The Basics of Baccarat
From sticky-floor California card rooms to the tuxedo-laden casinos of Monaco, baccarat has long been a casino game of choice for the wealthy. And while it may be associated with elegance and luxury, this popular table game is accessible to anyone with a bit of discipline and an appropriate bankroll.
Baccarat is a game of chance, but players can reduce the house edge by employing a number of betting strategies. For instance, the Martingale system involves doubling bets after each loss, in the hopes that a win will eventually recoup all previous losses and provide a profit equal to the original bet size. This strategy is best used with a large bankroll, and requires the player to have the discipline to stick to it.
In the game of baccarat, players bet on either the Player or Banker hand. Each is dealt two cards, and the winning hand is the one that totals closest to nine. The value of a hand is determined by adding up the values of each of the individual pips on the cards—faces count as zero and aces count as 1.
After all bets are placed, the dealer deals a single card into the Player box and then a second card into the Banker box. If a third card is drawn, the Banker or Player hand wins; if neither hand hits, the game ends and bets are paid out.
The rules vary a bit depending on the style of baccarat being played, but the basics are the same. Bettors place bets on which hand will have the highest score, either the Player’s or the Banker’s. Each hand is dealt two cards; the player’s and the banker’s hands are compared and the winner is declared. There is also a bet called a tie, which pays out 8:1 (minus a 5 percent commission).
If the first two cards deal a total of eight or nine, that is considered a “natural” and the game is over; placed bets are paid out. If a third card is drawn, a new round begins with the re-dealing of a fresh shoe.
The popularity of baccarat continues to grow in the United States and abroad. It is the preferred game of Asian high rollers, who have made it a staple at their casino resorts and properties. According to Bill Zender, a former Nevada Gaming Control agent, casino dealer, and executive who literally wrote the book on managing casino games, these high rollers are drawn to baccarat for cultural reasons and its low hold percentage on both banker and player bets. He says he expects the game to continue to grow in the United States as more people discover its unique charms.