Mastering Baccarat: Everything You Need To Know

Synonymous with sophistication and elegance, Baccarat’s rich history goes back to 14th-century Italy. It is a casino game that involves two hands competing against each other: the Player and the Banker. The objective is to predict which hand will have a total closest to nine.

Similar to Blackjack, playing Baccarat online at Bovada has different rules governing drawing extra cards. But what makes it even more remarkable is that its simple gameplay doesn’t require too many players. Let’s now look into some basic details everyone needs to know to master Baccarat.

How To Play: Game Rules

The first thing to note is that Baccarat is a card game played with six, seven, or eight decks of the standard 52 cards each. Each card has different values: Aces equal 1 point, face cards, and 10s have a value of zero, and the worth of every other card equals its face value. Also, as mentioned earlier, the main goal of the game is to determine correctly whose hand will win the round or if it will be a tie.

At the start of a round, each hand begins with two cards, and extra cards can then be dealt from the deck as the game proceeds. The following are some of the dealing rules that govern Baccarat:

  • If a player’s total is 5 or less, the dealer adds a third card to the hand. But when the total is 6 or 7, no extra hands are dealt.
  • The banker receives another card on 5 or less and stands on 6 or 7 when the player stands.
  • When the banker’s total is 5, and the player’s third card is 4-7, another card is drawn.
  • If the banker’s hand totals 3 and the player’s card is not an 8, then the banker gets another card.
  • The hand stands if the banker total is 7 from the first two cards.

Popular Versions of Baccarat

Many versions of Baccarat exist in both online and land-based casinos, and below are the most popular ones:

3-Card Baccarat

Playing this version involves using only a single deck of 52 cards. Here, the rules are pretty similar to the standard baccarat, except that in this variant, a hand with three face cards gives the biggest payout, followed by a score of 9. Also, if a round ends in a tie, the player with the most face cards is the winner.

Punto Banco

This is the traditional Baccarat, with the same rules, features, and betting options as the standard game. It requires six decks of cards to play.

Baccarat Banque

Mainly common in gambling platforms in Europe, this variation allows the use of three decks while one of the players acts as the banker. But here, the player acting as the dealer doesn’t necessarily play against other gamblers. Instead, they only place bets in favor of the banker to win.

Mini Baccarat

Similar to standard Baccarat, Mini Baccarat shares similar rules and gameplay, except that it is a smaller version of the game. When playing at brick-and-mortar casinos, only about six to seven players can participate at the small table. As for playing online, it comes with the lowest betting limits and simplicity, making it a highly popular choice.

Chemin de Fer

Here, players take turns acting as the banker, which gives them more control over their decisions during gameplay. However, unlike Baccarat Banque, the player acting as the dealer at a particular time can also bet against other gamblers.

Common Mistakes to Avoid when Playing Baccarat: How to Tip the Scales in Your Favor

Players often make some silly mistakes when playing a game of Baccarat. These mistakes are often costly and may determine the outcome of a game round. Below are some of them:

Betting on a Tie or Constantly Betting in Favor of the Player

One common error is betting on a tie with the hopes that both the player’s and banker’s hands will be equal. However, this could not be a more misleading thought. Yes, the potential payout for a tie bet can be enticing, but that doesn’t mean the odds are necessarily in your favor.

Additionally, considering that Baccarat is a casino game with a low house edge, you should focus your bets on either the Banker or the Player. This is because there’s a low house edge of 1.24% when placing Player wagers and a lower house edge of 1.06% when placing Banker bets. Thus, betting on the Banker gives you a higher chance of winning.

Chasing Losses

Never chase losses! Chasing losses is the bane of most gamblers because they do so hoping to end a losing streak and recover all they’ve lost. However, this is usually not the case, as more often than not, they end up losing even more.

Over-betting Without a Bankroll Limit

Always set a bankroll limit to avoid over-betting when you play Baccarat. It is very easy to get caught up in the excitement when playing round after round, but with a bankroll limit, you ensure that you only stake what you can afford to lose.

Final Text

There’s so much to know about a good game of Baccarat, but we have listed the basics. Remember to look for reputable sites that offer a wide range of Baccarat versions to enjoy the game’s fullness. Have fun as you play!

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