Baccarat quickly became popular among gamblers from every corner of the globe. As the regulations of this card game are fairly simple, you do not have to be an expert to win. Moreover, the stakes are low, and a casino’s advantage is only 1%. This is the lowest value amid all the activities, so it attracts both high rollers and the average players.
Baccarat Types
Baccarat versions appeared within its historical development. The original game underwent several changes in those countries, to which it came. The basic rules were the same, but the local gamers and gaming houses adjusted them to their culture and preferences.
And today we can observe the game types with characteristic features for the Asian, European and American regions.
European
- Chemin De Fer is popular in France and has the main distinctive feature – players have to play the role of a banker couple of times while playing. And if your total of the cards is 5, you may take one more card.
- Baccarat en Banque does not differ much from the first type. You can play with three decks and be a banker as well.
American
American Baccarat includes next game variations:
- Punto Banco is the most widespread kind of the game among Americans. The rules are equal to the basic type and the only distinction is that you cannot take a role of a banker.
- Super Pan 9 is alike the Chemin De Fer as you can take the additional card to become closer to 9. You play with 36 cards instead of the full deck.
Asian
Three Card Baccarat – a sought-after type at the Asian casinos. One card deck is used for the game. Both, players and the bank, start with three cards. The rest of the rules are equal to the common variant.
Formats
Players can enjoy online Baccarat in three forms:
- A common virtual gaming on the casino website with the comfort of your apartment.
- The featured live dealer format allows you to feel yourself like in a real gambling house.
- Mobile versions give you maximal convenience, as you can play anywhere and anytime.
Online
The online gaming provides you with many unique features. Above all, there are hundreds of virtual casinos powered by various software providers. It means a wide diversity of bonuses and games. Internet gaming allows you to get rid of the noise of a land-based casino, as well as gives you an opportunity to think through a winning strategy.
Furthermore, you can withdraw and deposit money using the most convenient payment method. You are free to use credit cards, bank transfers, electronic wallets, and even digital currency such as Bitcoin.
Live
How does live casino work? Simply put, you play online, but your stakes are conducted by a real person. Thus, it is a kind of Internet stream. This approach combines the captivating atmosphere of the land-based gaming house and the convenience of virtual experience. There is an opportunity to interact with your dealer by chatting.
Moreover, such betting rooms offer exclusive promotions for their players, and some of them also show TV news in the background to prove straight dealing with the casino. Another factor that ensures fair play is a pit boss who ensures that everything is according to the standard.
Mobile
Nowadays, casinos give us more flexibility and convenience. You can play either outdoors or in your bed if you are tired of sitting in front of the PC. There are many providers producing games for Android, iOS, Windows, and Blackberry devices. You can play directly from the mobile version of the website or install the application from the Apple, Google or Windows Market.
The operators constantly update their programs, thus you will always be able to try new content. Gaming houses also offer specific bonuses only for mobile gamers. These promotions include beneficial cashbacks, match deposit prizes, loyalty programs, free spins, and so on.
How to Play Baccarat
The goal of the game is to get a total number of two or three cards very close to 9. Such cards as kings, queens, and jacks have zero value, aces have the value of 1, and others from 2 to 9 have their original numbers. You can place bets either on “player”, “bank” or “tie”.
Drawing Rules
You can get one extra card depending on different circumstances.
If a player gets a number between 0 and 5, he can take an additional card. If he has 6 or 7, he will stay with it.
A banker will play with the same rules if a player has 6 or 7 within 2 turns. If he receives an extra card, there will be other rules according to his third value:
BANKER |
||
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL | ADDITIONAL DREW | OPPONENT’S VALUE |
| 0-2 | YES | Any |
| 3 | YES | Less than 8 |
| 4 | YES | 2 – 7 |
| 5 | YES | 4 – 7 |
| 6 | YES | 6, 7 |
| 7 | NO! | |
Strategy
If Baccarat is brand new for you, please remember that this is a game of luck. There is no sense to look for a connection between previous and future bets. This should seem true, but there is a regularity:
- The banker’s bets win more often, and there is a house edge of 1.24%. But a gaming house will charge a 5% fee for every win.
- The player has a little bit lower chances. The house edge is 1.06%. And there is no charge.
- The tie has around 15% house edge. It wins seldom. On the other hand, the payoff is 8:1.
There is one interesting strategy, which is aimed to prevent losses. You should stake in a 1-3-2-4 manner. For the first time you win, you triple your next bet, then double and quadruple each time you win. If you lose at some stage in a chain, then you should start from the beginning. At the end of a chain, you should repeat.
If two first outcomes are positive, you will profit for sure.
And the worst approach is to double after you lose again and again in the hope that the next outcome will be profitable. Also, we do not recommend you to wager on the dead heat. It is a direct way to go bankrupt.
Valuation of Hands
The value of a hand is the total number of your cards minus 10. For instance, your first card is 5 and the second one is 9. 14 – 10 = 4. Under the rules, the player can draw one more time. But if his drawings are 9 and 9, then he will get 8 and win.
This calculation makes sense only in the land-based staking rooms. While playing online, there is no need to count the score, as the website does it automatically.
History of the Game
As we know, gambling is quite an ancient occupation. The first records about baccarat trace back to the 1400s. It was more than 600 years ago. The game, perhaps, has an Italian origin, as it means “zero” in Italian. Originally, the representatives of a noble class played it.
Gamers of that time popularized the activity, and it later came to France and England. Within the culture spread, it arrived to America too. People had amended the rules as it became some kind of multinational game. Americans, for example, started playing only against the casino, but not among each other. As a consequence, the modern variations of the game appeared.
