Baccarat is the most popular table game in Macau and all of Asia. Here you will find information on rules, history, strategy, tournaments and more for online and land based casino gameplay.
It is a game played on a table much like blackjack. Land casinos can have as many as 14 betting positions, while online casinos usually have the three main bets. There are three basic bets including; Banker, Player, and Tie. Banker and Player hands are dealt from a shoe which consists of six to eight decks of cards. Each casino software provider puts their own style into the game, although the most basic rules remain the same online or in a land casino. At some land casinos, the shoe is passed from player to player. In addition to virtual dealers, some online casinos also offer Live dealers. The most common variation of this game is Punto Banco. However, there are several variations including side bets paying up to 30:1 and versions with no commission (EZ Baccarat) where a certain Bank hand that typically wins is barred, making up the house edge.
The object of the game is to wager on the hand which you think will have the highest value, either the banker or player, a bet that the two hands will tie can also be made. However, a tie bet, even with 8:1 payout is the worst bet on the table with 14.4% house edge. The highest possible value of a hand is nine; face cards (kings, queens, jacks) and ten have a value of zero. If the total value of a hand rises above ten, then the value starts from zero again, for example (5 + 7 = 12, final value = 2).
Bets cannot be raised or retracted once the hand starts. Winning bets on Player return 1:1 and Tie payout 8:1. However it is important to note casinos charge a commission on winning bank bets, normally around five percent, this changes the odds on the banker bet to 1:0.95 (19 to 20). But due to special rules, banker will win more often than player, 4 to 5 times over the course of an eight deck shoe, making this very slightly the best bet statistically even with the lower return per win. The actual commission percentage may vary from one casino to the next. If a tie occurs, your bet is returned with no loss if you bet on Banker or Player. In special cases, it depends on the value of either the banker or player hand where a third card's drawn. It is as follows.
PLAYER HAND
When the hand has an initial value of 6 or more the player stands and receives no third card. If the initial value is less, then the player draws one more card.
BANKER HAND
If the hand has an initial value of 7 or more, the banker stands and receives no other card. If the hand, however, values either, 0, 1, or 2, then another card is drawn. For hands that value from 3 to 6, drawing a third card depends on the value of the player’s hand.
If either the Player or Banker hand count to 8 or 9 in two cards, it is a "Natural" and no more cards are dealt.
ONLINE BACCARAT
One very popular game at online casinos is Baccarat. Baccarat is played online in much the same way it is played at a live casino, with a six or eight deck shoes and the cards are shuffled between rounds. The game begins by wagering on who will have the hand closest to the value of nine, the banker or the player, or will the hand end in a tie? Face cards and tens have a value of zero, aces are one, and all other cards are face value. The player and banker are each dealt two cards, in some games a third card is dealt. The one with the hand closest to the value of nine wins. If the value of the hand is 10 or more, 10 points are subtracted from the actual value to get the baccarat value. Wagers on the banker or player pay 2:1, minus a commission on winning Bank bets. Wagers on the tie usually pay 8:1. If a tie occurs, the player and banker bets have their wagers returned.
