Baccarat is the enigmatic card game you see in movies where high rollers play in opulent casinos. Its mystique evokes images of men in tuxedos and women in posh evening gowns, laying down chips as the dealer distributes cards. But don’t be intimidated by the mystical allure of this exciting game of chance. Baccarat is easier to understand than you might think, and with a little practice you can master the rules in no time.
The Deal
When a new game of Baccarat begins, each player places his or her wager on either the Player, Banker or Tie bet box. You can place as much or as little as you want on these betting boxes, but the amount you bet must fall within the minimum and maximum table stakes. Once all the players have placed their bets, the dealer then deals two cards, one to the Player hand and one to the Banker hand. The total of the two cards is then tallied up and the winning bet is determined.
The game is played with a deck of nine cards and the object is to get closer to 9 than the opposing hand. When a hand totals above nine, the first digit is dropped; for example, an eight and a seven would result in a fifteen. Tens, jacks, queens, and kings retain their face values, while aces count as one. Once the hand total is known, all bets are paid out according to their odds.
While the game may sound complicated, baccarat is actually very simple to learn and is played with a single dealer. Unlike other casino games, the dealer is not a participant in the actual game and is only there to hand out the cards and take the bets. The dealer is also not allowed to touch the players or the cards, so no cheating is possible.
In addition to a single dealer, there is usually a pit boss who oversees the game. The pit boss is responsible for making sure that all players are treated fairly and that the banker and player hands are handled properly. The pit boss can also determine whether the table has enough players to continue with the game or if a freeze-out is necessary.
Baccarat is a popular choice for Asian high rollers and accounts for almost 90 percent of the revenues at Macau’s casinos. While the game is less popular in Las Vegas, it still makes up about 18 percent of total casino win. Baccarat is growing in popularity around the world and is a great choice for anyone who wants to try their luck at an online casino or at a land-based establishment. However, just like any gambling venture, it is important to enter into Baccarat with a plan and a budget in mind. This way, you can set limits on how much you are willing to lose and cut your losses when they reach that limit. Then, you can enjoy the thrill of Baccarat without worrying about how much money you could be losing!