Your guide to fun table games here at Winnerz

Lightning Baccarat by Evolution Gaming

Lightning Baccarat is one of the first table games by Evolution Gaming that uses the Lightning multiplier which activates before the game starts. It has a random number generator (RNG) that selects five cards from the deck which can multiply your winnings by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 8 if you make the right bet.

If you aren’t familiar with baccarat yet, Winnerz is here to help you out. In baccarat, you make one of three bets: the player’s hand, the banker’s hand, or a tie. If the card total of your bet is 9 or any value close to it, you win.

A round of baccarat starts by placing a bet, then the dealer hands out two face-up cards on both player and banker’s hands. If the total exceeds 9, only its last digit is counted as the total. Subsequently, 10s and face cards are valued as 0.

A third card is dealt if neither the player nor the banker’s hand reaches a total of 8 or 9. The player’s hand gets dealt first.

If the player’s card total is 6 or 7, no third card will likely be dealt since it is still close to 9. A card total from 0 to 5 warrants a third card unless the banker’s hand already reached a total of 8 or 9. In that case, the player loses.

On the other hand, the banker has more specific rules to follow regarding the third card. This third card is dealt if:

• the player’s third card leads to a total of 6 or 7 while the banker’s card total is 6;
• the player’s third card ranges from 4 to 7 while the banker’s hand total is 5;
• the player’s third card ranges from 2 to 7 while the banker’s hand total is 4;
• the player’s third card ranges from 0 to 7 while the banker’s hand total is 3; or
• The banker’s hand total ranges from 0 to 2 unless the player already has a winning hand.

Since the rules of baccarat are quite simple, the strategies for this game are straightforward. The first thing you have to keep in mind when playing baccarat is to avoid betting on a tie. Also, try to bet on the banker’s hand as much as possible since it only has a 44.65% chance of losing.

Blackjack by Pragmatic Play

Pragmatic Play’s Blackjack is played by up to seven players and uses eight decks. The objective of blackjack is to beat the dealer by having your hand reach a total of 21 or as close to it as possible. If the total exceeds 21, you lose the round (also known as ‘bust’). 

In this game, numbered cards are valued as is while face cards are valued as 10. Aces, meanwhile, can be counted as 1 or 11, depending on the owner of the card.

The game starts with each player being dealt two face-down cards before the dealer keeps a pair for themselves. If a player reaches a total of 21 just from those two cards, it is called a ‘natural’ or a ‘blackjack’ and they automatically win the round.

Depending on the hand total of each player, they may choose to hit or stand. Hitting means asking for an additional card until they reach their desired total. Standing means they are content with the total they have and are ready to play their hand. There is also the option to surrender if a player thinks they can’t beat the dealer’s total.

Additional actions can be done for a player’s first two cards:

• Doubling down means doubling the bet before an additional face-down card is given. This is usually done if the player’s hand total is 9, 10, or 11.
• Splitting means playing two separate hands if a player gets a pair of cards of the same value. Of course, the player has to place a separate bet for the new hand before additional cards are dealt.

Pragmatic Play’s Blackjack has special rules on its betting rounds:

• Players cannot double down once their hand is split.
• Only pairs can be split.
• Players can only hit once if they split a pair of aces.
• The dealer stands if their hand reaches a total of 17.

Several blackjack tips include splitting a pair of aces or 8s. Never split a pair of 10s and always stand when your total reaches 17. Also, always hit when your hand total is 8. Other than those, focus on your hand and take calculated risks so you won’t bust.