Baccarat is an immensely popular casino game among high rollers, often found within high-limit gaming areas of casinos. Although incredibly accessible and enjoyable to play, understanding its rules takes some effort and dedication.
Players bet either on the Player hand, the Banker hand or a tie between the two. The goal is for your chosen hand total to come closer to nine than that of its opponent; score is determined by adding up all pips on each card (clubs, diamonds and hearts are worth zero, while tens and ace count as one) until club-diamond-heart combinations reach nine; nine is considered the highest scoring hand; any time your opponents deal a 10 or jack, the first digit is dropped; for instance if two hands deal two separate 10s/jacks then first digit is dropped so your chosen hand total can still reach nine; for instance a 7+6 would result in 13 but it would only score 9.
Popularity of baccarat skyrocketed when first introduced to England in the late 50s. Since then, its spread across casinos worldwide. Casino owners marketed baccarat as an exclusive game suited to only elite customers by hiding tables behind plush leather chairs and demanding high minimum bets. Although never as widespread in America, baccarat was one of the top casino games for Macau casinos last year (88 percent of revenue generated) while Singapore and Las Vegas casinos also made significant amounts from baccarat play.
Player and Banker bets both offer only a 1.2 percent house edge; by contrast, Tie bets offer eight-1 payouts, yet carry an excessive 14 percent house edge. Therefore, most serious players tend to favour player or Banker bets instead.
Once players have placed their bets, the dealer deals one card to both boxes – one in the Player hand and then in the Banker hand – until both hands total 8 or 9. If this occurs it is considered a “natural win” and bets are paid back; otherwise the game continues with another round of betting.
Baccarat can be an exciting, fast-paced game that can quickly get out of hand. To combat this, it’s crucial that you develop a plan and set an amount you plan to spend before beginning play – this way you’ll have more control of your bankroll without becoming overexcited and blowing through all your funds in an instance! Should also be wary of the Martingale strategy, which involves doubling your bet after every loss and requires both a significant bankroll and sufficient discipline for ongoing betting in this fashion. Playing with cash rather than credit or debit cards will help prevent overspending, helping you remain in control of your spending and avoid gambling addiction. Treat the money spent at the table as though you would on a night out – not with any expectation that it will return home with you – this way. This can help ensure that gambling stays fun!