Internet Baccarat

The game of baccarat is one of those casino games that look more confusing than they actually are. It's a card game and is often offered in a roped off, high limit area of the casino. Even though baccarat can be found in almost every casino, it's a relatively unknown game to most casino patrons. The game tends to be most popular among high rollers and Asian gamblers.

Baccarat Rules

The most common version of baccarat offers just three different wagers. Players can bet on either the player, banker or a tie. The object of the game is to bet on which of these three outcomes you think will occur. Many casinos let the players take turns dealing since the dealer doesn't have any responsibility for collecting the bets or handling the money.

Whoever is dealing each hand is called the "banker" and whoever is playing against the banker is called the "player." In baccarat, the players don't play against the house, they play against each other. The house makes its money off a 5% commission that is charged on bets for the player.

The banker and player each get two cards and the hand with the highest score wins. The scoring method is a little strange at first but it's relatively simple once you get the hang of it.

The cards 2-9 are all worth their respective values and all tens and face cards are worth 0. Aces are worth 1 point. The weird part comes in when the totals are calculated. The tens digit on all card totals is dropped. If a player has 7 and 8, for example, the total would be 5, not 15. The best possible score in baccarat is 9.

If the player wins, then all the people who bet on the player are paid back in even money (minus a 5% commission). If the dealer wins, all the players who bet on him are paid back in even money. If there is a tie, anyone who bet on the tie is paid back 8 to 1 or sometimes 9 to 1.

After the first two cards are dealt, a third card is sometimes dealt according to these specific rules:

1. If either the banker's or player's cards total up to 8 or 9 after the first two cards are dealt, it's called a "natural" and the hand is over.

2. If the player has a total score of 6 or higher, the player doesn't get any more cards.

3. If the player stands and the bank has a total score of 5 or lower, the banker draws a third card.

If the player receives a third card, the banker sometimes draws a third card according to these rules:

1. If the bank's total score is 7, the bank does not draw again.

2. If the bank's total score is 6, the bank draws again if the player's third card was a 6 or 7

3. If the bank's total score is 5, the bank draws again if the player's third card was a 4, 5, 6, or 7

4. If the bank's total score is 4, the bank draws again if the player's third card was a 0, 1, 8 or 9.

5. If the bank's total score is 3, the bank draws a third card unless the player's third card was an 8.

6. If the bank's total score is 2, the bank draws no matter what the player's third card was.

These rules might look confusing but the good new is you don't need to memorize these rules if you don't want to. The above actions are all automatic and are taken care of by the house. All you need to do as a player is place your bet at the beginning of the hand and watch the action unfold.

Mini Baccarat or Midi Baccarat

The rules of mini baccarat are identical to those of regular baccarat. The only difference between the two games is that mini baccarat is played at a smaller table and a casino dealer handles the entire game. This version of baccarat is usually much more casual with lower betting limits and a faster game pace.

Is There Winning Baccarat Strategy?

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a true baccarat strategy. After you pick who you think will win, you don't get to make any more decisions the rest of the hand. All you can do is watch the cards fall.

Some people claim there are betting systems that work but these are all just myths. The only way to win at baccarat is to get lucky and quit the game early. Every casino game has a built in house edge and casinos have more experience than anyone else in trying to break their own games.

The good news is that baccarat offers the lowest house edge of any casino game, making it easy to stay in and play for a long time. Baccarat is a fun game on top of that so check it out sometime. Now that you know how to play, you can feel confident in walking up to the baccarat table.

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