How to Play Baccarat: Know the Rules

How to Play Online Baccarat A classic internet gambling game, baccarat is an exhilarating sport, full of suspense and thrill. It is simple and there are no hard rules to follow. This is why baccarat is the preferred choice of many players around the world.

One of the simplest casino cards to play, baccarat is usually played by high rollers in brick and mortar casinos. People attribute this to the classic nature of the game. You can play baccarat online and enjoy the privilege of playing this elite game whenever and wherever you want.

How to Play Baccarat: Know the Rules and Strategies

Baccarat is quickly emerging as one of the most popular online casino games because of the ease with it can be mastered. This popular card game is believed to have originated in France or Italy in the Middle Ages. The word ‘Baccarat’ derives from the Italian word meaning zero. In the past, the game was played with Tarot cards; however, players use the modern cards to play baccarat today.

The glamour associated with playing baccarat makes it unfeasible for beginners and simple players to enjoy playing baccarat in real life casinos. This is why more and more people prefer playing baccarat at online casinos. However, in order to play baccarat online, one must know how to play and master the associated rules.

Baccarat Variations

Even though the game originated in France and was played in numerous European casinos in the past, the customized variations of baccarat have gained momentum in online casinos worldwide. There are variations in the rules of play, so it is always best to check the house rules. There are three common variations of baccarat: Chemin De Fer, Punto Banco, and Banque.

Chemin De Fer is commonly played in Europe. It is the original version of the baccarat game, where the players bet among themselves and either won or lost their cash. A player had the option of standing or taking another card if the hand total was five.
Punto Banco is very popular in American casinos. This version follows the typical baccarat rules, where the casino works as the bank all of the time. It includes a tie bet to increase the house edge and the 5% commission to the house for a winning bank bet.
Banque is quite similar to Chemin De Fer. The primary difference is that in this version the banker continues in his role until all cards in the shoe have been dealt, irrespective of whether the banker or player wins.

How to Play Online Baccarat

Baccarat is one of the simplest casino games to learn and play. It definitely brings excitement and thrill when played at online casinos. The players need not have any special skills to win baccarat, as the rules conclude each hand’s action. The only thing that is variable is the betting. In fact, baccarat is the game of chance.

In baccarat, the cards from 10's - K's are counted as zero, and the rest of the cards have values equivalent to the number printed on them. For instance, aces are counted as one and all other cards from 2 to 9 are counted as their printed, 2 to 9.

All players are required to place one bet before the deal. The players can bet on their cards, on the banker’s cards or on a tie. The game begins by rolling out two cards, face up, each, to the player and the banker. The dealer calls out the total amount of points, and how the game will proceed.

Game Rules and Strategies

The values of the cards are calculated by totalling the values of the two cards. If the value comes out to be more than 9, the leftmost digit of the total value is dropped and the remaining digit is considered as the value of the pack. Say, you have a 7 and an 8, the addition comes out to be 15; however, the value would be considered as 5 since 1 is dropped.

The main aim of the player is to come as close to the number 9 as possible. If a hand has a total of 8 or 9, it is called a ‘Natural’. It is always the winner because 9 is the best hand value. If in case, the total value of the hand comes out to be 5 or less, the player can stand or hit. This makes the banker to request for an extra card or to reveal his hand.

Game Rules for Player Bet

If the player’s hand value is a 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, the player draws, unless the banker has a natural 8 or 9.
If the player’s hand value is a 6, 7, 8, and 9, the player stands.
If the player’s hand value is natural 8 or 9, the player wins and the game is over.

Game Rules for Banker Bet

If the banker’s hand value is a 0, 1, 2, the banker draws, unless the player has a natural 8 or 9.
If the banker’s hand value is a 7, 8, and 9, the banker stands.
If the banker’s hand value is natural 8 or 9, the banker wins and the game is over.