Baccarat is an exciting game. It has been dubbed “a game of mystery,” because each hand is full of intrigue. Although Baccarat is a simple game to learn and play, it boasts an atmosphere of suspense heightened by the fact that Baccarat tables are usually situated away from the usual disturbances of a casino.

The Objective of Baccarat

Baccarat is a “comparing card game,” which can end in one of the three possible ways: the player wins the game, the banker wins the game, or there is a tie between the two. When learning how to play Baccarat, you should remember that the word “banker” doesn’t refer to the house.

Baccarat tables are found at all American casinos.  You can even find online casinos that let you play the game virtually. But despite the easy access to Baccarat, this game remains a mystery for many gamblers.

How to Play Baccarat

The Baccarat table is just about the same size as a Vegas craps table. Expect to see around three casino dealers and up to twelve players at a table.

There are two principal bets only: participants in the game can choose to bet on either the player or the banker. Although there is a third option called the “standoff,” it is rarely ever used. Some casinos give the players a chance to deal the cards one by one, while others may have a dealer manning the table to do it for them. And if you are playing Baccarat with an online casino, chances are that there will be a virtual dealer to do the deed.

It is important to learn how to play the game the right way. Even though it is an easy game, you still need to educate yourself about its intricacies in order to thoroughly enjoy yourself.

Two hands are dealt at the start of the game. You bet on the one that you think will win, or you can also bet that on a tie. The payoff is even money, i.e. 1:1. The only difference between banker and player bets is that if your bet on the bank wins, you will have to pay a percentage of the winnings to the casino.

If you plan to skip a deal or two during a game of Baccarat, you can always pass the turn on to the next player.

How to Place Your Bets

Look at a Baccarat table and you will see a round betting area with sections for each seat numbers. This is the player betting area. Further away you will see the banker area, and closest to the center of the table is the tie betting area. The baccarat dealer will have chips and commission boxes situated in front of him. You will place your bet in one of the betting areas to commence the play.

Americans bet using the common disc-shaped chips, but European Baccarat uses high denomination rectangular chips. American casinos usually place their Baccarat tables in the high rollers area, and the game is often played with cold hard cash—usually lots and lots of $100 bills! High rollers often play over $10,000 per hand, which certainly contributes to aura around the game.

The Rules of Baccarat

Face cards and 10s have no value at all. Aces are worth 1, and numbered cards are counted at face value. However, Baccarat hands can only range in value from 1-9. So when the total values of a hand reaches double digits, the left digit is simply dropped: a hand adding up to 15 will be counted as 5, and so will a 25!

The game is played with a eight-deck or a six-deck shoe. The objective is to bet on the hand with the highest total value at the end of the game. Once you have placed the bet on the bank, player or standoff, the dealer will give two cards each to the player as well as to the banker. A third card may also be dealt in some advanced circumstances.

Baccarat is an interesting game that does take some dedication, but once you have mastered the game, you will appreciate the panache required to play.