Baccarat or baccara is a card game played at casinos. It is a comparing card game played between two hands, the 'player' and the 'banker'. Each baccarat coup has three possible outcomes: 'player', 'banker', and 'tie'. There are three popular variants of the game: punto banco, baccarat chemin de fer, and baccarat banque. In punto banco, each player's moves are forced by the cards the player is dealt. And, when it comes to Casinos, serious games normally mean Baccarat. It is one of the oldest games played on the casino, and in some casinos it is considered a game reserved only for their VIP players. It is a high-rollers game that is very popular in Asian casinos. Baccarat is often regarded as an elegant and serious game, but thanks to online.

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Baccarat is one of the oldest casino games, dating back to the 14th century when it was brought from Italy to France. The name of the game comes from the Italian word “baccarat”, which, translated into English means “zero”. There is a pretty good explanation for the name, though.

In Baccarat, all tens, jacks, kings and queens have a zero value. The same applies to any hand that totals zero. For instance, a hand of seven and three makes zero and therefore baccarat.

The most trustworthy historical sources claim that Baccarat derives from the Italian word for zero, but there are some arguments about the origin of the game because the French word “Baccarat” also means zero. According to the most popular version for the origin of Baccarat, it was invented by Felix Falguiere, an avid gambler from Italy. Initially, Baccarat was played with Tarot cards.

King Louis XIV, known as one of the most powerful French rulers, banned all forms of gambling, but instead of decreasing the interest in such kind of games, the prohibition had the opposite effect. Baccarat became even more popular and the French version Chemin de Fer or Chemmy, for short, became widespread.

Although the first records for the game date back to the 1400s, it was not until the 19th century when Baccarat started gaining popularity in Europe. Before that, it was mainly popular among French royalty.

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As mentioned above, Baccarat became a commonly played game in Europe in the 19th century and there was a preferred variation in every country. Yet, the interest for the Chemin de Fer variation prevailed in Europe, but according to various sources, Punto Banco was the most frequently played variation in the UK. Actually, it was the English variation that became popular in the US as American Baccarat.

Apart from being popular among the French nobility, the game was also widespread among high rollers. It is a well-known fact that the most passionate players were keen on Baccarat and made huge single bets.

As time passed by, a lot of Baccarat versions emerged, and quite a few of them remained popular throughout the years. Some of the most commonly played Baccarat versions include Punto Banco, Baccarat Banquet, and Chemin de Fer.

All Baccarat variations basically have the same rules, but the way of dealing cards is the thing that sets them apart from one another.

Nowadays, the most popular variations in the US seem to be Punto Banco and Mini Baccarat where players are supposed to bet on one out of three possible outcomes. Mini Baccarat is a popular Baccarat variation for a reason.

The increasing popularity of baccarat led to the invention of Mini Baccarat where the low table limits and simplified rules attracted mass players. Today, one can indulge in a game of Baccarat even if they have an average bankroll size. The big table Baccarat versions usually have pretty high table limits, which makes them a preferred option of the high rollers, while Mini Baccarat tables have more reasonable limits.

As for the online Mini Baccarat games, they follow the American rules. The random number generator is responsible for the fairness of the game and an equal chance of winning by all participants. Some casinos also offer live dealer baccarat games where you interact with a croupier and keep a close eye on how the game action unfolds.

Nowadays, Baccarat can be found in every brick and mortar casino in every part of the globe. Chemin de Fer, the French variation of Baccarat, became popular in England, but this variation went through some rule changes and today it is known as European Baccarat.

Tommy Renzoni brought the game to the US and the variation he introduced was a combination of European Baccarat and the aforementioned Chemin de Fer. Despite the small changes in the rules, the game remained appealing to high rollers and players from high social classes.

Baccarat in Brick-And-Mortar Casinos

Baccarat is known as a game that attracts elite players and high rollers. It is among the games that have the lowest house edge of approximately 1%.

The French version of Baccarat, Chemin de Fer, also known as European Baccarat, was introduced in US casinos in the middle of the 20th century. At first, it had complicated rules and players were supposed to take turns and take the role of a banker. The game also required three dealers to be involved.

The game became mainly popular among wealthy players as the stakes were pretty high for mass players and they preferred the well-known blackjack and roulette variations instead.

Later, these issues were figured out and Baccarat became more affordable to mass players. The rules were also simplified and there was no need for three dealers to run the game. Players had to place an initial bet on the player, banker, or a “tie”. The stakes became lower and the dealer was in charge of the entire game action.

Baccarat Online

The online casino industry emerged in the 1990s and since then has been subject to rapid development. Gone are the days of the slow computers and troublesome dial-up networks. Things have greatly improved since the dawn of the online gambling sector.

Baccarat is now a widespread game and you are unlikely to come across a reputable online casino that does not have at least one Baccarat variation in its portfolio.

Fast connection speed, as well as the latest technology, has enabled players to enjoy sharp graphics and user-friendly interface regardless of the device they use, be it a computer or a smartphone.

In point of fact, playing baccarat online is typically more lucrative as the stakes are usually lower.

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If you have always wanted to know how to play Baccarat and get better chances to win, this is the article you need to read.

Not only you are going to learn all the basics of one of the most interesting games you can find at online Casinos, but you will also understand how to play the best way to get the highest chances to win your bets even before the dealer starts dealing the cards.

Baccarat is one of the simplest Casino games you can play.

What's the best way to learn a (simple) game like Baccarat and increase your win-rate?

