Casino Baccarat Rules

Casino Baccarat Rules Rating: 4,1/5 9326 votes

Official Baccarat Rules Anyone with interest in casino games has probably heard about Baccarat. This is an easy card game that involves comparing the values. The rules of baccarat are very simple and fixed. The outcome is never affected by other players like in other games such as blackjack. Unlike blackjack, baccarat allows you to bet with the dealer, i.e. The players or the bankers.

Baccarat is a game of prediction between two hands; the banker hand and the player hand. Bettors have the option of wagering on either the player or banker hand (the winner being the hand that ends with the higher total) or if both hands will be equal resulting in a tie.

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Baccarat is probably the most lavish and least understood of all casino games. If you've ever been to a land casino, and taken a stroll by the baccarat pit, you may have glimpsed gorgeous women seated about the oversized table, and both players and dealers clad in tuxedos. Perhaps you expected to see special agent James Bond himself sitting in one of the chairs. If you ventured a little closer, you may have seen enormously large bets being placed on the table in this peculiar game where the player makes absolutely zero decisions to determine the outcome. Trying to take all this in at once may have left you feeling perplexed and maybe even a bit intimidated. You may have wondered: 'why would someone want to play a game where the rules and gameplay are already predetermined?' Or, 'what is it about the game that attracts so many high rollers to the tables?' These quandaries are just part of the mystique that is baccarat.

Article Highlights:

History The Pit Rules Strategy Final Say

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Baccarat is easier to learn than most people think. Only three betting options are available, and two of them offer very good chances for players.

History

Believed to originate in Italy around the mid-nineteenth century around the same time as the invention of modern bingo, baccarat - also know as Baccarat Punto or Punto Banco, was a spin-off on the French game of vingt-et-un (21). The original rules of the game allowed a player to also act as the bank. This version is still found in some European casinos. This option caters exclusively to the high roller, because few players are willing or able to put up the bankroll required to be the house. During the 20th century, baccarat remained a fixture in most European casinos, and didn't make a strong showing in the United States until the late 1960s to early 1970s. In this period, Las Vegas was still entangled in a web of bad publicity related to various casino operators skimming profits and other scandals involving the mafia. Back then, the town was still viewed as a haven for outlaws - far from the family friendly, international tourist destination the city is today. In an attempt to 'class up' the casinos and cater to a broader audience, operators brought in the first baccarat games. They understood that baccarat was a game of style and sophistication, whose roots ran deep in the European gaming culture. They also saw it as an opportunity to bring in more high rollers. Apparently, it worked, as baccarat pits have become a fixture at every modern casino.

The Pit

Baccarat tables are usually found apart from the main casino floor, off in their own section known as a 'pit'. If you've ever seen one, then you have likely noticed the luxurious appointments that grace these pits, such as plush chairs, fine artwork, and the dealers all wear tuxedos. So why are these pits apart from everything and so lavish? The main reason is because they cater to the high roller. It is not unusual for players to use 1,000 credit markers (and higher) as betting units. The casino management is interested in making their elite clientele feel comfortable, so you won't find the clamouring sounds of slot machines near the pit. The other formal touches are pretty much a given. Don't feel intimidated, though. Even the low-roller can play and enjoy baccarat, as long as you understand the rules before you bet - like in any game.

Rules

The object of baccarat is to hold 2 or 3 cards, which count 9, or as near to 9 as possible. The values of the cards are: face cards and tens are worth zero, aces are 1, and any other card is worth its face value. Units of 10 points are disregarded so that 9+7 count as 6, not 16.

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The dealer will deal out cards to both the player and dealer. Depending on the value the initial 2-card hands, a third card may be dealt to either one of the hands. Ultimately the winning hand will be the one closest to 9. When a tie arises, that is considered a push, just like in blackjack, and the bet is returned to the player. You may also bet on the tie, which is paid off at 8 to 1.

Betting Strategy

In baccarat, you have the choice of betting on either the player's hand or the dealer's hand to win. When you play baccarat at online casinos, to place a bet, you simply click either the 'Player' or 'Banker' button that corresponds to an area of the table and type of wager. The only other playing option is the 'Tie' bet, which is strongly recommend against, mainly because it carries the poorest odds of the three. The best bet in baccarat is for the banker to win. The banker bet actually carries a positive expectation for the player, meaning the odds are in favor of the player walking away with more money in the long run. However, the casino is wise to the discrepancy, so a 5% commission is taken on all banker bets to even the advantage. Similar to sports betting, the commission is called 'vigorish' or 'vig' for short. Even with the 5% house take, the banker bet still offers better odds - if only slightly - for players.

Final Say

Baccarat is a game wholly its own that can be enjoyed by both high and low rollers alike. It provides a relaxing respite from the other games found on the casino floor, and offers a sophistication that is reminiscent of the famous casinos of Europe and Monte Carlo. The next time you're playing at a favorite gambling hall, be it online or on-land, try a few hands of this unique and interesting table game, and you may discover the allure of baccarat.

Game Rules:

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Baccarat Game Rules

  • Baccarat is a Baccarat card game played between the Player and the casino (Banker).
  • The game is played with 8 decks of 52 cards (excluding Jokers), which are shuffled together before each round.
  • The aim of the game is to predict which hand will be the highest among the Player and the Banker. You can also predict a tie.
  • The MIN/MAX sign indicates the minimum and maximum bet that can be placed in any betting area.
  • Payouts are made according to the PAYTABLE in the game. For more information, refer to the Payout Schedule section below.
  • To view the PAYTABLE, move the pointer over the MIN/MAX sign.
  • Some features may not be available in PLAYING FOR FUN mode.

