Baccarat is an extremely popular casino game played by James Bond from the famous “Secret Agent 007” franchise. This is a very fast and dynamic card game and is ideal for playing online.
Baccarat dates back to the 15th century. It is thought to have been created in Italy by Italian player Felix Falguierein. Baccarat comes from the Italian word baccara, which means “zero.” This term is believed to have been given because all of the face cards and tens have a value of zero. Following that, the game gained popularity in France, particularly among the French elite, under the name Chemin de Fer.
Eventually, the game baccarat made its way to America, where it was known as Punto Banco. The game’s rules changed every time it appeared on new territory, based on the demands of the players. This is why, nowadays, all games have different variants available to play, and it is up to the player to choose which one best suits him.
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How to Play Baccarat?
In this game like playing Blackjack, the player plays against the dealer, so if you are familiar with BlackJack you will immediately see the similarities between the two games.
Baccarat is a card game played with eight decks of 52 cards each (no jokers). In Baccarat, you do not need to have a winning hand; simply place a wager on the winning hand. The wager, however, is placed before the cards are revealed. This is what makes Baccarat such an exciting game.
The game then begins with two cards being dealt to each of two hands, known as a Player hand and a Banker hand.
The goal of baccarat is to determine which of those hands will end up with a total that is closest to 9. This is done by betting on the Banker’s hand, the Player hand, or the round ending in a tie.
As the sum of the cards can always be between 0 and 9, there are ten possible outcomes. Baccarat’s purpose is to get a total sum of nine, which is the maximum attainable score. After the sum of the cards is calculated, the winner is the one with the closest result to 9.
In most circumstances, the game is over once the two cards are dealt, and one player is considered the winner. However, there is one exception. If the player’s card total after looking at them is between 0 and 5, the player must draw a third card. This happens when the banker’s balance is less than eight or nine. If the banker’s total is eight or nine, the Banker is the winner.
Baccarat – scoring system
- Ace – 1 point
- Queen – 0 points
- Jack- 0 points
- King – 0 points
- Ten – 0 points
- Nine – 9 points
- Eight – 8 points
- Seven- 7 points
- Six – 6 points
- Five – 5 points
- Four – 4 points
- Three- 3 points
- Two- 2 points
The points that carry two cards are added up aIn Baccarat, the cards from 2 to 9 have a face value, whilst the image cards and 10s have no worth. The ace is worth one point. The total number of cards, as previously stated, can only be between 0 and 9. If the total is two digits, ten is removed from it. As a result, just the right-hand digit is considered.
EXAMPLE – You get the King (0) and the Eight (8). 0 + 8 = 8. The sum of your hand is 8.
EXAMPLE – You were given a five (5) and a seven (7). 5 + 7 = 12. The sum of your hand is 2.
Types of Bets in Baccarat
In Baccarat, the player can place three different sorts of bets. Every stake is unique; some pay a commission to the casino, while others have a lower house edge. The difference between the genuine chance of winning a hand and the casino’s reward is referred to as the house edge. This margin is used by the casino to ensure that it always makes a profit. This margin’s objective is to ensure that the casino always makes a profit.
In Baccarat, the player bets blindly, and the bet can be placed on his own hand (punto), the banker’s hand (banco), or on a draw.
Bet on the Player’s Hand
The first option in Baccarat is the Player bet, which is a bet that the player’s hand will be closer to a sum of 9 than the banker’s. The house edge is lower when compared to the banker bet. The good news is that if this wager wins, no commission will be paid to the casino. The payout for this bet is 1:1.
Sometimes it is confusing for players when the Player’s hand can draw a third card. This is not something that the player can decide, whether he wants to draw a third card or not. This decision is regulated by the game rules and is enforced by the dealer. So basically it is all done automatically.
As per the rules of the Baccarat game, a third card is drawn when a player’s hand totals between 0 to 5 or is 10. If the total is 6 or 7, the action is called a ‘stand,’ and no third card is drawn. A total of 8 or 9 is called ‘a natural’ and no third card can be drawn either.
Bet on the Banker’s hand
When betting on the Banker’s hand, the player bets that the sum of the banker’s cards will be closer to 9 than the sum of his own cards. This is known as the best bet because it has the smallest house edge. However, since the odds are stacked in favour of the player, the casino receives a commission every time the player wins a wager on the banker. The commissions vary from casino to casino but usually is around 5%.
The rules for the Banker hand are similar, however, they are a little more complex. Once again, the dealer is in charge of enforcing these rules and will so declare the action to be taken.
If the player has a 6 or higher, the banker follows the same rules as the player: draws a third card with hands 0–5, stands with hands 6–7, and natural with hands 8–9.
However, if the player draws a third card, the banker follows these rules:
- If the Banker has a total of 0, 1, 2, regardless of the player’s third card, the Banker draws a card.
