Make all the right moves to skills-based casino games
If you want to make all the right moves with online gaming, stay with me. What’s the first type of game that comes to mind when you think about online gambling? It’s slots, right? We don’t need to be mind readers to know that. Most people automatically associate slots with gambling, and it’s easy to see why. Whether they’re land-based or virtual, slot games are packed with colour, sound, vibrancy and excitement. Not to mention huge, life-changing jackpots too!
What’s the allure of slots? It’s that they’re easy to play. And they’re based entirely on luck as well. Other than knowing how to manage your finances responsibly, you don’t need any other special skills to play. Just calculate how much you can afford to spend on your betting. Hit the button and see what the gaming gods have in store for you! You gave all the right moves there.
All the right moves – how?
Of course, if you want to take a little more control over your gambling, there is a way to transition past games of chance towards games of skill instead. And while the Random Number Generator will still be running the show. Playing strategy-based games like Poker or Blackjack will give you a little more control over your gaming outcomes. Intrigued yet? Then join us in finding out how to sharpen your skills. And how to make your gaming more engaging, and hopefully more profitable too!
Luck vs skill – what’s the difference? And how can you make all the right moves?
Great question, and it’s important you understand the distinction before making all the right moves to skills-based games. What are the differences between luck and skills, and what should you be paying attention to?
Luck-based games (think slots, Roulette, Keno, Baccarat and lottery-style games) are all about randomness. While you can control how much you bet, you have no control over the outcome of each spin of the reels. Roll of the dice or draw of the cards, which is what makes these games so endlessly exciting. If you’re big on thrills but not so much on strategy, luck-based games are the perfect fit for you.
Skills-based games (now we’re talking Poker, Blackjack, and certain types of Video Poker) are the counterpart to luck-based games. As with these you’ll have some control in the game. By making decisions based on strategy, probability, and experience, you’ll be able to influence the outcome and reduce the house edge in your favour. So the more time and effort you invest in learning skills-based games. The more rewards you could ultimately reap. Are you going to make all the right moves?
Why move from slots to skills-based games?
Another excellent question! If you love your online slots and you’re having fun playing them, why start playing something else? Surely if it’s not broke, don’t fix it?
Fair point. If you love playing slots, carrying on playing them – we’re not saying you have to stop at all. We love a good spin on the reels just as much as the next person! But while luck-based games are packed with thrills and exhilaration, there are a number of benefits that skills-based games have to offer that can help make your overall online casino experience even more rewarding:
More control: When you’re playing games like Blackjack or Poker, any decisions you make. Such as when to hit or fold, will directly affect your outcome. Learning the strategies behind these games can help nudge the odds slightly in your favour. Something that isn’t possible when you’re playing a completely luck-based game.
More engagement: If you’re someone who enjoys strategy-based games, it could have something to do with the challenge they offer. Playing these types of games demands more than simply hitting a bet button – it requires that you use your knowledge and skills to outplay your opponents and beat the house. It’s the mental side of the game that’s so appealing to many players, and it’s what makes skills-based games so tantalizing.
The potential to hit a big jackpot counts for something – consider to be right moves.
More potential for success: While the RTP percentages in slots games do indicate how much you’re likely to win back over time, these amounts are always just theoretical, never a guarantee. With skills-based games, however, you’re being given the opportunity to win consistently over time. So if you’re able to develop a strategy to reduce the house edge, or use your competitors’ weaknesses against them, you’ll have a higher chance of success in the long run.
How to transition from luck to strategy
If you’re interested in at least finding out what it takes to move from slots to skills-based games, we’ve got you covered! Take a look at our step-by-step guide to making the transition, and start finding out how powerfully strategy-based games could work for you!
Start out with a hybrid game, like Video Poker
If you’re already a fan of slots and similar luck-based games, playing Video Poker is the ideal way to bridge the gap between luck and strategy. It’s simple enough to learn how to play, it’s got the instant thrills that slots deliver, and it incorporates a mental aspect as well that can help affect the outcome – and it’s here where you can start honing your decision-making skills.
How it works: At the beginning of each game, you’ll be dealt 5 cards. All you’ll need to do is decide which to keep and which to discard in order to form the best possible Poker hand. The cards you discard will be replaced, and you’ll then be left with a final hand. So while the initial deal is completely random, you’ll be able to make certain decisions during the game that will directly affect the outcome.
Strategy tip: You’ll need to know a little about Poker here to get ahead, more specifically, the different card hand values and their rankings. It’s also a good idea to learn the optimal strategies for the exact type of Video Poker you’re playing (such as Jacks or Better). Each Video Poker variation has its own set of rules, so learning the best moves for every specific hand combination can help lower the house edge in your favour.
Learn basic Blackjack strategy
We’re still easing you in here, don’t worry. Prepping you to make all the right moves. Even if you’ve never played Blackjack before, you should be able to catch on fairly quickly, as its strategy is fairly easy to learn – making it the ideal card game to transition to as a slots player. Similar to Video Poker, while the initial deal is based on luck, it’s the decisions you make during the game that can help influence your outcome.
