Remember GoldenEye? Even in the face of a nuclear catastrophe, James Bond (played by the excellent Pierce Brosnan) had time for a round of baccarat. It’s no surprise that every casino offers baccarat, whether it’s traditionally at the table or online. You will easily witness it when you complete the Betwinner registration process.
Some History Behind
Why is this game so incredibly popular over the years? Baccarat is said to have originated in Italy, where tarot cards were played. We know that in the 19th century (!) French aristocrats were eager to play baccarat.
The game quickly gained popularity in Europe, and today it is one of the most-played casino games in the United States. According to a CDC report, American casinos earn more and more from baccarat yearly.
In 2021, as the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, casinos are growing faster than ever. Online slots and live dealer games over the internet have become a phenomenon in many countries in 2020. Let’s check out how to play baccarat.
Baccarat Rules
The baccarat phenomenon is based on very simple rules. Compared to poker, where the player has to keep an eye on a series of hands and remember their hierarchy, in baccarat, all you really need to do is count the odds that the dealer will draw a particular card.
After all, it is the croupier who is the key. In baccarat, the dealer follows the rules and reacts to the player’s decision. The player’s role is to place a bet and possibly draw a card. The house will take care of everything else.
The role of the player and the role of the dealer
One thing you need to remember is that in baccarat you bet on the player, the dealer or a draw. This is because the dealer will bet two hands against each other – two cards each. In this sense, “player” (punto) and “dealer” (banco) do not directly mean the participant in the game and the representative of the casino. Rather, they are symbols that you can bet on.
Counting points
What distinguishes baccarat from the well-known poker are the point values assigned to the cards. Just like in blackjack, each card represents a certain number of points. The hand consists of two or three cards. The rule to keep in mind is that no hand can be worth more than 9. If the total is more than 9, 10 is subtracted from it.
There are no jokers in baccarat. What about adding up points? It’s simple: a hand with a 4 and a 5 scores nine points. A hand with a 7 and a 6 scores three points (6+7=13, we cut 10 and are left with three points).
Drawing a third card
The key decision in baccarat, right after betting points, is to draw a third card. The advantage of the house over the player here is that the player always decides his hand first. The dealer only reacts when he sees the value of the player’s hand.
Simple rules govern the drawing of the third card. First, getting a total of 8 or 9 on two cards usually ends the hand right away. Second, if the sum of points is between 0 and 5, draw a card. If it is 6 or more, wait. Remember that, just like in blackjack, if you go over the maximum number of points in your hand, you will lose.
Based on this decision and the strength of the hand, the dealer will decide to draw his third card. Then the bet will be settled.
Why Is Baccarat The Best Game To Start In?
Why is baccarat the best game to start with? You already know the rules of baccarat. Now it’s time to find out why it’s the perfect game not only for seasoned casino regulars but also for people starting their adventure with gambling.
It is no coincidence that the popularity of baccarat is growing every year. We checked it in the Google Trends tool, which examines the popularity of passwords in the Internet search engine. Since 2018, the word “baccarat” is searched for almost twice as often in each consecutive year.
Online Popularity and Availability
We just mentioned the first reason. The popularity of the game translates directly into the offer of casinos — traditional and online. Finding your baccarat table online is easier than ever. Whether you’re looking for a free game to relax and exercise or a real money game with a live dealer, there are plenty of opportunities for you.
Baccarat has many popular variations. Many offer the possibility to bet on additional positions in addition to the player’s win, the dealer’s win or the draw. Additional variations allow you to bet on a pair or three-of-a-kind, as well as winning with an eight-point hand (so-called Pana 8 or Lucky 8).
Low casino margin
Unlike other types of casino games and traditional slots, baccarat offers a relatively low house edge. This is the so-called casino margin, a percentage of the value that the casino gains (and the player loses) the longer the game lasts. Remember that mathematically speaking, the casino will always have an advantage over the player. Here, an element of this advantage is that the dealer moves after the player.
Simple rules and fun to play
I left probably the most important reason for the last. Counting points is complicated only on the surface, and tips on when to draw a third card can be memorized in a few minutes. Sooner than you think, you’ll find that betting on one of the three outcomes isn’t enough. Not only will you start betting different sums on more than one outcome, but you will also start looking for casinos that allow for more variety of bets.
To cater to players, many online casinos offer welcome bonuses and other incentives. I already mentioned that the game is gaining popularity. This means that the casino offer will only grow, and among the competitive proposals, everyone will find something for themselves.
Summary
Baccarat combines the simplicity and speed of the game with great playability and a unique atmosphere. The game does not get boring because modern online casinos offer a multitude of variants of this game. A large variety of strategies is another stage that beginner baccarat players discover.
