Baccarat
is one of the easiest table game to play. It’s the most
uncomplicated game there is. All you need to decide is whether
to bet on "bank", "player" or "tie".
(Betting "tie" is not recommended, the house edge
is too high). Except for the tie bet, Baccarat has a very low
house edge – 1.36 % if you bet on Player and 1.17% for
bets on Banker.
While
the rules may seem a bit confusing, keep in mind that there
really is no need to know them precisely. It’s pretty much
a game of chance, all you really have to do is decide which
hand you think will win, and bet accordingly. However, knowing
the basic rules will certainly help you follow what is going
on, making the game a lot more enjoyable.
Two
hands are dealt, one for the "player" and one for
the "banker". You can bet on one or the other. If
the hand you bet on wins, you receive a 1 to 1 (even money)
payoff. You can also bet that the hands will tie, but as mentioned
above, it is not recommended. You receive an 8 to1 payoff, but
ties occur less than once out of every ten hands, making the
tie bet a poor choice.
At
the start, each hand receives two cards. When necessary, additional
cards are drawn according to the rules. The hand closest to
9 wins. Tens, Jacks, Queens and Kings count 0. The Ace counts
1 and cards 2 through 9 are at face value. The hand that comes
closest to a count of 9 wins. Hands don’t bust like in
Blackjack, because the first digit of a two-digit number is
always dropped. For example, if 5 and 7 are drawn for a total
of 12, the count is 2. When there is a tie, nobody loses.
If
the first two cards total 8 or 9, the hand is called a "natural"
and it wins automatically, unless both hands have equal value
"naturals", in which case it’s a tie. If neither
hand has a natural additional cards are drawn to determine a
winner.
Banker
and player bets pay even money when you win. However, winning
banker bets are subject to a 5% house commission. Even after
paying a 5% commission on winning banker bets, betting on "banker"
is still a slightly (0.19% to be exact) better proposition than
betting on "player". Banker hands win more often.
All
bets are made before the cards are dealt. In live games every
player at the table gets a chance to deal the cards, but you
don’t have to deal, just pass the shoe to the next player.
If you have the bankroll (often $25 or more minimum bet), don’t
let the tuxedoed dealers and fancy surroundings scare you away.
Play
Baccarat at on online casino and you won’t need to feel
intimidated stepping into a fancy, roped-off baccarat pit. And,
on the computer, you’ll be able to play at considerably
lower limits.
Baccarat
is a simple game with a very low house edge on the bank bet
and the player bet, but keep away from the tie - it’s a
killer.
