How to play Baccarat
As mentioned above, Baccarat has two hands at play: one for the Banker and the other for the Player. Players have to bet on the hand closest to nine to win. When it comes to the payout, the results can differ depending on the hand you’ve chosen. For instance, if you’ve chosen the player hand and it has a winner result, then you’ll earn double your wager. On the other hand, you’ll earn 95% of your wager if you choose the Banker’s hand and it happens to win.
Many online casinos in Singapore offer Baccarat, allowing players to enjoy the game from their computers or mobile devices.
The game is quite simple, but there are some tricks to it that can make it a bit sticky at times. For instance, the hands may sometimes have results beyond nine. If that’s the case, the Player must add both hands together and drop the “one” or the “two” to get the proper value.
Let’s see an example: The current hand has nine and seven cards, which combined give a total count of 16. If that’s the case, one isn’t taken into account, which leaves the Player with a total of six.
Players are often required to make their bets before the hands are dealt. You can choose between the Player’s hand, the bank, or the “tie” if you think both hands will have the same result.
Gameplay
Typically, Baccarat is played with 6–8 decks of cards. Contrary to what happens in Blackjack, none of the players involved get cards for themselves. There are only two hands, and the players must choose their options before the game starts.
Now, there are a few things to take into account in Baccarat: All face cards and tens have a “zero” value. The rest of the cards maintain their value. The ace equals one point. As mentioned above, the first digit on the hand isn’t taken into account—only the second. Hence, if you have, let’s say, 17, then you would have only seven since the “one” isn’t really part of the game.
Let’s see another example:
In this round of Baccarat, you have the following hands:
- The Banker has ten spades and seven hearts.
- The Player has nine hearts and three clubs.
In this example, the victory directly goes to the Banker because the combined total of both cards is 17, which equals “7” and is only two digits away from 9. On the other hand, the player’s hand has a total of 12 (9+3), which means it only has “2” and is very far away from nine.
Of course, we’re simplifying things a bit. Baccarat is easy, but some rounds can get a bit more complex than what we explain here, That doesn’t mean that it stops being fun at some point.
When you need more cards
The explanation given above simplifies the game as much as possible. However, there are a few other concepts that you should know about, and one of the most important is “natural winners.”
As it happens in Blackjack, it’s possible to have “natural” winning hands in Baccarat. However, there’s a specific rule in the latter that applies. For instance, if the total of the first two cards handed equals 8 or 9, then the Player who achieves said score wins. Whenever this happens, all the bets are cashed out, and the next rounds begin (if the players decide to continue playing).
Natural wins are very common in Baccarat. However, that doesn’t mean that everyone can obtain them. In fact, you may have to add an extra card to the table because the Player is currently standing on 6 or 7, but they need an additional card due to a 0–5 score.
When it comes to the Banker, things get a bit more complex.
Sometimes, the Player may not need to draw an additional card. If that’s the case, the Banker stays on a score of six or seven and must draw a card on a score of zero to five.
If that doesn’t happen, then one of the following results will follow:
- The Player ends up drawing a 9, 10, a face card, or an ace as their third card. Then, the Banker draws on a 0–3 total and stays on a 4–7 total.
- The Player draws an eight as their extra card. Then, the Banker draws on a 0-2 total and stays on a 3-7 score.
- The Player draws a 6 or 7 as their third card. If that happens, the Banker draws on a 0–6 total and stays on a score of 7.
- The Player draws a 4 or 5 as their third card. If that happens, the Banker draws on a 0–5 total and stays on a score of 6 or 7.
- The Player draws a 2 or 3 as their third card. If that happens, the Banker draws on a 0–4 total and stays on a score of 5, 6, or 7.
All these ciphers may sound a bit odd at first, but after practicing for a while, you’ll see that the game isn’t really that complicated.
Ties
While the main goal of these casino games is to find out which hand “won” the round, it’s also common for it to have no winners. It’s not rare for the Player and the Banker to have the same hands, which would end up in a “tie.” Only the players who bet on the “tie” will be paid in this case. The rest of the players will receive their wagers back.
The payout for a tie varies from one casino to another. The typical ratio is 8:1 or 9:1.
Who should you bet on? The Banker or the Player?
Of course, the answer to this question depends on you. However, whenever you’re making your bets while playing Baccarat at an online casino, you should take into account the house edge.
The house edge refers to the percentage that the casino takes whenever you place your bet. This percentage can vary in all casinos, and it doesn’t apply to ties. Hence, that leaves us with two different rates for the Banker and the Player.
For instance, Let’s say that the percentages are 1.06 percent for Banker bets and 1.24 percent for Player bets in the casino where you’re currently playing. Thus, since the Banker’s bet has a smaller percentage margin, choosing it could be the wiser option.
The numbers may look like the example we’ve given above, but again, every casino is different and has a distinctive set of rules when it comes to the house edge or bets. Thus, we recommend you become deeply familiar with it before you start using real money to bet on that particular platform. This way, you’ll be able to know at all times how much you might be losing and how much the casino is actually taking. Either way, keeping track of all your bets is always recommended.
What else should you know?
Baccarat is a relatively “easy” game where you can pass the time without necessarily getting into complicated concepts. It is easy to follow, and even beginners can have a great time while playing it if they’re familiar with the basic rules.
However, if you want to play safely, there are a few other things you should keep in mind before betting:
- First, make sure you’ve chosen a reputable casino. It should have the proper permits and licenses to operate in your country and be regulated by a proper (and real) institution.
- If you’re not sure about your abilities, you can also try playing for free for a while. Most online casinos have free-to-play options that you can use at any time. While you won’t be earning money, you’ll become familiar with the rules and pace of the game, and eventually, you’ll become better at it.
- Find an online casino that offers good casino bonuses and prizes. Most of the time, these platforms have welcome bonuses or first-deposit prizes that allow you to get bonus money and play a few rounds without necessarily betting your funds at first.
Baccarat is one of the “standard” games in today’s casino industry. It is one of the most common options in real money online casinos, with automatized options where you play against AI or live games where you can play with other people within your area or in other countries.
Again, it’s highly recommended that you try out the game for free first before you start playing for real money. We advise you only to start betting once you feel comfortable with your abilities; this way, you can maximize your earnings and may decrease your chances of losing too frequently in the long run.
Conclusion
Baccarat, with its rich history and straightforward gameplay, remains an iconic card game in the world of gambling. Whether in a lavish casino or the digital realm, Baccarat promises an extraordinary blend of chance, skill, and excitement that transcends generations.
