It’s a gamble game akin to chemin de fer that involves measured inputs of decision-making while resolving the cards. It’s as much about taking a chance, though, as to who will win a given hand of players or bankers – like other casino games.
Carried from Europe to the glitzy gambling halls of the Far East, the besotted coquette at the heart of baccarat just won’t quit. What is it about the game that grips the imagination?
Origins
Baccarat spread outward from the French aristocracy; Napoleon and King Charles VIII both played it. In the centuries that followed, baccarat’s reputation infiltrated the rest of Europe, ultimately appearing on tables throughout casinos in every corner of the world by the early 20th century.
There are dozens of other stories that purport to explain the game’s origins; but one theory has it that baccarat is directly descended from Roman times and a religious ritual whereby virgins – the vestal virgins, for the painfully grammatical – cast dice to discover their fate: 8 or 9 and you’re a priestess; 6 or 7 and off to the desert with you.
Modern-day baccarat was made popular in England and South America, and popularised in America by Tommy Renzoni when he brought it over during the late 1950s. Ever since then, celebrities and high rollers of all sorts have enjoyed playing this classic game.
Rules
Of all the card games offered in casinos, baccarat is usually identified as the easiest and the most fun to play for beginners and advanced gamers alike. The simple rules and unique quirks of this card game have made it a favourite with gamers for years.
At the beginning of each hand, Banker and Player are dealt two cards each in front of a baccarat table with seven to 14 seats. Picture cards are considered as zeros and numbers from two to 9 are counted according to their face value while Ace adds up to one point; these values are summed up and the one hand that has a total closer to 9 than any of the opposing hands wins!
Although roulette comes with the lowest house edge, it’s also the easiest game to learn to play, so is perhaps the best option for a beginner. But beginners must still be aware that no strategy can guarantee a win, so they need to watch their bankroll – only ever gamble money you can afford to lose.
Variations
Baccarat variations are a significant part of this casino game’s history and longevity, providing new facets and prospects for fun and the chance to win.
Arguably the most popular of these is Punto Banco, which offers the form’s timeless appeal and gorgeous ruleset without subjecting players to a load of unnecessary regs.
Also, that variant lets players use the Martingale betting system, in which a bettor doubles his bet after a loss, and resets it after a win, thus keeping the risk low but having good long-term results (of course, in baccarat any bettor encounters only the uncertainty of chance, while the outcome of the previous draw is no guarantee of how the next one will turn out.
Payouts
The concept of bankroll management is the most fundamental factor in baccarat. In a game of chance like baccarat that relies so heavily on luck, players should never forget the importance of responsibility and choose a gambling strategy that involves betting only what they can lose without any regrets.
With its clean, almost Zen-like, minimalism, there is something immediately appealing about baccarat, where players bet on either a Player or Banker hand, and win if their total points equate to 9. Picture cards are worth 0 points, and an Ace is worth 1 point.
The game also provides side bets with higher payouts: the Player/Banker Pair and Perfect Pair bets that, depending on the rules of the game, can pay up to 25:1. Moreover, side bets generally tend to have a lower house edge than main bets.
Betting options
There are several possible bets you can place when playing baccarat. For example, you can either bet on Banker, Player or Tie; the associated house edge (or not) and pay outs are different.
After players have placed their bets, the croupier gives two cards to each hand and deals them out according to point proximity to nine – aces count as one point, and face cards and tens are counted as zero.
Martingale Betting Strategy is one of the most used baccarat strategy in which the gamer increase the amount of the losing bet, but decrease the amount of the winning bet as much. While this system may reward heavily, responsbile gaming and establishing a budget is also of importance. Another option called Paroli System uses positive progression instead of negative progression.