Baccarat is a card game in which players aim to score as many points as possible using two or three cards at special baccarat tables. Back in the day, as the game was considered a thing of aristocrats, only people of high social class used to play it. Currently, the casino mainly plays a variation known as mini-baccarat or punto banco. Baccarat is an interesting game full of tension and intrigue! It is easy to learn to play. The rules are pretty simple. However, if you dive deeper into the conditions and strategies of experienced players, you will realize that sometimes it is not that easy. Some try to predict the layout from previous results, while others try to resort to betting systems. Logic and superstition are equally important in the game. In this article, we will try to explain to you the basic terms of card games and using the points system. Also, you will read the information about the two hands of the banker and the player, what are the difference between these two hands. You will understand the main terms, understand face card values, learn what a total is (total of 5, a total of 6, a total of 8, total of 9, total of 10, and total of more than 10!), learn who the player and the banker are, discover the difference between betting on the banker and the player, and will be able to use the knowledge of how to play baccarat to win considerably!
What is it All About, and Where it Came From?
The origin of baccarat has not yet been precisely established, and many European countries argue about the origin of the game in this or that state — most often, it is France or Italy. In France — “chemin de fer” (iron) road or simply “piece of iron,” in other countries — it is nine or Macao.
According to the most famous version of the origin of it, it was invented by the Italian Felix Falguere. In the Middle Ages, people used to play baccarat using tarot cards.
There is also an opinion, based on structural similarity, that baccarat emerged from the development of early variations of blackjack in the early 19th century in France during the reign of Louis Philippe (1793-1850). It has many similarities to blackjack, but due to the less freedom of the players when playing baccarat, bets change hands much more often, and the element of luck plays an important role.
The game gained its modern shape during the reign of Louis Philippe. Some historians studying the history of games, in an attempt to discover the roots of it, went all the way back in time and connected the origin of it with certain religious rituals of the Etruscan civilization (1500 BC). The purpose of these rituals was to identify a suitable candidate for the role of the high priestess. The priestess was chosen based on the result of a roll of nine-sided dice. If 9 or 8 points fell out – a number equal to or close to the number of revered gods – then the candidate was approved. The numbers 6 and 7 meant a refusal, and if even fewer points fell out, then this could even lead to the execution of the girl. So it is exciting how people used to play baccarat, or it’s more likely to say “the ritual that possibly is the origin of baccarat.” A lot of casino games have mystical roots or at least some legends and stories connected to this. Bud, don’t worry; the modern version is safe for every player. To play it now is just a fun thing to do.
Punto-Banco
The history of baccarat in the United States began around 1911-1912 when it appeared in several illegal casinos in New York State. However, after a couple of years, it had disappeared since it was completely overshadowed by a structurally similar but much more popular blackjack. Baccarat made its second debut in America in 1958-59, when it was reintroduced into the Star Dust and Sands casino games range. This time, it took root and began to enjoy the increasing demand it really deserved. American Las Vegas Style Baccarat was played in American casinos. In other countries, this version of it is also called Punto-Banco. The rules of the American version do not leave the player hand any opportunity to interfere with the course of it, the distribution of cards, as well as its termination, are determined solely by the rules, it goes completely on autopilot, and the players only receive information from the croupier about winning or losing.
Tommy Renzoni (Renzoni on Baccarat, 1974) claims that he brought it to Vegas from Cuba in 1959. He was working as a dealer in Havana at the table at a Capri casino owned by movie star George Raft when Castro staged a coup and seized power. Renzoni moved to Vegas and started working at the Sands Hotel Casino. He was working there that night; when the game of baccarat was presented at the casino, they say that the casino then lost $ 250,000. The rules of American baccarat completely coincide with those of baccarat that Renzoni used to play in Cuba. Today, in all American casinos, in addition to American style baccarat, you can also play mini-baccarat. The rules for mini-baccarat are identical to those for American baccarat. The only difference is that the croupier, not the players deal the cards. This game is played at a small table, the same size as a blackjack table. As in American baccarat in mini-baccarat, the player hand cannot draw cards himself or refuse additional cards. The only thing a player can do, apart from being a bettor, of course, is to move the cards when it’s needed.
Baccarat Chemin-de-Fer and Baccarat-En-Banque
While one can continue to argue about the true origin of the game of baccarat, its structural development, and how ancient the history of the game of baccarat really is, there is no doubt that the game’s modern features were derived from the French. The game was trendy among French aristocrats in the 16th and 17th centuries and people used to play it both in private homes and in the royal palace. During Napoleon’s reign, it was played in many illegal gambling clubs.
Under Napoleon, baccarat was popular in illegal gambling clubs in Paris At the beginning of the 20th century, baccarat was the most popular leisure in the casinos of the Côte d’Azur (French Riviera). At that time, there were two versions of baccarat: Chemin-de-Fer (French for “railroad”) and Baccarat-en-Banque. The main difference between these options was who acts as the dealer and the number of active players. When playing it, Chemin-de-Fer shoes are in the hands of the player with the highest bet, and it is he who deals the cards and collects the pot, he is the banker. The player with the second-highest stake represents all other players against the banker. In Baccarat-en-Banque, the bank collects the casino, and the dealer distributes the cards. Besides, the table for the game is double, at which five players can be seated to the left and right of the banker. Two players —one on the left, the second on the right —represent all other players in the game against the croupier, each from their side. The conditions for dealing cards, refusing additional cards and possible actions of players are the same for both versions of it.
So What Are the Rules?
If you still wonder how to play baccarat now, we will dive into this. There are some possible outcomes in it: “Player” win, “Banker” win, or draw. Please be aware that “Banker” does not mean the casino. These are usually called hands: the player hand, the banker’s hand, or the bank hand. The participants are given a choice to bet the player hand or bet on the banker’s hand on the cards. So basically the goal of it is to guess who wins, the player hand or the banker’s hand. The will of chance determines the winner, so there are no special considerations for the bet. Even a teenager can easily play it.
