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Baccarat Rules
Baccarat, which etymologically comes from the Latin word
baccara, originally hails from Europe, although you will
most likely run across the American version when playing
baccarat in an online casino. The game is reportedly
credited as being the invention of the Italian, Felix
Falguierein. Records show that baccarat was brought to
France in the 15th Century, making its way to America in
the late sixties when Las Vegas casinos needed a
makeover of sophisticated gambling games. And although
the rules of the game itself are not at all
sophisticated, baccarat does have a reputation of being
a high-class game for high rollers.
The layout of the baccarat table is relatively
unchanged since its royal beginnings. Each side mirrors
the other, and consists of fifteen places for players to
sit at one time, with 4 half circles directly in front
of the players. The first row of numbers is simply a
position marker. The second row has the word Players
marked on it, which conveniently has one letter
corresponding to each number marker. This is where
wagers on the Player Hand are set. The following
half-circle has the word Bankers marked on it, which
also conveniently has one letter corresponding to each
betting position. This box is where bets on the banker's
hand are set. The last and remaining circle says the
word 'Tie' and 8 to 1 (or 9 to 1), depending on what
odds the casino pays tie bets. This is where bets on a
tie hand are set. A series of numbered boxes (one for
each player) is where commission fees are kept track,
since the casino does not collect its commission fees
from players every game. The three boxes behind these
numbers are the drop box, discard tray, and tip box.
There are usually two dealers and one caller, also
called a croupier, who directs the game. In online
baccarat you will only be confronted with probably three
betting seats and the corresponding player, banker, and
tie wager boxes.
The structure and rules of the game are quite
simple.
Much like blackjack, two
hands are played - a dealer and a player hand pitted
against each other. Unlike blackjack, but
rather, more like craps, multiple players around the table
can bet on which hand will win. After all is said
and done, the hand with a point total closest to nine
wins.
The game begins with players placing bets.
Essentially, only three bets can potentially be made - A
bet for the player's hand to win, the banker's hand to
win, or a tie. After all bets are made, which cannot be
added to or retracted once play begins, the House will
deal four face-down cards - two cards each to both the
player and banker (House). After the cards are
finished being dealt, they are revealed and tabulated.
Depending on hand outcomes, the Player hand will either
draw a third card or stand. After the players
turn, and depending on both the outcome of the players
hand and its own, the Banker hand will either draw a
third additional card or stand. The hand closest
to a total value of nine wins. If both hands are
the same, the game is deemed a tie.
Two components of the game need clearing up at this
point. One factor is how hand values are tabulated.
The other is how drawing a third card is determined.
Please note that both hands are allowed a maximum of one
card draw. Therefore, a baccarat hand will never exceed
three cards total.
Tabulating the hand value is straightforward
and only takes simple mathematics of addition. All
cards numbered 2 through 9 are worth their numeric
value. All other cards (tens and picture cards) are
worth zero points. In order to calculate a hand
total, simply add the value of the two cards. If this
sum goes over ten, subtract ten and you will have the
final value. For instance, a hand of 6 and 10 will have
a total value of 6. A hand of seven and four has a
value of 1. (7 + 4 = 11 - 10 = 1) A hand that has drawn
and composed of three cards is calculated in the same
fashion. For instance, a hand of 5, Queen and 9 has a
value of 4 (5 + 0 + 9 = 14 - 10 = 4).
Card draw determination is slightly more
involved and is often explained with a chart. However,
I will try to simplify this as much as possible with a
few brief guidelines. First off, know that right from
the beginning a hand of 8 or 9 automatically wins. If
both hands have an 8 or 9, the game is deemed a tie, in
which all Tie Bets win. If one hand is an 8 and the
other is a 9, the 9 wins. If such is not the
case, the Player Hand makes the first move.
PLAYER DRAW
Player shows a 6, 7, 8, or 9
(8 and 9 win)
Player Hand must Stand
Player shows a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
or 0
Player Hand must Draw
Once the player hand is finished and
standing, the bank hand will determine whether it must
draw a third card. The following guidelines determine
what action the Bank Hand will take:
BANKER DRAW
On a side note, if the player hand
does not draw a card, the banker hand will always
draw if its value is lower than the player hand or
if its own two-card value is 0, 1, or 2.
Banker shows a 7, 8 or 9 (8
and 9 win)
Banker Hand must Stand
Banker shows a 3
Banker Hand must Draw if player's draw card is a
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7
Banker Hand must Stand if player's draw card is an 8
Banker shows a 4
Banker Hand must Draw if player's draw card is a
0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7
Banker Hand must Stand if player's draw card is a 0, 1,
8 or 9
Banker shows a 5
Banker Hand must Draw if player's draw card is a 4, 5,
6, or 7
Banker Hand must Stand if player's draw card is a 0,1,
2, 3, 8 or 9
Banker shows a 6
Banker Hand must Draw if player's draw card is a 6 or 7
Banker Hand must Stand if player's draw card is a 0,1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 8 or 9
After the dealer has finished drawing,
the hands are added up and a winner is declared.
Winning bets on the player hand pay back 1 to 1, while
winning bets on the banker hand do the same, but with a
5% vig (commission). Winning tie bets pay back 9 to 1.
Related Baccarat
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