Guide to Playing Baccarat Online: Game Rules, How to Play
Baccarat first appeared in France in the mid-nineteenth century, and because of how easy it is to play, it quickly became one of the most popular betting games worldwide. It was originally called Punto Banco.
Baccarat is often played with high stakes, so the game is positioned in casinos` "big money" sections in Europe and Nevada.
Playing Baccarat online is one of the best ways to learn the game and get a feel for it. While it requires no technical skill, understanding the odds of winning and patterns to read can help you make better bets.
Playing it online is also a nice way to pass the time! You can play Baccarat online at playbaccarat-online.com
If you`ve never played Baccarat before or want to brush up on how it works, here`s a guide to the game`s rules.
Game Rules and Objective
The first step to understanding Baccarat is to understand the possible outcomes of the game. Either the player will win, or the bank (or "banker") will win. A tie between the two parties is also possible.
Before any cards are dealt, you must bet on whoever you believe will win: the player or the bank. You can also choose to bet on the game ending in a tie, but the odds are against you if you place this bet.
After you place a bet by putting your chips on the player, the banker, or tie, the dealer will take two cards from the shoe and slide them over to the player`s box. The cards are then flipped to face upwards.
Next, the dealer will repeat the process for the bank. Two cards are drawn from the show, placed in the bank`s box, and flipped to face upwards.
Card Values & The Natural Win
When both the parties have cards on the table, the values of the cards are totaled up.
The ace card and cards from two to nine are considered to have their face value. On the other hand, the ten card and the face cards have zero value.
If the total value of either party`s cards is eight or nine, the respective party wins. This winning condition is called a "natural win."
The Third Card
The player or the bank must get a hand having a total value as close to 9 as possible to win the game.
If either party gets a total of an eight or a 9, no cards are drawn to determine the game`s outcome because of the natural win. If one party has an eight and the other has a 9, the party with the nine wins.
However, this doesn`t always happen. So, the game proceeds further depending on the circumstance.
If the player has a hand of between 0 and five, the player gets another card. In contrast, if the player gets a point total of six or seven, the player stands – meaning no cards are drawn.
The bank follows the same guidelines: drawing a third card if the total is between 0 and five and standing if the point total is six or seven.
However, the bank has some rules to follow if the player gets a third card. If the hand is worth:
0, 1, or 2: A card is drawn.
3: If the player`s third card is not an 8, a card is drawn.
4: A card is drawn only if the player`s third card is between 2 and 7.
5: If the player`s third card is between 4 and 7, a card is drawn.
6: A card is drawn only if the player`s third card is between 6 or 7.
7: No card is drawn..
If the game is a tie, no one wins or loses money. However, the bank is given many advantages, which is why the bank wins more than half of the games.
For this reason, if you were to bet on the bank and win, you are required to pay five percent of your winnings to the house.
Baccarat gives the house the lowest winning edge in a casino. Working out the numbers and including the commission, the house edge for betting on the bank is 1.06%. The edge for betting on the player is also quite low at 1.24%.
Interestingly, the house edge for betting on a tie is 9.5%, making it a bad bet. Avoid betting on a tie.
How to Play
You must first place your bet, ideally on the bank. The dealer or another player will deal cards to both the player and the bank`s boxes.
Next, you must sum up the total value of the hands. If it`s a natural win for who you bet on, you will get back double the money you bet. Note that if you bet on the bank, you will only get a 95% payout.
If there`s no natural win, a third card will be drawn for the player, and the bank will stand or draw a third card according to the abovementioned guidelines.
It`s important to bear in mind that if the total of the cards goes above ten, the first digit of the sum must be dropped. For instance, if the bank gets a nine and a six, the sum will be fifteen. However, the first digit is dropped, making the sum a five.
In live games, scoresheets are available to help you keep track of your score. Scoresheets are also available in the online version of Baccarat.
Tips
You learn to play most card and casino games by experience. However, there`s no denying that developing a building strategy before sitting down for a few games doesn`t help.
Here are a few tips to help you play better Baccarat:
Different experts have different stats, but the house edge for tie bets always hovers around the 9%-15% range. You are at a disadvantage if you place a bet on a tie. Never place a tie bet.
Bet on the bank. The odds of you winning money are high. As mentioned earlier, the bank wins over half of the Baccarat games. There`s a reason why a five percent commission is charged.
Always betting on the bank doesn`t work, either. While the bank will get the most wins and often have winning streaks, being overly aggressive when betting on the bank can lead to big losses. Watch out for streaks, and don`t overdo it.
When you see that the bank has lost, wait for a game before betting again. The idea is to observe who wins the next game. If the player wins, bet on the player in the next game. Similarly, if the bank wins, bet on the bank in the next game.
When you`re working out player and bank win calculations, ignore all the ties. Ignoring ties is the right way to go because there is no winner or loser.
Manage your stakes well. While Baccarat gives the bank many advantages, the win/lose ratio makes any game a flip of a coin at the end of the day. If you want to win more, following bank win streaks is the right way to go. However, you must monitor your outlay. Make sure you limit your bet amounts and firmly decide to play with a limited number of chips. Take a break after you run out of chips.