First of all, let’s take a look at the basics, that is, the meanings of different cards and hands.
In the game, cards have their own worth, for example, ace cards are worth 1 point, cards from 2 to 9 are calculated at face value, and figures and tens do not give points. When 10 or more is reached, 10 is subtracted from the amount, and the remainder is taken into account when calculating the results. For example, 6 + 6 = 12 = 2 or 3 + 7 = 10 = 0.
There are three types of bets with a special field for each:
- Bet on the player hand (punto) – a bet on the player’s success. Calculated in a 1: 1 ratio.
- Bet on the banker’s hand (banko) – a bet on the banker’s winnings. It is calculated in a ratio of 19:20 (or in another way – 1: 1 minus a commission of 5%). When you bet on the banker hand, and it wins, it pays off up to 95 per cent of your betting.
- Draw – a bet that the banker and the player will have the same points on their hands. The calculation is carried out in a ratio of 8 to 1 (sometimes casinos bet 9: 1).
More Rules
Before the start, a gambler must place a bet within the limits of the minimum and maximum provided for a particular table. Then the dealer deals the first two cards to the participant and himself. When the player hand receives a natural combination (8 or 9 points on the first two cards), a comparison with the dealer’s cards are made to determine the winner. If the player scored less than six points, then he is given a player’s third card.
Then, according to the game rules, the dealer buys cards according to the established rules, which are determined by the purchased member’s card:
- If the gambler does not take the third card, then the dealer does not take the third card, except for the situation if the player has 6 or more points.
- If the dealer has 2 or fewer points, then he takes the third card.
- If the dealer has 3 points, then he takes the third card only if the player does not have a card worth 8.
- If the dealer has collected 4 points, then he draws a third card if the participant has not received a card worth 0, 1, 8, or 9 points.
- If the dealer collects 5 points, then he takes the third card, only if the gambler did not take the third card at the worth of 4, 5, 6, or 7 points.
- If the dealer has 6 points, then he takes the third card, if the gamer does not have a card worth 6 or 7 points.
- Tens and face cards worth 0 points.
- If the Player’s third card is 6 or 7, the Banker draws when he has a 0-6, and stays.
After that, the hands of the player and the dealer are compared. The winner is the one who collects the most points in the combination. If the amount is the same, then a draw is declared. Then the croupier makes payments, if there are any, collects cards, and continues the playing process.
So let’s repeat the possible outcomes: a player hand win, a banker hand win, or a tie. If neither hand has eight or nine, the drawing rules must be applied. When no one wins bets must be returned to the banker hand and the player hand.
Useful Tips
Do not bet on every hand; look at previous hands and place a bet when the winnings follow in a row on one box or when one of the boxes has not won for a long time. Remember that additional cards are dealt more often at the Banker’s box, so his chances of winning are slightly higher. Don’t bet against boxing that is on the winning wave. The odds change depending on how many decks of cards are dealt. The odds are as follows:
In a shoe with 8 decks: House edges when betting on Player: 1.06%, House edge when betting on Banker: 1.24%, House edge when betting on a draw: 14.36%
One deck: House edge when betting on Banker: 1.29%, House edge when betting on Player: 1.01%, House edge when betting on a tie: 15.57%
A shoe with 6 decks: House edge when betting on Player: 1.06%, House edge when betting on Banker: 1.24%, House edge when betting on a draw: 14.44%
Try to memorize the points of each hand and adjust the bet depending on whether you think the next cards will be of small or large worth.
When you have played all the cards in the shoe, you will notice that the Player and the Banker win approximately 50/50.
Also, both player and banker should try to avoid the tie bet at all costs. There exist types of bet on the banker instead. Tie bet has way fewer benefits than the player bet or banker hand bet. Thanks to the high percentage of tie bet house edge. The payout for the Tie is 9 to 1 or 8 to 1 depending on the casino.
FAQs
Is baccarat a game of skill?
It is basically a game of luck and a fun thing to play in general, like most table games in casinos and not only. You don’t have to be a skilled professional to play it. All you need is to know how to play baccarat, the general terms and rules of it from the player side and banker side and at least try to be attentive.
Is there any strategy for Baccarat?
There is no particular baccarat strategy. Of course, on the internet you can find a lot of information and tactics, there are millions of players who share their experiences and give pieces of advice on playing. But remember that first of all, baccarat is based on luck. You can bet on the hand of a banker or a player, and your chances of winning or losing are 50/50
What is the best bet in baccarat?
Bet on bank hand – banker bets have a 1.06% house edge, player hand – 5 per cent commission on banker’s bets. Avoid the tie bet – tie bets have a 15.75% house edge. So actually if you choose between player and banker the choice is, of course, to bet on the banker’s hand, even a small percentage of difference from the bet on player matters. To bet on the player is also a good idea since baccarat is based on luck. What about a tie bet? The house edge of a tie bet is huge when you compare the percentage to player and banker. Even if sometimes it feels like a good idea to bet on a tie, we advise you to ignore a tie bet. Player and banker bet are safer and have more benefits than the tie bet.
What is the object of baccarat?
This is a card game where you need to obtain a hand with a point total closest to 8 or 9 wins. The ace card in it is worth one. Tens, Queens, Jacks, and Kings (all the face cards) are worth zero, other cards worth their face value. You can choose to bet on a banker or a player. The two cards are dealt for each hand. The rules of it are pretty simple, so if you need to learn how to play by the rules of baccarat, it won’t take you too long. Pretty much everything the player needs to know is included in this article.