The game round starts with 13 seconds of betting time.

You can place bets on any of the bet spots. You can play just the side bets, a mixture or just the main hands – the choice is yours. Most bet spots have the same payout of even money, 1:1, while a Draw will pay 11:1.

The side bets offer some additional betting action during Card Matchup.

The side bets can be played on their own, i.e. you don’t have to make a main hand bet to play them.

The main hand doesn’t need to win for you to win a side bet.

There are four side bets. You can bet on as many as you like for either or both the home and away sides of the game.

• Over 8.5 – The card must be nine or more.
• Under 7.5 – The card must be seven or less.
• Red – The card must be red.
• Black – The card must be Black

Note: If the cardR17;s total is 8, you’ll lose the Over/Under bet.

All of the side bets pay even money, 1:1.

The RTP for all of the side bets is 92.31%.

The side bets are only active for the first 104 hands of the dealing shoe. After that, you won’t be able to play them. The reason is to thwart card counters, as it becomes easier to predict what cards are left in the deck and which side bets are more likely to occur.

Card Matchup is one of those games where there are no fundamental strategies for playing or winning. However, here are a few pointers that may help you decide how to play.

1. Card MatchUp is not quite a 50-50 game, but it’s close. The draw gives the house its edge by returning half of your stake.
2. The home team always receives the first card.
3. Review the game’s previous results statistics to spot trends. I like playing by following trends. I’ll bet on a position until I lose, switch to the other side and keep going until I lose again. You can double your bet when you switch, but too many of these losses will reduce your bankroll quickly.
4. For the side bets, you need to keep track of what has come out of the shoe, both value and colour-wise. Start betting on the side bets when you feel you have enough information – my advice is after about 40 hands. You’ll need to do some math to see what’s left in the shoe and start betting accordingly.

The expected returns to the player are 96.27% for the Home and Away positions and 92.31% on the side Bets.

A draw has an RTP of 89.63%.

On Air Entertainment supplies two sets of results statistics to track previous results during the game. They don’t cover the side bets or the value of the cards, just whether it’s a Home or Away win.

You can see streaks and current form with the Winning Streak Statistic.

My favourite is to see the balance of wins between home and Away for the duration of the current show. You should see an even balance between the two. If it’s out of balance – it’s likely to come back, which may influence how you start to bet.

Card Matchup

Football Studio

On Air Card Matchup and Evolution’s Top Card are very similar games. Card Matchup is an almost exact copy of Football Studio, but some differences between the two are worth mentioning.

Similarities

1. Both games play the same, have the same rules and have the same payout structure.
2. The RTPs are the same.
3. Both games have Sports Widgets, so you can select the results you want to keep an eye on.

Differences

1. Top Card/Football Studio allows players to select the results from different football leagues and display them in the playing interface.
2. Card Matchup has side bets.
3. Top Card is in a dedicated Studio, whereas Card Matchup is in a sports-themed studio with other games.

Card Matchup is a simple game to understand and play.

It’s similar to Top Card and Dragon Tiger, where two cards battle to see which has the highest value.

If you move away from cards, the game Football Dice is a great alternative, using dice instead of cards to determine the winning side.

But if you want a game with more betting options, Card Matchup is the one to pick.

I like the studio and the way the game is presented. The sound is nice and clear, and the presenter’s football knowledge is OK.

The Sports Widget provides a visual representation of the football scores from games you select – a nice feature.

All in all a good game if you like simplicity and turning over your bankroll.

You’re not going to win a big playing Card Matchup, but you will have a long playing session if you are sensible with how you bet.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Card Matchup?

Card Matchup is a live dealer card game by On Air Entertainment. There are two betting positions, Home and Away. Players bet on the position that will receive the highest value card. It’s easy to learn and simple to play.

Where can I play Card Matchup?

You can play at an online casino that has On Air Entertainment live casino games. My recommendation is BetVictor Online Casino.

Is there a strategy to Win Card Matchup?

There is no defined strategy for winning, but you can use a system to play sensibly to turn over your bankroll many times. I prefer to look at the game statistics to determine where to place my money. Refer to my Strategy Guide for more information.

What other games are like Card Matchup?

Football Studio or Top Card by Evolution is a very similar game. Also, Dragon Tiger is played with two playing positions and uses the highest card to determine the winning side.

What is the RTP?

The RTP is 96.27% for the central hands. A Draw has an RTP of 89.64%.

Are there Side Bets?

There are four side bets for the Home and Away positions. The Side Bets can be played alone or alongside the central hands. All of the side bets pay 1:1.

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