You don’t need to learn super complicated winning strategies before you come close to the Baccarat tables. With the help of

this guide and my actionable tips, you will be able to start.

And if you decide to play for real money, make sure to read this article until the very end - because I have a surprise for you that is going to make your next game of online Baccarat a little better.

In this article

Baccarat Rules: How Do You Play Baccarat?

You don’t need to be James Bond to sit at the Baccarat table before the cards are dealt.

In fact, it’s so easy to learn how to play the game of Baccarat that I could bet you will advance from a beginner to a real pro by the end of this article.

Wanna bet?

Think about your answer because - betting is pretty much the only thing you can do in the game of Baccarat.

That’s right:

You sit down, count how many chips you want to invest in the game, and decide where to place them.

The goal of the game is to bet on the winning side. The three bets in Baccarat are the Banker’s bet, the Player’s Bet, and the Tie bet.

In a regular game of Baccarat, the dealer uses six to eight decks of cards. The game begins with two hands being dealt on the table:

• The Banker’s Hand
• The Player’s Hand

You are not limited to playing the Player’s hand and you don’t always win when the Player wins.

Since I know this might complicate things a little, I suggest you look at the two hands in Baccarat as:

• The Banker’s Hand (or) Hand A
• The Player’s Hand (or) Hand B

Once the dealer places two cards on each part of the table, it’s time to calculate the points and determine the value of each hand.

Note that the Tens and the face cards are all counted as zero points. The other cards are worth their face value and, not to create any misunderstandings, let me clarify that the Ace is counted as one point.

Also, if the value of your hand is a two-digit number, only the second-digit is counted.

Let me give you an example*.

• The Banker receives
• The Player receives

In this hypothetical hand of Baccarat, the victory goes to the Banker because 0+7= 7 points, while the Player’s hand is of only 2 points (9+3 = 12 points, but since we only use the second-digit, it becomes of just two points)

*: this is a simplified example. As you are going to discover, things are a little more complicated. But not t-h-a-t much.

Natural Winners in Baccarat

No dear, I am not talking about you here. I am about to let you in on a very specific Baccarat rule that you need to keep in mind every time you bet on the Banker or the Player.

In case the point total of the first two cards is equal to 8 or 9, the Player who hits this score (which is referred to as a natural win) is the one who wins the hand.

When this happens, no more cards are dealt and the bets that were placed at the beginning of the action can be cashed out.

When Do You Need One More Card?

If no one hits a natural win, chances are you might need to see one more card on the table. That’s because the Player (who’s the first one to play) stands on a total of 6 or 7 but needs one more card on a 0-5 score.

And, how about the Banker?

Here’s where everything gets a little more complicated and you better continue reading if you are trying to find out how to play Baccarat online.

If the Player does not need to draw the third card, the Banker stays on a total of 6 or 7 and draws a card on a total of 0-5.

Otherwise:

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• If the Player draws a 9, 10, face-card, or Ace as a third card, the Banker draws on a 0-3 score and stays on a 4-7 score
• If the Player draws an 8 as a third card, the Banker draws on a 0-2 score and stays on a 3-7 score
• If the Player draws a 6 or 7 as a third card, the Banker draws on a 0-6 score and stays on a total of 7
• If the Player draws a 4 or 5 as a third card, the Banker draws on a 0-5 score and stays on a total of 6 or 7
• If the Player draws a 2 or 3 as a third card, the Banker draws on a 0-4 score and stays on a total of 5, 6, or 7.

Once all the cards are dealt, you only need to count the points to determine the winner. The one who gets closest to nine points wins the hand.

The Tie Bet in Baccarat

In the game of Baccarat, - sometimes no one wins.

If the Player and the Banker have the same points, the game results in a Tie. In this case, the bets to the Banker and the bets to the Player are returned (no one wins, and no one loses) and only the bets on the Tie are paid.

The payout of Tie bets varies from 8:1 to 9:1.

The Best Bets in Baccarat

Now that you know how to play Baccarat, let's focus on the how to get more chances to win part.

Whether you are a high roller or not, the basic Baccarat strategy doesn’t change:

You should always bet on the Banker.

Here’s why:

Although most Casinos apply a commission to this bet (~5 percent), this is the best bet in the game.

The secret is in the house edge.

• The house edge of the Banker’s bet is 1.06 percent
• The house edge of the Player’s bet is 1.24 percent
• The house edge of the Tie bet is…it doesn’t matter

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You have so few chances to hit the Tie bet that only a crazy, degenerate gambler would pick this third option.

That’s all there is to it - really!

Sit at the table, put your money on the Banker, and wait until it’s the right time to cash out the money you have won. And don’t forget to apply all the basic bankroll management tips every noob should know!

Playing Online: The Best Baccarat Sites

IMHO, the best Baccarat games on the internet are those at King Billy Casino. At least, that’s where I play and that’s where you’ll find me.

This award-winning gambling site features lots of different Baccarat games (you can play with live dealers, too!) and with limits that range from micro to high roller.

For a better overview of their games, have a look at this page.

And Now: The (BIG) Surprise

If you don’t play at King Billy yet, listen up:

They have a fabulous new players’ offer that can help you give your bankroll the boost you need to play lots and lots of online Baccarat games.

If you sign up for a free account via this page, you receive up to €300 to play Baccarat on your first deposit! Keep in mind this is a 150 percent deposit bonus - so there’s a lot of value for you.

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So, get the free spins, use them to build your bankroll, and then top everything up with the deposit bonus to have a lot of free money for your Baccarat games!

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