The Game of Baccarat

Baccarat is a popular, simple and entertaining card game traditionally played in elegant, dressed-up surroundings, on a simply laid out casino table.  Modern technology, of course, also provides an online version of the game.  Nowadays, you may even download a version you can play on your personal computer.  Many online casinos offer players the option of virtually immersing in the real game stakes or playing just for fun, at no cost.

The objective of Baccarat is to place one or more bets on the possibility that a player's hand will either win, lose or tie the croupier's (banker) hand. That is, you may bet on the player’s hand, on the banker’s hand, or on a tie of both hands. It is as simple as that.

While the elegant atmosphere around the table may attract the well-dressed high roller, Baccarat is a simple game of chance that involves no degree of skill on the part of the player or dealer. 

Players may sit in any of the 14 open seats at the table, as seating position does not affect the game in any way.  Each seat corresponds to a number on the layout, from 1 through 15.  In most casinos, the number 13 is deliberately excluded to please the superstitious.

Three dealers service each table.  The dealer standing in the middle is known as the croupier, or the caller, dealer or banker.  The croupier makes the calls on each hand as they are dealt, and directs the players on the rules and procedures of the game.  The other two dealers are responsible for handling the payoffs.

The popularity of Baccarat among international high rollers is consistent with its image as the most glamorous

Casino game.  However, despite its sophisticated image, it is one of the easiest casino games to play.  The player makes only one basic decision during each hand.  The croupier handles the rest, playing out the hands according to strict, well-established house rules.

You begin each hand by placing your chips on one or more of the three betting choices displayed on the Baccarat table layout: player, banker or tie.  Two cards are then dealt face up to the player and the banker.  The hands are then evaluated to determine if either of them has a two-card total of eight or nine, which is called a natural.

To evaluate a hand, the total is first determined by adding the numerical value of the cards held.  In addition to the two naturals, eight and nine, cards from 2 to 7 do not change their numerical value.  The ace is always played as one, and the kings, queens, jacks and tens are worth zero.  Some casinos, however, may assign the latter a ten value.

If a hand total comes in double figures, the first digit of the sum is always ignored.  For example, a hand totaling 18 would count as eight.

The perfect or natural hand is one that totals nine in the first two cards.  Eight, which is also referred to as a natural, is the second-best hand.  The only hand that will beat a natural eight is a natural nine.  If there is a natural in a dealt hand, the game stops and the natural hand wins.  If both hands have a natural, the higher natural wins. Two equal naturals result in a tie.  If there is no natural, a third dealt card may be introduced into the game.