In casinos, baccarat has a reputation for being exclusive and high stakes. However, the game itself is quite simple to learn and play.
Baccarat table and cards
The game is played on an oval table with places for up to 12 or 14 players and three casino dealers. A player dealing box helps place the cards and accommodate bets. The shoe contains several standard 52-card decks, usually 6 or 8, all shuffled together and dealt from the shoe. Baccarat uses numerical face value. Face cards (Jack, Queen, King) have no value. The value of a ten and a face card is zero. Aces are worth one point. If a hand’s total value exceeds 9, the second digit is the value. For example, a 9 and 6 (totaling 15) would have a value of 5 in baccarat.
Gameplay and rules
Bets are placed on the player hand, banker hand, or tie (an equal total between them). Once bets are placed, two cards are dealt to both the player and banker. A natural occurs when the first two cards total 8 or 9. Naturals result in no additional cards arising. If neither hand is a natural, a third card is drawn according to specific drawing rules. The player’s hand goes first and must stand on totals of 6 or higher and take a third card on 5 or less. The banker’s hand then draws or stands based on the value of the player’s third card. Closest to 9 wins and pays out according to the table limits.
Baccarat payouts
Baccarat payouts are simple and pre-determined depending on which hand you bet on:
- Player – Payout is 1:1 (even money minus 5% house commission on win)
- Banker – Payout is 1:1 minus a 5% house commission on the win
- Tie – Payout is 8:1 in most casinos (sometimes 9:1)
When betting on the player or banker, you must also pay a 5% commission to the house on the amount you win.
Getting started with baccarat
Armed with the rules and payout information above, learning the game is straightforward:
- Find a baccarat table with an available seat and buy in for chips. Minimums generally range from $5 to $100.
- Place your bet on one of the three betting circles before the cards a dealt. You bet every round or let it ride.
- Let the dealer deal two cards to the player and banker. The hand closest to 9 wins.
- Winning bets get paid out, and losing bets are forfeited. Settlements and new bets then be made for the next round.
- Tip the dealer using casino chips when you have a winning session.
The dealer is there to help you if you make a mistake at a time. Visit this website to learn more about click to read more.