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Baccarat
Baccarat is the oldest of all
games played in modern casinos. Records suggest the game may have
been played as far back as the fifteenth century in France where
it is sometime known as punto banco. There are just three bets to
make and the game is often played for very high odds. In
traditional casinos Baccarat tables are often kept separate from
the rest of the casino in a ‘Baccarat Pit.’ The Baccarat table
is easy to recognize. It is often quite large and can have seating
for as many as twelve people. Baccarat is a card game played
with a single deck of cards. The objective of the game is to
predict which of the two hands (Banker or Player) that are about
to be dealt will be closer to having a value of 9.
Baccarat Rules
Baccarat is a
very simple game to play with no decisions made after a bet is
placed. There are three bets available: The Player’s hand, the
Banker’s hand, or a Tie. The winning hand is the hand that holds
two or three cards totaling closest to nine. A bet on the Player
pays even money. A bet on the Banker pays even money minus a 5%
house commission. A bet on a Tie pays 8 to 1.
All Tens and face cards have a value of 0. Aces count as One and
Two through Nine are counted at face value.
In the classic game of Baccarat the deal rotates among the players.
Even though the player dealing is acting as the Banker, he is not
obligated to bet on the Banker’s hand. In Mini Baccarat a casino
dealer handles the deal. After players make their bets the dealer
deals a two-card hand to the Banker and Player. A Tie at any point
in the game ends the hand and pays Tie bets. If either hand dealt
is a total of 9, it is called a “Natural” and automatically
wins. If neither hand is 9 a hand with a total of 8 is a Natural
winner. Natural hands always immediately win or Tie (although a 9
beats an 8).
If neither hand is an 8 or a 9 and there is no Tie additional
cards may be dealt according to a standard set of rules. The
Player’s hand is dealt to first, and only if the current value
is 5 or less [top right].
After the Player’s hand is complete, the Banker’s hand is
dealt out according to the following set of rules: If the Player
did not draw a third card, then the Banker only draws a card to a
hand of 4 or less. If the Player did draw a third card, the Banker
follows the rules at right.
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