Baccarat Guide
Baccarat is a game for quick minds and cool nerves. Read our summary of how to play this popular casino card game.
History
Baccarat probably originated in Renaissance France or Italy, although nobody can be certain, and it is possibly the oldest of all card games played in casinos today. The name baccarat means zero in both French and Italian, which gives some indication of its roots. From Europe, the game’s popularity spread to the British Isles and eventually over the Atlantic to North America.
AKA punto banco
Baccarat is extremely popular in North America where it is more commonly called punto banco, meaning player-bank. The game rules are simple and can be picked up in minutes. Before each deal, the player decides in advance which hand will win – the player (punto), or the bank (banco), and he places his bet accordingly. A third option of a draw is also available, but the odds of this happening are normally lower.
Mini baccarat
A newer version of baccarat called mini baccarat is becoming very popular. This involves the same house rules, but offers lower minimum bets. This opens the game up to a wider audience who are not accustomed to dealing in millions. Mini baccarat is also played a lot faster than the original game.
How to play the game
Two cards are played face down to both player and bank in each round. Players place their bets in the player, bank, or draw boxes on the table and the cards are then flipped by the croupier. If the player’s card total exceeds that of the dealer, then the player wins, and vice versa.
The player only wins on a tie bet if both player and dealer card totals are identical. Face cards and 10s count as zero (baccarat), and number cards count as their face value. Card counting reaches a maximum of 9 points – the top hand in baccarat – and then counting goes back to the start. If hand totals reach 8 or 9 points, a winner, or draw is announced. If the hand total is less than 8, then a further card can be dealt. Odds are displayed on a chart sitting over every table.
Baccarat probably originated in Renaissance France or Italy, although nobody can be certain, and it is possibly the oldest of all card games played in casinos today. The name baccarat means zero in both French and Italian, which gives some indication of its roots. From Europe, the game’s popularity spread to the British Isles and eventually over the Atlantic to North America.
AKA punto banco
Baccarat is extremely popular in North America where it is more commonly called punto banco, meaning player-bank. The game rules are simple and can be picked up in minutes. Before each deal, the player decides in advance which hand will win – the player (punto), or the bank (banco), and he places his bet accordingly. A third option of a draw is also available, but the odds of this happening are normally lower.
Mini baccarat
A newer version of baccarat called mini baccarat is becoming very popular. This involves the same house rules, but offers lower minimum bets. This opens the game up to a wider audience who are not accustomed to dealing in millions. Mini baccarat is also played a lot faster than the original game.
How to play the game
Two cards are played face down to both player and bank in each round. Players place their bets in the player, bank, or draw boxes on the table and the cards are then flipped by the croupier. If the player’s card total exceeds that of the dealer, then the player wins, and vice versa.
The player only wins on a tie bet if both player and dealer card totals are identical. Face cards and 10s count as zero (baccarat), and number cards count as their face value. Card counting reaches a maximum of 9 points – the top hand in baccarat – and then counting goes back to the start. If hand totals reach 8 or 9 points, a winner, or draw is announced. If the hand total is less than 8, then a further card can be dealt. Odds are displayed on a chart sitting over every table.
