The first symbol that most Americans immediately think of when they think gambling in Vegas is a deck of cards and a pile of chips. While card games comprise only some of the games that gamblers can play in Las Vegas, they account for a majority of the gambling tradition. Three of these games are baccarat, blackjack, and of course, poker.

Baccarat

The game of baccarat has been played for centuries. Fodor’s Las Vegas Compass American Guides offers that the origin of baccarat is unknown, but there are many theories. There are those who claim that the game started in Corsica or Sicily, while others say that it was a 17th century Paris favorite during the reign of Lois XIV. Regardless of where the game began, baccarat is popular today because of the ease of play.

There are two integral parts to this game: Banker and Player. Participants can bet on either banker or player at anytime. The dealer gives two cards from the shoe to the player who has the highest bet against the bank, and then deals two cards to himself as banker. The goal is to come as close as possible to the number 9. Each player has a chance to deal the cards.

Blackjack

One of the most intriguing games in the gambling world is blackjack. The perfect combination of luck and strategy, blackjack creates a challenge for gamblers. To begin, players place the amount of chips they want to bet on the table. Players are dealt two cards, most often face up. The dealer always deals himself one card face down and one card face up.

The goal is to have your two cards come the closest to 21 without busting. Players are given the option to hit or to stand. Taking a hit means receiving another card, where as standing means that you are satisfied with your total. Blackjack dealers must stand on a 17 but must hit on a 16. In other words, say a dealer had a jack and a seven. In this case, the dealer cannot take another hit. If he or she has a six and a jack, then the dealer must hit. Much of the game is luck, but paying attention to the cards that the dealer has revealed and the cards that you have in your hand is vital to the game.

Poker

Poker actually describes several different games, among them Hold ’Em, Pai Gow Poker, and Caribbean Stud Poker. Hold ‘Em uses five cards that are dealt face up in the center of the table and two cards that each player is dealt. Players use the best five cards out of seven, and the best hand wins. In Pai Gow Poker, the joker is wild and can be an ace to complete a straight, a straight flush, a flush, or a royal flush. The players are dealt seven cards that are divided into two separate hands. One is a two-carded hand and the other is a five-carded hand. The highest two-card hand is two aces and the highest five-card hand is a royal flush.

Then there is Caribbean Stud Poker. The dealer deals five facedown cards from a deck and the players play against the dealer, who also receives five cards, one of which is face up. The dealer must qualify with at least an “ace/king” combination. If he or she does not qualify, then all players have their bets returned. If the dealer qualifies, all hands are reviewed, and bets are paid out.