Baccarat is a game of sheer luck with relatively simple Baccarat rules. It is an excellent game for beginners as no complex strategy or specialized skills are needed. There are two hands dealt in the game. The objective of the game is to guess on which hand the bet can be placed. The hand that has the highest points out of a possible 9 points is the winning hand. Once you understand the rules, odds, and probabilities, then you can improve your ability and become a pro. However, as with all games, you have to start with understanding how to play Baccarat before going into the advanced Baccarat tips.
Baccarat is also known as punto banco. The Baccarat Rules for this card game is relatively easy to understand. Most online casinos have Baccarat as a live casino game in their live casino section. The game is considered to be of the elegant kind, and many high rollers enjoy it. However, a basic understanding of how to play Baccarat, the essential Baccarat rules, and some baccarat rules for beginners will help you dive into the game without feeling any hesitation.
The game is usually played between 7 to 14 players. Baccarat is quite unusual for a casino table game as it can be played on two types of tables. Baccarat can be played on a table with a horseshoe design with a single dealer who controls the game. However, most of the top-tier casinos play on a big kidney-shaped design which has around three dealers. Usually, at such tables, players take turns in dealing cards themselves. Such a type of table uses numbers for the seats of the players. These numbers have designated seats. One simple Baccarat rule to remember at a table is that players have their betting area.
How to play Baccarat
The main objective of the game is to reach a score of 9 without going over that mark. When the game begins, two hands made up of two cards are dealt over the table. These hands are termed as the ‘banker’ and the ‘player.’ ’ Once the two separate hands are on the table, you need to bet on the one hand that you strongly feel will win. This hand must have the highest score. You have an option to bet on a tie as well. Betting on a tie will at times give you a return only when the two hands sum up to the equal final score. Therefore, in a game of Baccarat, only three results are possible – win for the banker, win for a player or win for a tie.
Baccarat scoring
The Baccarat cards have certain values. This feature is quite similar to several other card games too. The Aces count as one. The Tens cards and the picture cards are calculated as zero. Therefore, it is not beneficial to bet on these cards as they will amount to zero. All the other cards will be taken at their face value. Some Baccarat games also include cumulative scorings. For example, cards like 4 and 6 count to 10. But in the game of Baccarat, it counts as 1. Therefore, the highest value of a possible hand in a game of Baccarat is 9.
Betting on the Banker vs the Player
Betting is the very crux of the Baccarat game. One of the basic baccarat rules for beginners is to bet on the hand that you think makes the highest score. The Baccarat rules to betting on the Banker cards are different from betting on the Player cards. The Banker’s rule essentially is trying to figure out what the Banker’s initial card is and if the player owns a third card. In case the player does have a third card, you need to figure out what that card is. Therefore, Banker has some numerical benefit, and therefore can win more hands than that of the Player. Nevertheless, in a Player bet, you can keep all your winnings as in some games, you have to pay a commission if you choose to opt for a Banker bet.
Betting on the tie
Like the Banker and Player, there are also certain rewards of betting on the tie. One of the major advantages of betting on the tie is larger payouts. However, a drawback as per historical calculations is that the number of hands that end in a tie is lower than 10 per cent. So if you break it down, for every one hundred hands that you opt to bet on a tie, you would earn ten winning and ninety losing hands. Of course, these are simply numbers, and the reality is quite different. Many players bet on the tie and do get lucky.
Types of Baccarat
There are quite a number of variations to the simple game of Baccarat:
Punto Banco
This variant of Baccarat translates to “player-banker.” It is the most common version played in casinos across America, Britain, and in parts of Europe. The casino banks during the rounds and plays hands based on standard rules. It uses 8 decks of cards. Most online casinos play this version of the game.
Chemin de fer
This variant is played across Europe, and especially in France. The key distinguisher is that players set up against one another, rather than against the dealer. The role of Banker rotates amongst players. Each player has the option to draw or stand on five.
Baccarat en Banque
This variant of Baccarat is popular in Europe. It is usually played with three decks of cards. The drawing rules in this variant are quite similar to that of Chemin de Fer. What makes it different is that the role of the Banker is pre-determined before the start of each round, rather than every player taking a turn as a banker.
Three-card Baccarat
This variant of Baccarat is most popular in Macau and Asia. It is played with a single 52-card deck. The player and the Banker get three cards per round with the highest possible hand being three face cards.
Baccarat Tips
Here are a few important Baccarat tips that you should keep in mind:
You can only make three bets – the player hand, the banker hand, or the tie.
If the total of the hand is more than 9, you have to drop the first digit of the total.
You can also subtract ten from the total to reach a score of 9.
Utilizing the right Baccarat tips helps increase your winning odds.
Baccarat games are mostly played with three and above deck of cards. When you look for a game to play, opt for the one with the minimum decks. The lesser the decks, the better it is for you.
Manage your bankroll. Money management is a critical aspect of any card game. Since Baccarat is a game dependent on luck, it can be a pretty tight game. You must invest your money well and control your bankroll.
The trick to winning at Baccarat is to place a winning bet and keep the streak going for as long as possible.
You must remember to keep your sessions short and brief. Try to switch tables now and then to avoid turning your winning streak into a losing one.
Never bet on a Tie. You must avoid the Tie bet at all costs.
Even though at times a commission is charged on the Banker bets, it has a house edge of 1.06%
What other betting/casino guides and strategies are available?
Baccarat is a game of luck, but you can draw patterns with every outcome. Once you have the right strategies and luck on your side, you will be able to make the most out of the game. This Baccarat guide helps lay down the basic Baccarat tips and Baccarat rules to your advantage. However, if you want to get a wholesome experience in the live casino world, you should not just stick to baccarat. You may want to try the other live casino games too.
Baccarat is one of the oldest games played all over the globe and a classic casino game. With the advent of the internet, Baccarat is also now gaining momentum in the online gaming industry. Learning how to play Baccarat is quite easy and you can re-invest your winnings to continue a winning streak. Now that you have an understanding of the Baccarat rules, basic Baccarat tips, and other strategies, you can play more confidently and with a greater chance of winning.
