Rummy, poker, bridge, cribbage, hearts, bluff, palace, Egyptian ratscrew, spades… there are countless card games. There is a game for everyone. You can play them with your family and friends. Playing cards is popular at the traditional brick-and-mortar casinos too and in recent years, you can even play them at online casinos.

In life, we have to deal with the cards we get. But in card games, we have some wiggle room, meaning, we can improve the chance of winning if we employ some smart strategies. An expert will always tell you to ‘play the man and not the cards’. This means you must also focus on player psychology and watch out for facial expressions while playing. It is essential to read your opponents.

There are many other strategies as well that will improve your chances significantly. Here are some key tips and tricks.

Observe the other players before seeing your cards

We naturally want to look at our cards immediately as soon as we get them, hoping that we have got aces. However, it would be more useful if you could observe carefully how the other players are reacting when they are seeing their cards. A slight smile or disappointment will tell you a lot about what kind of cards they have received. Also, focus on patterns if you are playing a card game like Andar Bahar. You will find more casino andar bahar tricks here.

Keep your ears open

A casino is a vibrant place. There is music. People are chatting and having fun. It is a party-like atmosphere. Do not let all this distract you. Stay focused. Keep your ears open or you may miss a low grunt or a soft sigh. They can be signs of a strong or weak hand.

See how the others have stacked their chips

Look at your cards, look at the facial expressions of the other players, and also see how they have kept their chips. An experienced player will arrange them in a neat pile usually. It signals an organized and structured mind. This arrangement helps the player check quickly the number of chips in front. A beginner or someone who just wants to have fun won’t usually be so efficient. The pile may be quite messy.

A long stare can mean a bluff

If you have played cards, you must have seen players look away after placing their chips. They do this often when in a good position. On the other hand, many players will stare at you when they are bluffing. It seems they are trying to intimidate you, even without realizing it themselves.

A long stare can mean weak cards

You might also have noticed them stare for a long time at their cards. It is as if they are trying to change their cards desperately with the power of their minds. But, of course, this never works.

Move quickly

Many card games are played on a timer so you must work quickly to win. You will know what to do if you have a plan and then moving fast won’t be an issue. Make sure to move as quickly as you can. On some tables, quick moves will confuse the other players, which will improve your chances.

Watch for playing styles

Each player has a style. It is very difficult to change the style. They will do it in a way if they are bluffing. They will behave differently if they have a strong or weak hand. You can get an idea about the cards with each player if you can observe them carefully and identify their habits and playing styles.

Winning Strategies for Card Games

Here are some winning tips for these card games – 

• Blackjack – What do you do when you have two cards having the same rank? If you have a pair of anything apart from 4s, 5s, or 10s, then split your pairs into separate hands. If you have 5s, then hit if the dealer has a face card, a 10, or an ace. Double your bet if the dealer has any other card. Stand if the player has a pair of 10s.
• Spades – In some games, a defensive approach may be the best one. In other words, you can try to keep your opponents from achieving their goals. In Spades, use the ‘Cutting’ strategy, if your opponent is close to winning. Here, instead of taking the number of tricks they bet, attempt to take many tricks, which will keep your opponent from reaching the number of targeted tricks.
• Poker – Being good at mathematics will help but this doesn’t mean you have to be a math champion. Memorize important probabilities and will be able to improve your winning chance. The opening hand is important in Texas Hold 'em. King-king, ace-ace, jack-jack, queen-queen, 10-10, and ace-king are the best starting hands. You have a chance of getting one of these combinations once every 29 times.
• Gin Rummy – In this game, the objective is to collect melds. A good way is by starting with a triangle. If you have seven of spades, six of diamonds, and six of spades, then you will have a triangle.
• Hearts – Here, get rid of all the cards in a single suit as soon as you can. For instance, if you have 5 or 6 diamonds play them as soon as you can. Also, keep track of if anyone else is using this strategy.

Luck is involved in many card games but you can also employ smart strategies. Also, it is important to have a Plan B and C where you have to use different methods. Make sure to change your approach at any moment depending on the cards you get, how the others are playing, and if your primary strategy isn’t working.