The Basics of Baccarat
Whether in sticky-floor California card rooms or the tuxedo-laden casinos of Monaco, baccarat is one of the world’s most popular casino games. The game has a long history and oozes a certain suavity that has made it a favorite among high rollers. It even entered pop culture when it was featured in the 1953 debut novel and movie Casino Royale, starring smooth and suave James Bond.
Baccarat is a simple card game with a lot of variation. Regardless of which side you choose to bet on, the goal is to have a hand that totals closest to nine. The value of a hand is determined by the final digit when adding up all the pips (the dots on the cards that are clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades) and ace (which counts as one). If a player or banker’s hand comes in at nine, it wins. If the hand is eight, it’s a tie. If the hand is seven, it’s a draw. If the hand is six, it’s a loss.
The rules of the game are different depending on which version you play, but most are based around the same principle. The most common version, called Punto Banco or Chemin de Fer (in French), is played in the majority of casinos today. It’s the simplest form of the game and is the same game that was first invented in 1500s Rome, Italy by Felix Falguiere. It later made its way to France where it became a favorite of the French aristocracy.
It’s also worth mentioning that a banker win is not necessarily a sure thing. There is a small chance of a player or banker draw and a tie. A player or banker tie will occur in only 9.6% of the rounds, so if you avoid betting on this bet, you’ll have more chance of winning a hand.
If you choose to bet on the player, banker, or a tie, you must make a minimum bet of $20 or $25. This amount varies from casino to casino, but it’s standard in the US. Similarly, you must place an optional Super Six bet, which is an additional wager on the player’s or banker’s hand winning with a score of 6. The payout for this is 12x your original bet.
Baccarat is one of the few casino games where the house edge is relatively low, only beaten by blackjack, full pay video poker, and craps. However, it can still be a profitable game when you understand the game’s rules and how to play it.
During each baccarat coup (round), the banker will deal two cards to the player and a third to himself. The player’s and banker’s hands are then compared to see which is the best. The winning hand is the one that gets closer to a total of nine. A ten and a 7 are the same hand, so a player hand that has a 2 or 6 will be a tie.
Whether in sticky-floor California card rooms or the tuxedo-laden casinos of Monaco, baccarat is one of the world’s most popular casino games. The game has a long history and oozes a certain suavity that has made it a favorite among high rollers. It even entered pop culture when it was featured in the 1953 debut novel and movie Casino Royale, starring smooth and suave James Bond. Baccarat is a simple card game with a lot of variation. Regardless of which side you choose to bet on, the goal is to have a hand that totals closest to nine. The value of a hand is determined by the final digit when adding up all the pips (the dots on the cards that are clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades) and ace (which counts as one). If a player or banker’s hand comes in at nine, it wins. If the hand is eight, it’s a tie. If the hand is seven, it’s a draw. If the hand is six, it’s a loss. The rules of the game are different depending on which version you play, but most are based around the same principle. The most common version, called Punto Banco or Chemin de Fer (in French), is played in the majority of casinos today. It’s the simplest form of the game and is the same game that was first invented in 1500s Rome, Italy by Felix Falguiere. It later made its way to France where it became a favorite of the French aristocracy. It’s also worth mentioning that a banker win is not necessarily a sure thing. There is a small chance of a player or banker draw and a tie. A player or banker tie will occur in only 9.6% of the rounds, so if you avoid betting on this bet, you’ll have more chance of winning a hand. If you choose to bet on the player, banker, or a tie, you must make a minimum bet of $20 or $25. This amount varies from casino to casino, but it’s standard in the US. Similarly, you must place an optional Super Six bet, which is an additional wager on the player’s or banker’s hand winning with a score of 6. The payout for this is 12x your original bet. Baccarat is one of the few casino games where the house edge is relatively low, only beaten by blackjack, full pay video poker, and craps. However, it can still be a profitable game when you understand the game’s rules and how to play it. During each baccarat coup (round), the banker will deal two cards to the player and a third to himself. The player’s and banker’s hands are then compared to see which is the best. The winning hand is the one that gets closer to a total of nine. A ten and a 7 are the same hand, so a player hand that has a 2 or 6 will be a tie.