One of the most popular games among the words biggest high rollers is baccarat. The game has a very low house edge of around 1% and unlike other casinos games with a low edge it is very easy to play. If you are new to casino games then it is a great place to start as it is a simple decision of one of three bets to play.
History of Baccarat
The game originated in Italy and has been documented as early as the 1400's. By the 1900's the game became popular with the French royalty and from there the game spread around the world. Three main variations came to be. These are Chemin de fer, baccarat banquet and punto banco.
Today at online casinos you will usually find one of two variations. The most common is mini baccarat. This is a simplified version of the game where the casino deals all cards and the only player interaction is to choose which outcome to bet on. Wagerlogic casinos have recently added the multi-player baccarat tables where players get to deal much like they would at land-based casinos.
Aim of the Game
The aim of baccarat is to predict which hand will have a total of nine or as close to nine. You have no direct influence in the outcome as all cards are dealt according to a set of rules. As a player you simply choose one of the three possible bets.
Game Rules
There are three possible bets on a baccarat table. These are player, banker and tie. In each case you are betting on either the players hand being higher than the banker, the bankers hand being higher than the players or both hand having equal vale. Payoffs are 1 to 1 for a player bet, 1 to 1 minus 5% commission for a banker bet and 8 to 1 for a tie. The 5% commission on banker bets is taken because the odds favor the banker bet.
The game is usually played with eight decks of cards. Cards have the following values ; cards 2 through 9 have their face value, Aces are worth 1. Tens, Jacks, Queens and Kings are all worth zero. A baccarat hand can have a highest value of nine so if a hand goes over nine the additional digit is removed. For example a hand of 6 and 9 equals 15 which in baccarat give as hand value of 5.
Each hand starts with both the banker and the player getting two cards. A third card may or may not be dealt to either hand depending on the total. This is known as the third card rule. If either player of banker has a total of 8 or 9 no additional cards are dealt in all other outcomes the following rules apply.
If the player hand totals 5 or less the player is dealt an additional card. If the player does not get an additional card then the banker gets one if the banker hand totals 5 or less. The following rules apply.
If the banker has a hand with a total of 5 then an additional card is dealt when the player has 4, 5, 6 or 7. Finally if the dealer has six another card is dealt if the player has six or seven.
How to Play
Simply pace a bet on either player, banker or tie and the cards will be dealt. There is no other player interaction in the outcome of each game.
Sequence of Play
- Place a bet on one of the three options
- Two cards are dealt to the player and the banker
- If either hand totals 8 or 9 the hand ends
- If neither hand is 8 or 9 cards are dealt according to the 3rd card rule
- Final outcome is reach and winning bets are paid
- New hand starts
Where to Play Baccarat Online
The casinos listed below are the current to picks for online baccarat players. You will find that they all have the standard odds and pay offs and several have higher limits so if you are a high roller you can bet bigger.
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