For us, Baccarat is a kind of card game we associate with the good old James Bond movies. The main character of this series won has won both money and women when playing a baccarat table game. But now it's maybe your turn to take some winnings home? We take a closer look at Baccarat at online casinos, as well as the game's course, rules, and strategy.
The first version of Baccarat, called “Chemin de Fer” – with two players, which can still be found in some casinos, originates from France and the 15th century. Despite its early origins, it took hundreds of years for the game to evolve into what we know today.
There have been many varieties of Baccarat through the ages, such as “Baccarat Banque” and “Punto Banco”. But “standard Baccarat”, which is played in casinos around the world today, started first in Cuba, then moved to the United Kingdom, and then on to the United States.
At some online casinos, you can find all the different variants, maybe even as live games. Below you will find our top 5 online casinos where you can play Baccarat.
Baccarat Rules
Although Baccarat may be said to be more of a spectator sport than a game, it is a popular game in both physical and online casinos. Punto Banco has proven to be the most popular variant, and therefore it is these rules we present below.
Basic Principle
The goal of the game is simply that the player's or dealer's hand should come as close as possible to the sum 9. The player chooses which of the two hands he or she wants to bet on – a fun twist that is not found in many other places.
Baccarat also differs from other, traditional card games in that the player has little influence on what happens, beyond the bet. The cards are dealt according to predetermined rules, and the player does not make any decisions along the way. For example, you can not throw yourself or raise the stakes along the way.
Gameplay:
(1) The player and the dealer are dealt two cards each. The player then chooses which of the hands he or she wants to bet on, ie which of the two hands the player thinks has the highest sum. Alternatively, the player can bet that the sum is equal for both (draw).
(2) There are three ways to bet (and different payouts):
It is called “Banco” if the player bets on the dealer's hand. If the dealer wins, he or she receives a payout of 1: 1, minus 5% that goes to the dealer. Example: You have bet €100 that the dealer wins and gets it right. You keep the bet and receive an additional €95, while the dealer receives €5.
It is called “Punto” if the player bets on his own hand. If the player wins, he or she will receive a payout of 1: 1.
Draw: If the sum of the two cards is equal to the other hand, and the player has bet that this outcome would occur, the player receives a payout of 8: 1. This is the option with the most risk, and should be avoided unless you like to take chances.
(3) The player's hand is always shown first. The sum of the two cards determines what happens next:
- If the sum is 5 or less, the player draws a new card.
- If the sum is between 6 or 7, the player remains standing (no cards are drawn).
- If the sum is 8 or 9, both hands must stand (no cards are drawn).
(4) If you do not draw a third card, the dealer plays with the same rules as you (draws a new card of 5 or lower and remains at 6 or 7).
But if you do not draw a third card, the situation changes:
(5) When the player's hand is shown, it's the dealer's turn to show his hand. Again, it is the sum of the two cards that determines what happens next:
- If the sum is 2 or less, the dealer must draw a new card.
- If the sum is 3, the dealer must draw one more card (unless the player's third card was 8).
- If the sum is 4, the dealer must draw one more card (unless the player's third card was 0, 1, 8, or 9).
- If the sum is 5, the dealer must draw one more card (unless the player's third card was 4, 5, 6 or 7).
- If the sum is 6, the dealer must stand (unless the player's third card was 6 or 7- then the dealer must draw one more card).
- If the sum is 7, the player must stand and cannot draw a new card.
(6) The winning hand is then calculated.
House Edge
- Betting on the player (Punto) gives the house an advantage of 1.24% (payout 1: 1).
- Stating on the dealer (Banco) gives the house an advantage of 1.06% (remember that the dealer takes 5% of the winnings).
- And betting on a draw gives the house an advantage of 14.4% (payout 1: 8).
Baccarat Strategy
With a game that is so largely based on luck, it is difficult (if not impossible) to come up with a strategy that works 100% of the time. However, there are some things you can do to optimize your chances of winning.
This applies to all games, and we want to emphasize it especially when it comes to gambling. Knowing the rules is the alpha and omega when it comes to winning.
If you do not know what you are doing, you leave everything to chance. But if you know the rules properly, you can use math or common sense when making your choices, thus influencing the outcome of the game to a somewhat greater degree.
Bet on Dealer or Player or Draw?
The banker
- The advantage of betting on the dealer's hand is this: Statistically, the dealer's hand will win somewhat more often than the player's hand (see also the section on House Edge). Because even if the cards are dealt in random order, the third card affects the odds.
- The downside is that if the dealer wins, he or she takes 5% of your winnings.
The player
- The advantage of betting on the dealer's hand is that if you win, you get a 1: 1 win. So you win something more than when you bet on the dealer.
- The downside is that the chance of the player winning the hand is a bit smaller (see also the section on House Edge).
Tie
- The advantage of betting a draw is that if you win, you get paid 8 times your bet.
- The downside is that the chance of both hands getting the same amount is very small, in fact, less than 10% likely (see also House Edge).
Pattern Spotting in Baccarat
Some players count the cards drawn and try to stake out a pattern. In this way, they mean to be able to predict which card will come at the next move, and thus what kind of bet is the smartest. The strategy is commonly known as “pattern spotting”.
Pattern spotting is so well known that some land-based casinos actually hand out notepads and pencils to the players around the Baccarat table. It may seem a little strange that the casino encourages strategies, but the hard truth is that the house is safe enough in Baccarat for them to take a chance on it.
Statistics and experiments have so far not been able to prove that pattern spotting actually works in Baccarat, and the reason is quite simple:
Which cards have been dealt in the past will not affect which cards will be dealt in the future, because the cards are put back in the deck when the round is over. There is just as much chance of drawing a card in the second round as there was in the first.
Play Baccarat Online
There are clearly differences between online baccarat and playing in a real, land-based casino. The most prominent advantage of Baccarat online is the availability. For us, it is without a doubt the online casinos that are most easily accessible.
Most online casinos today offer Baccarat both as a regular table game where you play against the PC. Many also offer Baccarat in Live Casino, where the game is streamed in real-time from a real casino venue.
Another advantage of playing Baccarat online is that the online casinos offer lower wagering limits than in the land-based casinos. It lowers the threshold for playing, and lowers the risk of losing a lot.
Be aware that different players have different rules for maximum effort and turnover requirements. These are rules set by the player himself, and it is not regulated by anyone. If you plan to play a lot of Baccarat, this may be something to check out before choosing an online casino. Contact customer service or read the casino's own terms and conditions.
These casino sites are great for you who want to play Baccarat online:
Know when to give up – you're not James Bond!
Knowing when to stop playing is the most important Baccarat strategy available.
Be aware, when you start playing, that the casino basically has greater chances of winning than you. In other words, you have the odds against you, and it is against you every time. Therefore, do not bet more money than you can afford to lose. Also, do not try to win back lost money.
And by all means: Seek help if you need it! Any serious online casino will help players facilitate the player account for responsible gaming, and guide the player in the right direction, completely anonymously.