Baccarat is one of the world’s most popular casino games. It traces its roots to the gambling salons of Italy and France, and over the past thirty years has risen in popularity in casinos worldwide. It’s played in many different forms, but the rules are all the same. Players place bets on either the Player hand, the Banker hand, or a tie. Two cards are dealt to each hand, and the winner is determined by whose total value is closest to nine. The game has a very low house edge compared to other casino games, and there’s no complicated card-counting routine or system to learn.
While the game has a reputation for being a rich man’s game, there are ways to beat it. The simplest way to play is with the Punto Banco rule set, which is most widely practiced in the United States. There are a few other variations to the rules, but these are the most common. The game is simple to play and can be a lot of fun for players of all skill levels.
The game is played with six decks of cards, shuffled together. Players are seated in random order around an oval table, and play begins to the right of the croupier. A ten-count is worth zero points, while aces are worth one point. Picture cards (kings, queens, and jacks) are worth their face value, while numbers from 2 to 9 count as their number value. The Banker and Player hands are both evaluated by adding up the values of the cards, dropping the first digit in the case of a double-digit total. If the player hand and the banker hand are equal in value, it is a tie.
If the banker totals a seven or higher, they stand and do not draw a third card. The only exception is if the player hand totals an eight or higher, which is a “natural” and wins the hand. If the banker totals a five or lower, they must draw a third card.
Unlike Chemin de Fer, where the player and banker are both competing against each other, in Punto Banco, the Banker position is permanent unless the player retires or the game is stopped because the players have run out of money to stake. The game is a little faster, too, with each hand taking about 30 seconds to deal.
While baccarat may not have the James Bond pageantry of tuxedoed dealers and double tables, it’s become very popular, especially among Asian high rollers. In fact, Bill Zender, a former Nevada Gaming Control Agent and casino dealer who literally wrote the book on managing casinos, says that the game has been growing considerably over the last 20 years. He attributes this to a combination of its popularity in Asia, and the growing number of casinos that offer baccarat on their regular floor, with reduced table minimums. The game’s popularity has also generated additional side bets and variations on the game, including Mini Baccarat.