2 points.
Quartette
Another popular game is kvarteto, which is intended for at least three players, who are dealt all the cards from the deck. The game uses special cards that are usually marked with a letter and number or a symbol and color in the children’s version. Players try to collect cards from their opponents by asking them questions to complete a set of four cards that logically belong together. When they manage to get all 4 cards in their hand, they declare the set and lay it on the table. The player who manages to lay down the most sets wins.
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Detailed information about kvarteto |
Black Peter
Ideally, this game is intended for 3 – 6 people, but it can also be played by two players. The game uses 33 special cards, which are dealt equally among all players at the beginning. They arrange the cards in their hands so that the other players cannot see them. 32 cards form pairs, and one card is Black Peter. Players offer cards to each other arranged in a fan shape (only the player holding them can see the pictures) and the opponent draws one card from them. If they get a pair, they lay it on the table and let the next player draw. Players take turns until all cards are paired, and someone is left with the Black Peter card, that player loses.
Solitaire
This game is intended for one player only, who needs 2 decks of joker cards. Jokers are removed and set aside. The cards are then divided into 10 columns, with the first 4 containing six cards each and the next 6 columns containing only five cards each. The remaining cards are set aside and revealed gradually. Once the columns are prepared, the player gradually reveals only one card at a time and tries to move and pair cards between the columns to create a descending sequence from King to Ace. The colors of the cards must alternate in each column: black/red/black and vice versa.
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Detailed information about solitaire |
