Baccarat
Baccarat is a card game that is played at almost every licensed and regulated online casino as well as traditional land-based casinos. It is strictly a game of chance so there are no strategies involved to boost up the chances of winning. The game is very exciting and the rules are very simple.
In this game, the player gets either 2 or 3 cards, which are compared with the banker’s cards, and the hand with the highest score is chosen as the winning hand. Traditionally it is a high roller game, but recent versions of the game lean on more the low rollers. Below you will find everything that you need to know about Baccarat.
History of Baccarat
It is believed that the card game Baccarat dates from medieval Italy. For over 500 years the game has been played amongst the upper class and aristocrats. Many think that the game was introduced in the 1400s, while others still debated the origins the game.
In the original baccarat game cards were dealt by four different dealers and each of the players had a chance to be the banker. Also, players were allowed to place bets against other players as well as against the house. Today, in a game of baccarat there is only one dealer, the bets are generally placed against the house, which also serves as the banker.
Baccarat has also been popular among the French nobility since the 19th century. People in France generally played the game in private gaming rooms, during the Napoleonic era and before the legalization of casino gambling.
The earliest form of the game is Baccarat Banque, which is a three-person game. Then came Chemin de Fer, which was a two-person and zero-sum game from Baccarat Banque. Lastly, Baccarat Punto Banco was introduced where the bettor bets on whether the player or the banker has a winning hand.
Punto Banco was a significant change as it shaped the modern baccarat. In the 1940s in Havana, the game was developed into a house-banked game, which is the most popular form of the game.
With the rise of the internet and online gambling, baccarat has emerged as one of the best online casino games that every casino operator must provide. Also, with the further rise of live casino gambling, the game has shown some amazing growth in recent years.
Baccarat Betting Rules
For you to understand the betting rules, we must also provide you with the knowledge of basic rules and how to use them in a game of baccarat.
A baccarat game is played with six or eight decks of cards, which are placed in a so-called “shoe”. All face cards and 10s have no value in the game, while the cards that are less than 10 are counted as face values and Aces are worth 1.
The single-digit value is more valid as the double-digit value drops the left digit when counting. For example, if the player’s hand is 9 and 5, the total value is 14, but the baccarat hand is numbered as 4.
After the cards are shuffled, the dealer asks a player to cut the cards with a cut-card, and then the cards are placed in the show. The first card is drawn and shown by the dealer, while the rest of the cards are drawn and burned according to the value of the first drawn card (e.g. if the first card is 2 then, two cards are burned).
You can place your bet on either the player section, the banker section, or the section that is labeled as a tie. After the bet is placed the game begins when two cards are dealt for the player and two cards are dealt for the banker.
What makes a winning baccarat hand?
In the case of a natural hand (an initial hand that has a value of 8 or 9), the holder must reveal their hand and the game will end. If that isn’t the case, then the game continues with the player’s hand and then with the banker’s hand.
If 6 or more is the total value of the player’s first two cards, then the player must stand without drawing a card. On the other hand, if the player’s first two cards have a total value of 5 or less, then the player must draw one additional card.
In the case of the banker’s first two cards to reach a total value of 7 or more, then the banker must stand without drawing a card. If the banker’s first two cards have a total value of 0, 1, or 2, then the banker must draw one card.
Additionally, if the banker’s first two cards have a total value of 3, 4, 5, or 6, then the draw of another card is determined by whether the player drew and what value did they draw. The winning hand is the one with a total value of 9 or a value close to 9.
Different Types of Baccarat
Baccarat has several different variations, which are played in different parts of the world. All of the variations have the same basic rules, which are to get a natural nine or eight with the first two or three cards. The main variations of baccarat are mini-baccarat, Punto Banco, Chemin de Fer, and Baccarat Banque.
Mini Baccarat
In this variation, the game is played on a table that accommodates seven instead of eight players. Also, the game uses one croupier instead of the usual three, which acts as both the dealer and the banker. This version of baccarat uses low bet rates and is very popular and widely played in the US.
Chemin de Fer
This is the French version of the game, which has slight variations compared to the other version of baccarat. In this variation, only the croupier shuffles the cards, which consist of six decks. Every player gets a chance to be a banker, so the game takes active participation from the players.
Also, the cards are dealt face down, instead of face-up and the player decides whether to draw a third card. The player with the biggest bet is the first to play, while the others follow subsequently.
Punto Banco
Punto Banco is the Cuban version of the game and it involves the highest number of players, which can go up to 14 at once. Six to eight decks are used in this variation, which is shuffled and distributed by the croupier. The third card is dealt with anyway without asking the players.
Baccarat Banque
In this version of baccarat, one of the players gets to play the role of the dealer for the whole game. Fewer decks are used in this version of the game. This is a very popular version in Europe, where the players get the chance to place big bets.
Types of Bet in Baccarat
The player places their bet before the cards are dealt in baccarat. There are three betting options that the player can choose from:
- Player’s hand: this means that you bet on your hand to win the round. If you manage to win then you will receive a payout of 1/1.
- Banker’s hand: this means that you bet on the banker’s hand to win the round. If the banker does win the round then you will receive a payout of 1/1.
- Tie: this means that the round won’t have a winner, or it will end as a tie. If a tie is the outcome of the game, then you will receive a payout of 8/1.
What Is The Best Baccarat Strategies For Beginners?
You can reduce the chance of losses by applying a good betting strategy in a game. BetCraving has summarized a few good online baccarat strategies that our readers can try out:
1-3-2-4 Betting System
The 1-3-2-4 Betting System is more of a fun progression way to increase your wager in the game. The was designed to reduce the variance by betting 4 units on the 4th bet, ensuring an overall win. You should be able to cover your losses by adjusting the betting amount. However, no strategy can guarantee you a win. You are more likely to see a profit if you can stretch your money.
Paroli
This betting system is about positive betting progression. The player increases the bet every time he wins and the sequence of bets is 1-2-4. Moreover, the players go back to 1 and restart after the 3rd win.
Most importantly, this betting system will be more effective when the game streak is in the player’s favor.
One-sided
Many beginners start their betting game with this strategy. It is simple and straightforward.
You are consistently choosing the player or banker side to bet. You may continue your bet until you’ve lost three times. BetCraving recommends this it’s because it has a clear target when to end your game or targeted profit.
Where can I play this game?
There are many trustworthy online casinos certified by BetCraving such as BK8, Maxim88, M88, and many more. You can take a look at our recommendation below to pick which you want to start!
Conclusion
Baccarat is considered one of the oldest casino games with an interesting history. There are many BetCraving readers are playing Baccarat in the online casinos that we recommend. We hope all of our readers have a clear picture of how baccarat works and play with full knowledge about this game.