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Online Baccarat
Baccarat may look complicated but it is simple and extremely fun, as long as you get to grips with the hands! Baccarat rarely boasts more than 3 variations; Baccarat Chemin de Fer, Punto Banco and Baccarat Banque. As you can tell, this game origins lay in France, however it was introduced there form Italy in the 1400’s. It took a good 500 years for this game to hit the mainstream casino’s and carve out a reputation as one of the most interesting and thrilling casino games, but this is how the game is viewed now. It is extremely popular not just because the house edge is typically only around 1.06%.
The online Baccarat that you will find today use mini tables with the typical American game rules and you can even now enjoy some live Baccarat action with real-live dealers to give you a taste of what it is like to play Baccarat at a buzzing brick and mortar casino! Though there are 3 popular variations, they all have the same fundamental rules and the only difference is the way the cards are dealt. So on this page we are giving you a guide to Baccarat in its most pure form, and from there you can play any of the variations.
How to play Baccarat
The game of Baccarat is essentially a game of comparison that you play against the “banker”. There are three possible outcomes in each and every game: the player winning, the banker winning and a tie – which highlights the simplicity of this game. When you sit at the table you will notice there are different sections; the player, the banker and the tie and this is exactly what you bet on. Don’t worry about the terms Banker and Player – these are simply arbitrary terms to distinguish that these 2 hands are different. Once you have chosen your bet, the dealer then deals 2 cards to the player and 2 cards to the banker. In basic terms, the player with the hand total that is closest to the number 9 wins! All cards numbered 1 to 9 are counted at face value with Aces being counted as 1. The number 10 cards as well as the Face Cards all count as zero. Additionally, cards TOTALLING 10 count as zero; so if you draw 2 sixes – total of 12 – then you drop the 10 (as it counts as zero) and your hand becomes worth just 2 points.
Baccarat Rules
In most hands, typically the extra cards are dealt in accordance with the “third card rule” with the player having no choice in that matter even if the hand you bet on is currently winning. The game carries on like this, with your moves being directly influenced by the hands that you are dealt, and all you have to decide is which hand to wager on.
3rd card rules:
Player hand: When the first 2 cards total 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 the player hand draws a third card. If the first 2 cards total 6 or 7, the player stands. If the first 2 cards total 8 or 9, the player stands on the natural. If however the player takes no third card then the banker hand must stand on all totals of 6 or above.
Banker hand: If the first 2 cards are an Ace, 0, 1 or 1, the banker always stands unless the player has a natural. If the bankers first 2 cards add to 3 he draws when the players 3rd card is a 1, 2 , 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 or 0. If the banker’s first 2 hands total 4, the banker draws if the players 3rd hand totals 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7. If the first 2 cards total 5, the banker draws if the players 3rd card is a 4, 5, 6 or 7. If the first cards total 6, the baker draws if the players 3rd card totals 6 or 7. If the first 2 cards total 7, the banker stands. If the first 2 cards total 8 or 9, the banker stands on the natural.
Baccarat Lingo
Though Baccarat may look far more complex than Roulette or the likes, classic Baccarat does not require a lot of lingo. Remember this short list and you will be fine.
• Dealing Shoe – the little container that the cards sit in before they are dealt
• Natural – when a hand totals to 8 or 9 from the first 2 cards dealt
• Run - gives you the opportunity to make additional side bets on some hands – only pops up occasionally
• Tie - one of the three possible outcomes and boasts the highest payout. However it also boasts the highest house edge at roughly 15%
Baccarat Strategy
Some casino fans think that if they jot down the results of each hand they will discover a Baccarat pattern – this is superstition as the decks are randomly shuffled. This is even more redundant in online Baccarat! Card counting involves keeping track of cards that have already been played from the dealing shoe to try and determine what else will be drawn. However you cannot change your bet in the middle of a hand, so this too is redundant. Baccarat is purely a game of chance and within games like this you simply have to try and play the bet that you think has the best odds of success.
The bets strategy: bet with the banker! Try other bets too of course, but this is the one to focus on. Do not chase your losses with Baccarat – bank your winnings.
Wiki’s Final Thought
At face-value the game of Baccarat may look simple but because of the slightly complicated hand structure it is more complex than it first appears. However, get to grips with the hands and you can appreciate how simple this game is – it’s not likened to a coin toss for no reason!
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