- If the Banker has a total of 3, the Banker draws a third card, unless the player’s third card was 8.
- For a total of 4 and if the player’s third card is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, the Banker draws a third card.
- If the Banker has a total of 5 and if the player’s third card is 4, 5, 6, or 7, the Banker draws a third card.
- If the Banker has a total of 6 and if the player’s third card is a 6 or 7, the Banker draws a third card.
Bet on a Tie
The third choice, the Tie bet, is one you should usually avoid. This wager is placed by players who predict that the values of both hands will be the same. The odds of this happening are low, and the house edge is exceedingly high. The tie bet is a good wager because it pays out 8:1 or 9:1. However, as previously stated, the chances of winning this bet are relatively slim.
Popular Side Bets in Baccarat
All-Red/All-Black
This is a side bet on whether the player’s hand will be entirely made up of red cards (diamonds and hearts) or black cards (clubs and spades). A successful ‘all red’ bet usually pays out at 22:1, while a successful ‘all black’ bet usually pays out at 24:1.
Bellagio Match
This is a side wager on whether the player or banker will get a three-of-a-kind hand (three cards of the same rank). If the player does so, the payoff is generally 75:1, and if the banker does so, the payout is usually 68:1.
Big and Small / 4-5-6
This is a wager on the total number of cards the player’s and banker’s hands will have at the end of the round. A successful bet on four cards often yields a 3:2 payoff, whereas a successful bet on five or six cards yields a 2:1 payout.
Double 8
This is a wager that both the player’s and the banker’s hands will have a value of 8. This has a typical payout of 15:1.
Super 6 / Lucky Bonus
A Super 6 is a side wager that the banker will win the round with a sum of 6. This has a typical payout of 12:1. This side bet is known as a Lucky Bonus in some casinos and offers an 18:1 payoff. It may only be placed if the player also places a banker bet on the same round and has a maximum limit of 10% of the banker bet placed.
Lucky / Unlucky 8
Lucky 8 is a side bet that the player or banker will win the round with a sum of 8. A correct guess for this normally yields a payout of 4:1.
Unlucky 8 is the inverse side wager that the player or banker will lose the round if a hand with a value of eight is dealt. A successful prediction for this often has an 8:1 reward.
Panda 8
This is a side bet that the player will win if he or she has a three-card hand with a sum of 8. This has a typical payout of 25:1.
Perfect Pair
This is a side wager that the opening hand of either the player or the banker will be a pair of the same rank. If they are of different suits, the payoff is usually 5:1, and if they are of the same suit, the payout is usually 25:1.
The Royal Match
This is a wager that either the player or the banker will be dealt a King and a Queen in their first hand. If they are of different suits, the payout is normally 30:1 and 75:1 if they are of the same suit.
Popular Baccarat Variants
Mini Baccarat
Mini Baccarat is a popular variant among players who prefer to place lower wagers, as this is the difference between the classic and this version. All of the rules are the same, and the game is played with eight decks. The same bets can be placed. Mini-baccarat varies from traditional baccarat in that it is a lower-stakes game with a faster tempo and a smaller table. Check out the Baccarat variants available at 1xBet Casino Nigeria.
Punto Banco
Punto Banco is the version of baccarat that most closely resembles the traditional game. The main difference is that it is played with six decks rather than eight. All other rules, such as the player’s ability to make three primary bets, one banker, and the player’s inability to change a wager after it has been put, remain unchanged. This popular variant is available to play at 22Bet casino Nigeria.
European Baccarat
The key difference in this version of the game is that if the sum of his cards is 5, the player can choose whether or not to draw another card. The casino funds the banker’s hand, which is normally limited to €1000 every hand. This means that the players’ wagers per hand are limited to €1000. As a result, if one person wagers the maximum sum, no other players may wager on that hand.
Chemin de Fer
Chemin de Fer is another baccarat variant that allows you to play as a banker. It is popular in Europe, particularly in France. If you accept the banker role when given the option, you will be playing against other gamblers. Chemin de Fer is played on a big table that may accommodate up to 14 people. It is generally exclusively available in European casinos’ VIP rooms.
Tips to Play Baccarat
Banket Bet is best – Since the bank wins slightly more than half of all games, this should always be your first and most reliable bet. The fact that a 5% commission is imposed in order to limit the benefits to the player only serves to prove this point.
After a Banker Bet loss, don’t bet – Following a loss by the banker, don’t bet on the next outcome. Whenever the bank eventually loses to the player, pass on the next outcome. Wait until the next one comes along. Make a note of whether the player or the bank has won the bet. Then you can start betting again based on the outcome of that particular game.
Ignore the Tie Bet – According to experts, the house edge for a tie bet is approximately 14.4%. Such a large percentage is a disadvantage from the start, and this particular bet is always a poor decision due to this factor.