Playing Help

  • To place a bet, select a chip and click one of the betting areas labelled as: TIE, BANKER or PLAYER on the table.
  • If there are active arrows to the left and right of the chips, click these to see additional chip values. Every click in a bet area adds one chip of the selected value to the bet.
  • To start a hand, click DEAL.
  • To remove a bet, select the delete chip and then click in the bet area.
  • To place a new bet in the game, click NEW BET.
  • To place the same bet as the previous round and play, click REBET.
  • To display the Baccarat history, open Game settings, and then select the Baccarat history box. To minimize the Baccarat history, move the pointer over Baccarat history and then click the close [X] button.
  • To double the value of the previous bet placed in a game round, click the REBET X2 button.

Play of Hand

  • The Player and the Banker are dealt either two or three cards. Third card is dealt based on the third card rules. For more information, refer to the Third Card Rules section below.
  • The game compares the hand values of the Player and the Banker. For more information, refer to the Scoring section below.
  • The hand with a value closest to 9 wins. Hands of equal value are a tie, and neither hand wins.

Scoring

Rules
  • The value of the hand is determined by adding the values of the cards in the hand.
  • The number cards 2-9 count as face value, aces count as 1, and kings, queens, jacks, and 10's count as 0.
  • If the hand value is 10 or above, 10 is subtracted from it and the remaining value is considered as the hand value (for example, 13 becomes 3).

Third Card Rules

  • If the Player or the Banker has a hand value of 8 or 9, it is known as 'natural', and both hands stand. This rule overrides all the other rules.
  • If neither the Player nor the Banker has a hand value of 8 or 9, the play proceeds as following:
    Player Rules
  • If the Player has a hand value of 0-5, a third card is dealt to the Player. If the Player has a hand value of 6 or 7 the hand stands.

  • Banker Rules
  • If the Player stands, the Banker draws a third card if the hand has 0-5.
  • If the Player draws a third card, the value of the card drawn by the Player and the value of the Banker's hand determines if the Banker gets a third card. For more information, refer to the table below:
  • Banker's scorePlayer's third card
    0123456789
    7
    6
    5
    4
    3
    2
    1
    0
    StandBanker gets third card

Payout Schedule

  • If the Player wins the hand, the bets placed on PLAYER pay double the amount of original bet value (2 for 1).
  • If the Banker wins the hand, the bets placed on BANKER pay double the amount of original bet value (2 for 1). The casino deducts a commission of 5% from all Banker wins. The win will be rounded down if necessary.
  • The win is 1.95 times the bet, which is rounded down to 2 decimal places (the game rounds down to the closest cent).
  • Here are a few examples:
    • If you bet 0.1 € you win 0.19 € (rounded down from 0.195 €).
    • If you bet 0.2 € you win 0.39 € (does not need to be rounded down).
    • If you bet 0.3 € you win 0.58 € (rounded down from 0.585 €).
  • If there is a tie, the bets placed on TIE pay 9 for 1, whereas the bets placed on PLAYER or BANKER are returned (push).

Game Functions

Baccarat
  • The table below lists the different buttons found in the game and describes their functions.
Button Function
Click to start a game round.
Click to place a new bet.
Click to repeat the same bet as the previous game round.
Click the REBET X2 button to double the previous bet placed in the previous game round.
Click to clear all bets from the table.
Click to open the Game Settings menu and configure various game options. The menu contains options for:
  • Audio
  • Sound effects
  • Background music
  • Baccarat history
  • Fast play
  • Game history
Click to mute the game sound or use the slider to adjust the sound volume.
Click to open the game rules.

Game Setting Options

To access game settings, click the spanner icon in the game panel.
  • Audio. Turns on or off all sounds.
  • Sound effects. Turns the game sound effects on or off.
  • Background music. Turns the background soundtrack on or off.
  • Baccarat history. Shows or hides the history of hand values of the Player and the Banker in each game round. Click the cross (X) button to close the history.
  • Fast play. Turns on or off fast play.
  • Game history. Click to view your latest game history.
  • Note: Some casinos may operate without all of the listed game settings.

Return to Player

The theoretical return to player for this game is:
  • BANKER: 98.94%
  • PLAYER: 98.76%
  • TIE: 85.64%

Additional Information

  • The following game features and settings may be subject to the terms and conditions of the gaming site. For more information on the following, refer to the gaming website:
    • The procedures used to manage unfinished game rounds.
    • The time after which inactive game sessions automatically end.
  • In the event of malfunction of the gaming hardware/software, all affected game bets and payouts are rendered void and all affected bets refunded.

Translations of Game Terminology

Baccarat Casino Game Rules

Note: The following table is only applicable if you are playing in a language other than English.

How To Win In Casino Baccarat

English Term Translated Term
PLAYERPLAYER
BANKERBANKER
TIETIE
PAYS 9 FOR 1PAYS 9 FOR 1
PushPush
MINMIN
MAXMax
PaytablePaytable

Casino Baccarat Rules

Last modification date: 10/26/2020