How it works: It’s simple – the main aim of Blackjack is to put together a card hand value as close as possible to 21 without going over. In order to do this, you’ll be able to make certain choices during the game. Such as when to hit (take another card), when to stand (leave your cards as is), or when to use strategies like splitting or doubling down. If by the end of the round, your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s. Then you win. Easy!
Strategy tip: As you can imagine, Blackjack has been studied for years by some of the brightest minds, which means there’s a wealth of information already out there for you. Believe it or not, there are blackjack strategy charts that can tell you the mathematically correct move for any given hand based on what the dealer’s hand is showing. If you’re able to memorise or reference these for use during your own game, you’ll significantly improve your chances of winning. In Blackjack, a little effort can go a long way!
Do a deep dive into Poker strategy
We’re raising the stakes here a little with Poker, but we believe in you! Once you feel you’ve got the hang of easier games like Video Poker and Blackjack, it’s time to move onto the ultimate mental challenge – Poker!
As the grandaddy of skills-based games, Poker pits you not just against the house but against other players too, substantially upping the difficulty factor. Now you’re not just playing against cards, you’re playing against people as well. Which can be tricky if you’re not used to it. Again, although the initial deal is based solely on luck, it’s the strategies you use throughout the game that will determine your fate. Adding an extra level of complexity to the game. And an elevated sense of achievement too. These are the right moves. If you can use Poker strategy to your advantage, and your knowledge of human behaviour to psych out the competition, you can rule the table and claim the ultimate prize!
How it works: Let’s look at Texas Hold’em, one of the most popular forms of online Poker, and one of the easiest entryways into the game. At the beginning of every round, each player will be dealt two cards (known as hole cards). With five community cards being dealt in the middle of the table. And revealed as the game progresses. Your only goal is to make the best five-card hand possible from your cards and the community cards. Using your ability to bet, bluff, and read the other players throughout the game.
You need a good strategy so you have all the right moves
Strategy tip: It all starts with the basics in Poker. Give yourself the best grounding possible by learning the fundamentals right out of the gate. Like hand rankings, betting strategies, and the importance of your position at the table (yes, that’s a thing too). The more experience you gain, the more you’ll be able to dive into advanced concepts like bluffing, pot odds, and reading your opponents’ tells. You’ll also become an expert in behaviour at the same time. Which could prove useful in your daily life as well. The gift that keeps on giving!
Taking your skills beyond online gambling
We love how that brings us neatly to our next point – that one of the often-overlooked benefits of transitioning to strategy-based online casino games is how applicable the same skills can be in other areas of your life.
Just take Poker, for example. It’s not just a simple game of cards. Instead it’s an intense, concentrated lesson in critical thinking, emotional control, and risk management. Blackjack isn’t just about counting to 21. It’s about learning how to make decisions based on probability. And risk versus reward calculations. And Video Poker isn’t just about putting together the best hand of cards. It’s about making quick, incisive decisions and managing the consequences thereafter.
Learning these skills won’t just take you far in online gambling – it’ll take you far in life too. So the next time you have the chance to take part in a strategy-based game, bear in mind that it could see you winning not just in the casino, but outside it as well.
Get your mind right
Feeling a little overwhelmed? That’s normal – there’s a lot of information to take in and process. And it’s worth remembering that the transition from luck to strategy isn’t one that happens overnight. If all you’re used to is playing slots, you won’t have experienced the necessary preparation or thought that goes into your gaming. So applying this to skills-based games could take a little adjustment at first. It’s about the long-term rewards of practice and patience over the short-term rewards of instant gratification. And it takes time to master.
So how do you make sure you’re in the best mental space to take on the challenges ahead?
Have patience. Even if you’ve memorized every strategy in the book, it’s statistically impossible for you to win every game you play. The house has an edge for a reason – it’s a business and it needs to make money. Otherwise you’ll have nowhere to play. That’s why it still has an advantage no matter how much studying and research you do. What proper preparation will do for you, however, is help you to minimize your losses and maximize your wins. A hugely valuable strategy that’ll pay dividends for your bankroll and help you make all the right moves.
Keep practising. No one goes from beginner to expert overnight. It takes hours and hours (and hours) of practice to hone your skills, which is exactly what you’ll need to do if you want to improve yours. The more you play, the more experience you’ll gain, and the better you’ll become. If you like, you can even try free or demo games first in order to build up your experience with less risk involved. Don’t be discouraged though – keep at it. Big wins weren’t built in a day!
Get your active gaming on!
There are two types of players in online gambling – active and passive. Active players engage mentally in skills-based games, while passive players ride the wave of luck-based games instead. Nothing wrong with being a passive player at all. If you love the comfort of slots, you do you. Do whatever is comfortable for you so you can keep making all the right moves.
But there is something to be said for indulging in active online gambling from time to time as well. Rather than waiting for luck to find you, you’ll be able to go out and look for it, taking back control through thorough preparation, research and experience. More effort, sure – but significantly more rewards at the same time. So give yourself the challenge and see just how much skills-based games could help you win both in gaming and in life. Good luck!