Baccarat is a casino game that’s often associated with high rollers and luxury. But, it’s also a game that can be enjoyed by anyone with a reasonable bankroll. In fact, it’s one of the easiest casino games to play. And, with just a few simple rules, you’ll be playing the game in no time at all.
Baccarat originated in medieval Italy, and is said to have been popular among the upper classes and aristocrats. The game eventually moved to neighboring France, where it became known as chemin de fer or “chemmy”. It wasn’t until the 19th century that baccarat moved to casinos in the United States, where it was played alongside blackjack and poker. In fact, it’s now widely considered the world’s most popular card game and can be found in casinos around the globe.
There are three possible outcomes in a baccarat hand: player win, banker win, or tie. The game begins when a dealer deals two cards, face up, to the player and the banker. The goal is to have a hand that totals closest to nine. A winning hand is determined by the final digit when all the pips (the dots on the card that represent clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades) are added up. Tens and jacks count as zero, and aces count as 1.
If the first two cards deal a hand with a total of 8 or 9 then this is called a natural win, and all placed bets are paid. If the player or banker doesn’t have a natural win, then they draw a third card according to predetermined rules.
Once the third card is dealt, whichever hand has the value closest to 9 wins. If the hand wins, all bets on the player or banker are paid out. If the hand loses, bets on the player or banker will be lost. If the hand is a tie, bets on the player and banker are both paid out.
The game has grown a lot since its James Bond pageantry days, and while it’s still often tucked away in high-limit areas, baccarat can be found on most casino floors today, with lower minimum bets. So, if you want to experience the elegance of this classic casino game, keep reading as our resident newbie Priestly teaches us the rules and strategy.