Baccarat has always been considered a game of aristocrats and high society. During long winter evenings, noblemen could play this game of chance for hours. But times go by, and today it is available to absolutely all players to play baccarat for free. It is difficult to imagine a casino or online casino where there would be no baccarat table.
Baccarat - how to win?
Baccarat is a truly exciting game in which for the most part everything is decided by chance, or rather, your bet. Today no one has "solved" the game, so you will not find any win-win strategies. But there are still chances to minimize the casino's profit. Let's take a look at some simple tips when playing baccarat.
If baccarat is played with one deck, always bet on the banker. In this case, the house edge is only 1.01%.
Avoid betting on a draw. Don't pay attention to attractive odds. The house edge when betting on a draw is 15%.
Learn to play without looking at the scoreboard. Each table has a board with the hands played. It does not offer any practical advantage, but it attracts those who place bets based on their logic of previously played games.
Also, keep a close eye on your bankroll. Set limits on winnings and losses. Of course, you can use Martingale and Labouchere in baccarat, but before that, carefully study how these strategies work.
Types of baccarat
As we mentioned above, baccarat has several varieties, but the basic rules, as in the case of blackjack, are the same. In general, the game does not require side bets, since in itself it is interesting and in demand all over the world. Therefore, if you discover a new type of baccarat for yourself, it will take only a few minutes to figure out its rules. Below we will tell you about the most popular baccarat variations.
European baccarat
European baccarat is a classic version of the game that is spread all over the world. The size of the bet is determined by the casino, just like the number of players at the table. The dealer deals the cards, and the bet on the banker is subject to a 5% commission if the player at the table wins this bet. Otherwise, the rules are identical to the ones described above. It should be noted that in European baccarat, the players themselves decide whether to take the third card or not. But at the same time, the buy-in rule is strictly regulated. However, today more and more casinos are abandoning this option.
French baccarat
French baccarat or "piece of iron" is mainly common in French casinos, but in gambling houses of other countries, it is extremely rare. The basic rules are preserved, the only interesting difference is that the casino employees do not take any part in it. For several players, a table and a certain number of decks are allocated. Players take turns becoming bankers and playing against each other. The casino only makes sure that the game runs smoothly. At the same time, the financial side of the gambling house does not suffer either. A commission is charged for each distribution, the amount of which is set at the discretion of the casino.
Mini baccarat
This variety of baccarat is popular in the United States. All the rules of the classic version are preserved. An exception is the restriction of seats at the table - a small table is allocated for mini-baccarat, at which no more than seven people can be accommodated. Players do not touch the process of dealing cards - this is done by the dealer, who is the banker.
Punto banco
Another popular baccarat variety is Punto Banco. It is played with 6 or 8 decks on tables with special markings. All the rules of the original game are preserved. The player can make three bets as in classic baccarat: the player (Punto), the banker (Banco), or bet on a draw (Egalite). The croupier takes on the role of the banker.
The cards are dealt face down one by one. After the showdown, based on the number of points, the player may be given the right to take a third card. The winner is the one who scored 9 or the most approximate amount of points to this figure. The commission on a won Banco bet is 5%.
Some American casinos significantly increase the interest in the game with one simple detail - bets at the baccarat table can be made with real money, and not with chips, as in European gambling establishments. Of course, floors of rubber-banded cash are more of an incentive for the player to try this game.
