Solitaire is very different from most other card games you might have played. This means that you need to learn new strategies and tactics every time you try a new game, but are there also some strategies or ideas that you can take from other card games? By looking at some of the most popular games, we can see what links with Solitaire might be useful.
Blackjack – Understanding What Cards Are Left to Play
Blackjack is a classic game where you need to try to get closer to 21 than the dealer, but can’t go over this number, or you go bust and automatically lose. This means that you need to make decisions about whether to get a new card or go with what you have, as well as more complex strategies, such as doubling down or splitting the cards.
The popularity of blackjack means that there are now many ways of playing. This selection of blackjack online games includes versions such as Classic Blackjack, 21 Burn Blackjack, and Double Deck Blackjack. Many games introduce something new to the game, such as side bets or jackpots, but the main goal always remains the same.
The top strategy in blackjack is simply to base your decisions on what cards have been dealt so far. This is covered in basic blackjack strategy sheets, which explain what you should do in each situation, depending on your cards and the first one given to the dealer. Knowing what cards are left in the deck gives you an edge, as you have a better idea of working out what might be drawn next.
In Solitaire, recalling what cards are in the stockpile gives you an advantage. If you know what cards are going to come up next, you can plan ahead more effectively and work out your next moves with this in mind.
Baccarat – Discipline When Making Decisions
Baccarat is a game that’s been around for centuries and was traditionally viewed as a game for the elite members of society, such as royalty. Since it went online this century, many more people have discovered that it’s actually a simple and enjoyable game that anyone can try.
This is one of the simplest card games to play, with only a decision to be made at the start about whether you think the player or the banker will win by getting closer to 9 than the other. It’s also possible to bet on a tie being the outcome, while some versions have side bets such as Super 6, where you win extra if the banker wins with a hand totalling 6.
The link between baccarat and Solitaire strategy doesn’t seem obvious at first. Yet when we consider that there are no other decisions to be made once the betting round is over, it becomes obvious that your chances of success in baccarat depend on discipline in choosing the right bet type and stake amount, and then sticking to this strategy.
This is because you need to consider issues such as the house edge, which is lowest on the banker bet and highest on the side bets. Some players go a step further and use a progressive strategy like the Martingale system or Fibonacci when betting on baccarat. This adds an even greater need to stick to the plan, since these strategies require patience and discipline to work well.
In terms of Solitaire, there’s a good reason why it’s also sometimes called Patience. This is a game where you need to be prepared for slow, deliberate play with a great deal of attention to the details.
Poker – Maximize Your Expected Value
Poker has established itself as a leading card game across the world, with huge televised events around the world increasing its presence and attractiveness. It’s a game that requires a lot of strategic thinking, but the point that most interests us in this comparison is the way that you need to maximize your expected value (EV) with every move.
There’s a lot of emphasis on EV in poker, meaning that you need to carefully consider whether each bet, fold, or call is adding or taking away from it. What brings you value in Solitaire? It comes from uncovering new cards, which boosts your chances of winning. Therefore, your strategy should consist of uncovering cards as often as possible, boosting your EV, which in this case is your chance of winning.
At first sight, these games have little in common with Solitaire. Yet by diving more deeply into the key strategies, we’ve been able to see that some of the most important strategies can be copied in Solitaire, at least to some degree.