Baccarat is one of the most exciting casino games to play. It’s a game that exudes sophistication and conjures up images of men in tuxedos and women in posh evening dresses laying down their chips before the dealer distributes the cards. But don’t let its mystique scare you away-baccarat is an easy and fun game to learn. With just three possible outcomes-player win, banker win and tie-baccarat is simple and quick to play.
The premise of the game is that a player and banker are dealt two cards each. The goal is to have a hand that totals closer to nine than the other hand, without going over. Tens, jacks, queens and kings are worth zero points, while the ace is worth one point. If either the player or banker have a total value of eight or nine, it’s called a “natural” and the game ends. If the banker has a natural, they remain in the role of banker for the rest of the round.
Before a game begins you place your bets based on who you favor to win that round. Each seat at the table has a marked area where you can place your chips indicating whether you’re betting on the banker or the player side to win. You’re also able to bet on the game ending in a tie.
In addition to placing your bets on the player, banker and tie, you can also make a variety of side bets. Depending on the platform and establishment, these bets pay different odds and must be placed before each hand begins.
Typically, a game of baccarat is played with a minimum bet of $20-$25, though this varies from casino to casino. It’s important to be aware of the minimum bet before you begin playing, as it can affect how much money you spend.
After the players and banker have placed their bets, the dealer deals two cards to each hand. A third card is drawn if the first two are a player or banker, but not if they’re an 8. If neither the player nor the banker has a total of 8 or 9, it’s a tie and the game continues.
The rules of baccarat are very similar to those in the game of Chemin de Fer, except the banker role is more permanent. The banker remains in the role of banker until they wish to withdraw or run out of money to stake. When the banker retires they will return their chips to the table and a new banker is chosen by the first player in line willing to stake an amount equal to the current banker’s total.
The house edge of Baccarat varies depending on how you bet. A Banker bet has a lower house edge than a Player bet, which is why many players choose to play the game this way.