Casino Baccarat Guide
If you know what James Bond prefers to play in the casino, chances are that you already know a bit about the baccarat rules. In the casinos, like online slots, high rollers and rich people are often attracted to the baccarat table because of the atmosphere and exclusiveness surrounding the game.
As in blackjack, the objective of the baccarat game is to draw cards from a deck of cards and get as close as possible to a certain total score. In baccarat, the best possible score is 9 - even though the name baccarat is Italian for 'zero' - the worst possible score in baccarat.
In baccarat, you can not go 'bust' (get a score that is too high). Aces are always counted as 1, face cards (Jacks, Queens and Kings) all count as 10, and all other cards at their indicated value. Only the last digit will of the card totals count as the total score of the hand.
For example, hands 8 and 3 add up to 11 - but as only the last digit counts the total score is only 1, a very poor baccarat hand. Another example, with a 10 and a 4 the total score is 4 (14 - 10).
Baccarat is a BANKER versus PLAYER game. In the casino, however, you will see many people gathered around the same baccarat table. This is because baccarat players alternate between the roles of Banker and Player, according to rules that vary from casino to casino.
Even if a player is not currently acting as the banker or player, they may place bets on the currently active banker or player's hands for slot game.
The Bank and the Player are dealt two cards each by the casino dealer, one card at a time, to begin a game of baccarat. If one or both hands have a total score of 8 or 9, this is known as a Natural, and the cards are turned, and the game is over. It's a draw if both hands have a 9 or an 8.
If neither the Bank nor the player has a Natural, the dealer will instruct the players on what to do based on predetermined rules. Because the dealer sets and enforces the rules, it is possible to play baccarat without even knowing what they are.
The player must always stand on 6 and 7 - and must draw another card if he has 1 to 5.
Banker Has: Players 3rd Card Is: The Banker Must: 0-2 Does Not Matter Draw a 3rd card 3 1 to 7, 9 or 10 Draw the 3rd card 3 8 Stand 4 2 to 7 Draw a 3rd card 4 1 or 8 to 10 Stand 5 4 to 7 Draw a 3rd card 5 1 to 3 or 8 to 10 Stand 6 6 or 7 Draw a 3rd card 6 1 to 5 or 8 to 10 Stand 7 Does Not Matter Stand.
The Bank has to draw if his total score is from 0 to 5 if the player stands, but must always stand on 6 and 7. If the player has drawn a third card, the rules for the bank are as illustrated in the table above.
As mentioned above these baccarat rules are always the same - and you do not even need to know them as the dealer will instruct you on what to do when you act as the banker and player.
Drawing and standing according to the above-mentioned rules is also the best possible strategical way to play the hand - so you wouldn't want to play your hand in any other way even if you were allowed to do so, like when you play popular slot machine games.
When you win a bet on either the Player or Banker you will be paid 1-1. The odds are slightly in the favor of the Banker. The Banker will win 45.84% of the games - The Player only 44.61% of the games and the rest of the games - 9.55% - will be a Tie.
A few casinos will also offer a bet on a tie - such a bet normally pays 1-8. This is the worst baccarat bet as the casino has an edge of 14% on a tie bet. Some casinos offer odds of 1-9 making tie bets a little bit better - but still not recommended.
