Baccarat is a glamorous card game that evokes images of high-rollers at opulent casinos. But don’t let the game’s mystique intimidate you. It’s easy to learn and fun to play.
Smart players avoid the Tie bet due to its high 14.1 percent edge and prefer the Player and Banker wagers. They also use the Labouchere betting system to create a sequence that adjusts bet size after each win and loss.
Origins
No one knows for sure how baccarat was invented but it is believed that it is the direct ancestor of blackjack and other card games. It was popularised in France during the reign of King Charles VIII. Despite being (rightly) villainized for his many conquests this monarch is also known as the father of modern baccarat.
He is credited with developing the game from an ancient Etruscan legend where a vestal virgin would throw a nine-sided die to decide her fate. If she rolled an eight or nine she was destined to become a priestess, while six and seven meant that she would be cast out into the sea.
The use of the number nine could be down to humanity’s general fondness for the number; it appears in many cultures. It is the number of God in Hinduism, it is the highest score in Chinese chess, and Xibalba – the underworld in Mayan belief – has nine levels.
Rules
Baccarat is played according to a fixed set of rules. The game is a card counting and luck-based game, with the Banker’s and Player’s hands scoring based on their hand value. If either the Player or Banker gets a total of 8 or 9, no third cards are drawn. This is known as a “natural” and wins the round.
The object of the game is to place a bet on which hand will come closest to nine points. The number value of the cards is determined by adding up the values of all the face cards and tens, subtracting 10 for scores over nine. A winning Banker or Player bet pays 9:1 and a winning Tie bet is paid 8:1. There are many pattern systems for playing baccarat, including the 1-3-2-6 system. This strategy doesn’t guarantee a big win, but it keeps your bankroll lasting longer than betting systems that require you to increase your bets on losing streaks.
Bets
There are a number of different bets available in baccarat. The most common is the Banker/Player Pair bet, which pays out if either the Player or Banker wins. The odds for this bet are 8:1.
Other bets include the ‘Tiger’, ‘Big Tiger’, ‘Small Tiger’, and ‘Tiger Tie’ side bets. These pay out if the Banker or Player have a pair on their first two cards. These bets are generally offered at a lower payout than the ‘Banker/Player’ bet.
A popular strategy in baccarat is the Martingale system. This betting strategy recommends that players double their bet size after each loss, and reduce it by two numbers following a win. The theory is that, over time, the player will return to a long-term profit. However, this strategy can lead to high losses, so be sure to manage your bankroll accordingly.
Payouts
Depending on the type of baccarat you play, there are several side bets available. Those that pay out if the player or banker receives a pair have the highest payouts. However, these side bets are not guaranteed.
Unlike blackjack, baccarat players do not lose if their hands total over nine. A winning hand is a natural. The ace pays one point, cards two through nine are worth the number they represent, and face cards are worth zero points.
A popular side bet is a Mini Royal. It pays based on the poker value of the first two cards of the Banker and Player, offering odds of 250:1. You can also place a Player or Banker Pair bet that wins when their first two cards are identical. This wager has a payout of 11:1.
Variations
Baccarat has a number of variations, which add to the game’s allure. While the basic rules remain the same, each variation offers different types of side bets and payouts. These differences may affect the house edge of a hand, but they do not change the overall objective of the game: to bet on a player or banker hand that is closest to nine.
The most popular version of baccarat is Punto Banco, which can be played in many online casinos. The rules of this game are simple and easy to understand. A winning Player bet pays 1:1 and a Banker bet wins 8:1. Other variants include EZ Baccarat, which pays 9:1 for a Tie bet and removes the standard 5% commission on a banker win with a total of 7. This makes it an especially attractive option for players who want to play the game without spending too much money.