The Basics of Baccarat
Traditionally seen as an exclusive game for high-stakes players in Europe, Baccarat has now become a major money earner in casinos around the world. It is a casino game that traces its roots to gambling salons in Italy and France. It is played with two decks of cards, which are dealt in a clockwise order. The goal of the game is to get closer to the total of nine than the opposite hand. The game has no rules, but the players do have some input on the cards they are dealt.
The game is played on a two-sided table. The dealer, known as the banker, is in the center of the table, where five players sit on either side. The banker knows the players’ third cards and their stakes on each hand. Depending on the cards that are dealt, the banker will choose to stand or to draw. The banker’s bet is considered to be the most advantageous in the game. The average house advantage is 1.2 percent.
Each player is dealt two cards. The first card is worth zero, while the second is worth one. The third card is worth either one or zero. If the first two cards add up to nine, they are called “naturals” and the game is over. If they add up to six or seven, they are deemed a tie. Those who have a tie are paid 8 to 1 on their bet. This is the only exception to the rule that the player who has the highest winning hand is always the winner.
The main objective of the game is to bet on the hand that has the closest total to nine. A player can bet on the banker’s hand, the player’s hand, or the tie. The banker’s bet is the best bet in the game, and most casinos apply a commission to it. The banker will try to beat the player’s hand with a larger bet. If the player’s hand wins, they will pay the player double the amount of their bet. However, if the banker’s hand wins, the banker will pay 5% on the banker’s bet.
When the third card is drawn, the dealer acts as though it is a choice between the banker’s and the player’s hands. The banker can pick to draw, or the player can choose to stand. If the player has a tie, the banker will choose to draw. If the player’s hand wins, the player will receive a 1 to 1 payout. The payout for a tie bet ranges from eight to nine to one.
The third card is also used to decide the winner. If the first two cards add up to eight or nine, they are a “natural” and the player’s hand is a “tie.” If the first two cards add up to three or less, they are a “natural” and if they add up to thirteen, they are a “tie.” If the third card is an ace, it counts as one.