Baccarat has exploded into the number one casino game worldwide in the last 30 years. While largely luck-based, it is still a fascinating game with some skill required to make informed decisions.
The baccarat table has 12 to 14 seated players and three tuxedo-clad dealers. The players squeeze their cigars, whisper among themselves, and exchange money.
Origins
It’s unclear where exactly baccarat came from but it’s often considered to be an offshoot of other card games such as Blackjack and chemin de fer. Some historians claim that baccarat originated in Italy in the 1400s and was later brought to France where it became a favorite of royals like King Louis XV.
The game was eventually brought to the US and found a new life thanks to James Bond movies and high stakes players like Phil Ivey. Nowadays, baccarat is played in casinos throughout the country and can be found online as well.
There are various theories about the origins of baccarat but one theory suggests that it might be connected to ancient Rome and rituals in which vestal virgins would cast a dice. If they rolled an eight or nine, their status as a high priestess would be elevated, while six or seven meant that they had to walk into the sea and drown!
Rules
The game of baccarat has a simple set of rules and betting procedures. Players can place bets on the Player, Banker, or Tie. The objective is to bet on the hand that will have the highest value after all cards are dealt. A hand with a value of eight or nine is considered to be a natural, and wins the round. If the player and banker have a hand of equal value, it results in a tie.
The dealer deals two cards to the player and banker spots. The player and banker hands are then compared to find which one has the closest total to 9. Picture cards and tens count as zero points, while aces count as ones. A winning banker hand pays 9 to 1. Tie bets pay 8 to 1 in most casinos.
Bets
Baccarat has long been popular among high rollers, and its simple rules make it easy to learn. Its odds are relatively low, but it is possible to adjust them by changing the number of decks used and the commission on the banker bet.
When the cards are dealt, players bet on either the Player, Banker or Tie. The goal is to have a hand that has a total closest to nine, with tens counting as zero and aces counted as one.
The Player and Banker bets pay out a fixed amount, but the Tie bet pays out more than any other wager. However, the Tie bet has a very low probability of winning and can be risky for some players. In addition, some baccarat games offer side bets like the Bellagio match, which pays out if the player or banker has a three-of-a-kind.
Payouts
Knowing the odds, payouts and house edge in baccarat is essential for making the best bets. Although there are only three main betting options, their payouts and odds differ considerably. This information will help you improve your chances of winning when playing baccarat online.
The Banker Pair is a side bet that wins if the first two cards dealt to the Banker are a pair. It pays out 11:1. The Player Pair is another side bet that wins if the first 2 cards dealt to the Player are a pair. It pays out 8:1.
The Tie bet has a 9.52% chance of winning and offers a high payout of 8:1. However, the player’s winning bet is subject to a 5% commission. This bet is offered in some baccarat variants, such as EZ Baccarat.
Variations
Baccarat is a game of chance and there are several variations that tweak the rules and gameplay. Generally, these changes are minor and only add to the excitement of playing the game. For example, Squeeze Baccarat allows players to bend, fold and twist the cards as part of a ritual that adds a tactile element to the gaming experience.
Another popular variation is Chemin de Fer, the version most often seen in James Bond films. This variant is played with six decks of cards that are shuffled together and the banker role rotates between players in a counterclockwise direction. In this version, picture cards and tens count as zero points while ace counts as one point. The player and banker hands must score closer to nine than the opposition hand in order to win.