If you’ve ever been to a casino, from the sticky-floor California card rooms to the tuxedo-laden casinos of Monaco, chances are you have seen the game of Baccarat. It’s a table game played for high stakes, often in special alcoves away from the crowds and noise. It’s a game that requires little skill and is almost entirely dependent on luck. Despite this lack of skill, Baccarat remains one of the most popular games in the world and continues to enjoy an international following.
In fact, the game has become so popular that it is now available online. But while Baccarat isn’t nearly as difficult to play as it looks, there are some important things you should know before playing the game.
Unlike Blackjack, where players have some control over the cards that are dealt, the rules of Baccarat predetermine the outcome of each hand. There are three possible outcomes: a Banker win, a Player win, or a Tie. Bettors can place bets on either the Banker or the Player. A bet on the Banker predicts that the Banker’s hand will have a value closer to nine, while a bet on the Player predicts that the player’s hand will have a higher value. A bet on a Tie is a neutral bet that predicts that neither the Banker nor the Player will have a higher hand value.
Once all the bets have been placed, the dealer will deal two cards to each of the two gaming spaces at the Baccarat table – one card to the banker and one to the player. A third card may be drawn if the Player or Banker have totals of 6 or lower. The winning hand is that which totals closest to 9. If the Banker and Player have the same value, it is a tie. A commission is sometimes paid out to bettors on the Banker side if there is a tie.
Before you start playing Baccarat, it is wise to set a budget for yourself and stick to it. You can easily get carried away with the excitement of the game and make huge losses if you don’t have a limit in mind. It’s also a good idea to quit while you’re ahead. It’s easy to get caught up in the thrill of a good run, but you don’t want to risk your entire budget for one round!