Baccarat may conjure images of glamorous Las Vegas casinos and James Bond-esque gambling, but it’s actually one of the easiest games to learn and play. Simply place bets on either a player hand, banker hand or tie; two cards will then be dealt to each hand before drawing a third card to determine who wins; all numbers except zeroes count as zeros and all totals over nine will have 10 subtracted from their numerical values for easier calculations.
Originating in Italy during the 15th century and spread to France afterward via private gaming salons, baccarat made its first public debut at casinos during 1920. Since then it has continued its rise.
Today, baccarat has become a mainstay in European casinos and an attractive option for Asian gamblers alike. Though still considered high-end casino gaming, more people can now access this highly anticipated classic thanks to online baccarat platforms.
A baccarat table consists of eight 52-card packs shuffled together and dealt by a dealing shoe to a croupier who isn’t actively participating in the actual game. A large green felt covers the table, with six seats marked on either side; players place money or chips into one or more numbered areas on either Banker or Player as bets are placed – with additional side bets also offered as options.
As part of a game, cards from the dealer’s deck are dealt out until either banker or player has an effective hand, if two hands tie a third card may be drawn if necessary; banker hands win when their total exceeds nine, while player hands can prevail if their total comes closer than that of banker hands; should neither hand be the winner, any bets placed on a tie will be returned in their entirety.
There are also other side bets you can place when playing baccarat, depending on the establishment and platform where you’re playing. One such option is called Player Pair Bet which pays out at 11:1 odds and predicts that either player or banker will receive identical cards dealt to them in the deal; similar bets like Banker Pair also exist and pay out 5:1.
Important to keep in mind when playing baccarat is that the house always has an edge; while some players claim they make their living from it, most are just lucky and should treat baccarat more as entertainment rather than long-term financial investment. That being said, it can still be fun and exciting; simple yet elegant in presentation and easy for beginners to grasp!