How to Play Baccarat
If you want to stay classy, play Baccarat. This is an elegant, sophisticated game. It’s James Bond’s favourite (see: Dr. No, Thunderball and For Your Eyes Only). Don’t worry, it’s not hard to pick up. There are six decks, two players, and you’re going head-to-head with the Banker. And who doesn’t love beating a money-grubbing banker? Let’s take a closer look at the strategy behind Baccarat.
How to Play Baccarat
Baccarat is a very straightforward game. You can bet on the Player, the Banker, or a Tie. Two cards are dealt to the Player and the Banker, and the one with a higher value wins. Aces count as one. Cards between 2 and 9 are face value, and the remaining cards are equivalent to zero. The two cards in hand will be added up for the total value, but if the value is in double digits, 10 will be subtracted from the total value. For example, if there are two Sixes, the value ends up being 2. The Player goes first and if the hand’s total value is between 0 and 5, then another card can be drawn. If the Banker’s hand total is 7, 8 or 9, then a new card is not drawn, but if the total is 0, 1 or 2, then a new card is drawn. If the Banker is between 3 and 6, then it depends on what the Player is holding, and you can refer to the Baccarat chart in game guide.
Betting In Baccarat
When you’re betting in Baccarat, you’re looking to choose who will end up with the highest hand total. The highest total is 9. Face cards and 10s are worth zero, and any score above 9 will have 10 subtracted from it (so 11 is actually 1, 13 is actually 3, etc). Of course, you can pick Tie if you think there will be a tie between the Player and Banker.
If you bet the Player and win, you get an even money payout ($10 pays $10). If you bet the banker and win, you get an even money payout minus the 5% commission. So a $10 pays $9.50. Ties pay 9 to 1.
Basic Baccarat Strategy
- Learn when the Banker takes a hit. For the most part, Baccarat is pretty straightforward, but you’ll want to understand when the Banker takes and doesn’t take another card. That is one of the intricacies of the game.
- Keep track of your wins. Use a scorecard to keep track of who wins. You’ll want to examine the trends and develop an alternate betting pattern. The odds of winning are virtually 50-50, so you’ll want to keep track of the trends and vary your bet amounts.
- When in doubt, bet on the Banker. When you’re not sure which way to go, side with the Banker and the house. There’s a very slight edge for the Banker’s hand over the Player’s hand, so that can work in your favour.
- Go with your instincts. Baccarat is a game where you’ll have to trust your instincts. You can’t read the hand, so go with your gut, let loose and have some fun. This not the game you should over-think.
