Learn the rules and history of Baccarat – one of the most popular games of chance in the world.
Baccarat is sometimes referred to as the cousin of blackjack. The reason for the comparison lies in the basic rules of the game. In blackjack, you need to have a hand closer to 21 than the dealer. In baccarat, hands closer to 9 win. Also known as the king of casino games, baccarat is one of the oldest card games still played in casinos today.
Unlike blackjack, in baccarat, players can bet that either their own cards or the dealer’s cards will win. The three betting options in Baccarat are Player, Banker or Tie. Even play money if you bet against the player. Betting on the dealer is the most popular bet, but it is important to know that the casino charges a 5% commission if the player bets on the dealer. Players should not be discouraged though, the reason for the banker charging this fee is that statistically the banker wins more often than the player.
The rarest bet is a tie, which pays eight to one. This is one of the least profitable bets in the casino, and the house edge is very high.
Card values are easy to remember, face cards and tens are worth zero, aces are worth one, and number cards have face value. A player is dealt two cards and can only get one more hand during the game.
Similar to blackjack, baccarat is a solo versus dealer game. Baccarat, despite its glamorous image, is primarily a game of chance. Unlike blackjack, solid strategy does not make this game a “beatable” game.
Baccarat is considered one of the most fascinating casino games. This is partly because, for centuries, it was the game played by French kings, and thanks to its prominence as James Bond’s game of choice in many 007 films.
While the game is fairly easy to learn and master, it’s one of the most popular options for high-level VIP players. Online casinos offer a range of baccarat betting limits, but many brick-and-mortar casinos only offer baccarat with high minimum limits, and often in a separate area from the main casino, to provide privacy for VIP players.
There are many online tutorials for baccarat beginners.