Baccarat Basics
Baccarat is a centuries-old card game that offers a James Bond-style gambling experience. It’s easy to learn and has three possible outcomes: a player win, banker win or tie.
Some players have personal rituals, such as bending cards to add drama. These rituals may seem superstitious to non-players, but these players believe they are a part of their luck and fate.
Game rules
Baccarat can be played with anywhere from seven to 14 players and a dealer. Each player is given a separate betting area. Depending on the version of the game, two hands of cards are dealt to the player and banker. Each hand has a maximum total value of nine. The player’s and banker’s hands are both compared to the maximum total and a third card is drawn accordingly. If the banker’s initial total is 0 or 5, or equals 10, it stands and no third card is drawn. A total of 8 or 9 is called a “natural” and the hand is over.
Players place a bet on the Banker, Player or Tie before the cards are dealt. They can also place a Super Six bet, which pays out if the Banker Hand wins with 6 points. The rules of the game can be confusing, but it’s easy to learn and exciting to play. The game has long been a favorite of high rollers in Asian casinos, but it’s becoming more popular in the United States as well.
Bets
Baccarat is an intriguing game with simple rules and a number of possible bet choices. Players can make a Player Bet, a Banker Bet or a Tie Bet. A Tie Bet is the most risky of all the bets, but it offers significant payout odds of 8:1. If the Banker and Player hands tie, the round will result in a push, which means neither side wins or loses.
Several poker-inspired side bets are also available. For example, the Duo Bao side bet (which translates roughly to “many treasures”) allows you to place an additional wager on whether the Banker or Player hand will have a pair of cards. This type of side bet pays if the Banker or Player hands have a match on the first two cards and is offered at some online casinos.
Other side bets include the Three-Card Win and the Super Six Bet. The Three-Card Win bet is typically offered at baccarat tables and pays 4 to 1 when the ’Player’ or ’Banker’ sides win with a hand comprised of three cards.
Payouts
In addition to the bets on the Player and Banker hands, players can also place a number of side bets. These side bets have different payouts depending on the outcome of each round. The goal is to get a hand with a total closer to nine than the opponent’s. The croupier deals two cards to the Player and Banker, and the winning hand is the one with the final digit closest to nine. If the combined value of the cards is higher than nine, the first digit is dropped (for example, a six and seven would result in a 13). Face cards count as zero, while aces count as one.
Dragon Bonus is a popular side bet in commission-free baccarat and pays 30 to 1. This side bet wins if the ’Player’ or ’Banker’ hand has a three-card total of ‘8’ or ‘9’. It also pays if the ‘Player’ or ‘Banker’ has a four of a kind hand.
Variations
Baccarat is a game with many variations. Some of these changes are slight in terms of rules and bets, while others are more significant. These variations can affect the house edge and overall winning potential of the game.
The EZ Baccarat variation uses the same dealing rules as traditional baccarat and allows players to wager on either the Banker hand or the Player’s hand. It also offers a Dragon 7 and Panda 8 side bets. It is the most popular variation of the game.
Chemin de Fer is another baccarat variation that is played in France. The name means “iron road” or “railway.” It gained popularity in the United States after 1926, when it was mentioned in Arthur Schnitzler’s book Night Games. The game is considered to be the immediate precursor to baccarat. It was the most popular card game at Watier’s, an exclusive gentleman’s club in London. Its popularity waned after the early 20th century, but it has a steady following in continental Europe.