Baccarat
Basics of Baccarat
The banker plays against the hands he deals to two other players called punters. The winning hand is the one whose point total has the number closest to 9 as its last digit, face cards and tens counting nothing. Two cards are dealt to a hand with the privilege of a one-card draw. The term baccarat is supposed to mean "nothing" and is applied to hands whose point total ends with a cipher.
History of Baccarat
This is considered on of the most glamorous games in a casino. History points us to believe that it is a French card game, dating from the end of the 15th century. However It is commonly accepted that the Italians invented baccarat. Believe it or not it was first played with a Tarot deck and very was popular with the French nobility. As timed passed “Chemin de Fer,” was invented and is still played today as a variation of Baccarat. The game then migrated to England, where it where it underwent further development, and “European baccarat” emerged.
It became a popular game in South America and in Cuba, till it finally arrived to the US around 1950. Baccarat has both a history and a reputation of being a game for high rollers.The American version of baccarat is essentially a mixture of Chemin de Fer and European baccarat.
Objective
The player’s objective in Baccarat is to correctly guess which of three possible
propositions will win the round: Bank, Player, or Tie.
How to Play
Whichever hand is closest to nine is the winner. Two cards are dealt to the Bank hand and two cards are dealt to the Player hand. Sometimes a third card must be dealt to either or both hands; this depends on the outcome of the first two cards. The player needs not to worry about the third card as the dealer is the one responsible for keeping track of the game.
Betting
The player may start the game by placing a bet on the field that he or she feels will win the turn
" Player – Pays even money." Banker – Pays even money minus a 5% commission which is collected on winning bets.
" Tie – Pays 8 to 1 if the Player and Banker point totals tie.
Banker
It is important to understand that "Banker" does not represent the house but merely a field to place a bet on the Baccarat table. The casino house makes its money by taking 5% commission from the winnings of the banker field, should it be the winner. The game rules slightly favor the Banker’s hand.
Deck
The game is usually dealt from an eight-deck shoe. It is reshuffled when the shoe reaches about 50%
Cards Value
Cards ACE to NINE are worth their face value of 1 to 9.
Cards TEN to KING are worth 0 (zero).
Cards are dealt in the following order: card to player, card to banker, card to player, card to banker. (4 cards)
Cards Total Value
The TOTAL value of the cards cannot exceed 9. So, if the total value exceeds 9 then the last digit is used. Example 8 + 9 = 17 Player has 7
Game Elements
Credits: displays the amount of money you currently have available in your casino account.
Paid: Displays the total amount paid on a winning bet.
Chip Selection: The chip denomination can be select by clicking on the chip labeled with the amount wish to place or a combination of clicks that will sum up the desired amount to be placed on the table.
Deal Button: Starts a new game. (This button is enabled only after a bet has been placed)
Clear Table: Clears the chips from the table
Cashier Button: The cashier button takes you to the cashier page, where you can transfer chips to and from the casino. It will not be enabled at all time, however-it will be operational when no hand is being played.
Exit Button: The exit button leaves the game and returns to the lobby. It will not be enabled at all times, how ever it will be operational when no hand is being played.
Banker and Player Hands
PLAYER and BANKER receive a 3rd card or STAND on their first two cards as per the rules below unless one of them has a NATURAL
Natural
Player has 9
Banker has 9
First 2 Cards Total 8 OR 9 Banker AND Player STAND – No more cards
Player’s 3rd Card
Player Hand totaling 0-5: Player always gets 3rd card. Player Hand totaling 6-7 stands. Stands
Banker’s 3rd Card
Banker’s Hand totaling 3: Banker gets a 3rd card UNLESS Player’s 3rd card is 8 OR Banker gets a 3rd card if Player’s 2 cards total is 6 or 7
Banker’s Hand totaling 4: Banker gets a 3rd card if Player’s 3rd card is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 OR Banker gets a 3rd card if Player’s 2 cards total is 6 or 7
Banker’s Hand totaling 5: Banker gets a 3rd card if Player’s 3rd card is 4, 5, 6, or 7 OR Banker gets a 3rd card if Player’s 2 cards total is 6 or 7
Banker’s Hand totaling 6: Banker gets a 3rd card if Player’s 3rd card is 6, or 7
Banker’s Hand totaling 7: Stands
Payouts
Winning Player
Player has 9
Banker has 8
A winning Player hand is paid off at one to one. Thus, if you bet ten dollars, you win ten dollars
Winning Banker
Banker has 9
Player has 7
A winning Bank hand is paid off at .95 to one. This means that if you bet ten dollars, you win $9.50
Winning Tie
Player has 9
Banker has 9
The Tie hand is paid at eight to one. Thus a winning tie bet of $10 will return $80. If you bet on either Bank or Player and the Tie wins, you do not lose your bet. It is a push
Strategy
A predominant aspect of the baccarat games played at the local casino is the scorecard. Casinos encourage this behavior simply because they know it has no bearing on the outcome of the game. One hand has no bearing on the next, and is never influenced by the preceding hands.
If you were betting on the flip of a coin, and it landed heads up 9 times in a row. The chance of the coin landing tails up on the 10th flip is exactly 50%, just as it was the first nine times. Any Baccarat strategy that makes you change your bets based on previous hands is useless and should be completely disregarded.