Despite its appearance as an intimidating game reserved for high rollers in the James Bond casino, Baccarat is actually quite simple to play. The house edge is one of the lowest in all the casino games, and it is easy to learn and practice at any online casino.
Baccarat is a game of chance and strategy. Players place wagers on either the Banker’s hand, the Player’s hand, or a tie. A winner is determined based on which hand totals closest to 9. Two cards are dealt each round, and sometimes a third card is dealt. Unlike blackjack, in which a 9 equals ten, all other cards are worth their face value, with 10s and picture or face cards counting as zero points.
The earliest known version of baccarat was played in Italy where it became popular among the nobility and was then brought to France, where it evolved into its modern form known as Punto Banco. The American version of the game differs somewhat from its European predecessor and is primarily played in high-roller rooms at casinos with table minimums of $25, $50, or $100.
In Baccarat, a Banker bet is made by placing a chip in the designated box marked Bank. A win on this bet pays 1:1. The game is supervised by a dealer to ensure fairness and fair play. A 5% commission is levied on winning bets on the Banker’s hand.
A player can also make a bet on the player’s hand or a tie, both of which pay out at 1:1. When a bet is placed on the player’s hand, the cards are dealt in a specific way: If the total of the cards exceeds 9, the number is dropped and only the second digit is considered. For example, a nine and a seven add up to 16, so the score would be 16.
Another popular Baccarat wager is a Super Six or Pair Bet, both of which pay out at 12x the original bet amount. A Pair Bet is won when the first two cards are a Banker and a Player pair.
The game is very slow-paced, and players must be patient while the dealer deals the cards. However, it is still a thrilling game to play, and you can find many reputable online casinos that offer Baccarat for a variety of stakes. To get started, you’ll need playing chips, which can be purchased at any casino cashier. Once you have your chips, you can begin betting with real money at any of our expert casino commendations. Be sure to avoid making the Tie bet, which has a house edge of 14.4%. Perfection in Baccarat requires practice, and our top casino commendations offer free versions of the game to get you started.