Baccarat, known as Punto Banco or Chemin de Fer in other countries, is one of the world’s most popular casino games. Its origin is not clear, but it is a game of chance that can be enjoyed by players of all skill levels. It requires no complex strategising or gamesmanship, but there are a few things to know before you play.
The game is played on a table with from seven to 14 seats, plus a banker’s area. Six decks of cards are used, shuffled together and then dealt two at a time, face up, to all the players. Each hand is then compared to a number 9. The player’s and banker’s hands are then totalled, with whoever has a total closest to 9 winning. You can bet on either the banker’s hand, the player’s hand or a tie. When you place a bet on the banker’s hand, a commission is paid to the house – the exact amount varies from casino to casino.
Once the two initial cards are dealt, a third card is drawn, depending on the initial totals of the Player’s and Banker’s hands. If the player’s and banker’s initial totals are 8 or 9, this is a “natural” win and no additional cards will be dealt. In this case, the game is over.
If the player’s and banker’s total is 5 or less, the player will draw a third card if the banker has a hand with a score of 5, 6, 7 or 8. The banker will stand if their initial hand is 5, 6 or 7. The rules for drawing a third card are set by a special table called a tableau. The bettors do not decide whether the player or banker should draw a third card; this is determined by the tableau.
The Player bet is the easiest to understand, wagering that the Player hand will have a higher total than the Banker’s. This bet pays out 1:1 if the Player wins, but has a slightly higher house edge than the Banker bet. The Banker bet pays out 1:1.5, minus a 5 percent commission, if the Banker wins. Players can also place a bet on the “Super Six” and the “Pair.” The Super Six bet is paid out when the Banker hand wins with a total of 6 points. The Pair bet is paid out if the Player’s and Banker’s first two cards form a pair. These bets have a much lower house edge than the Banker and Player bets. They are the preferred bets of high rollers and VIP players.
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