Baccarat is one of the easiest ways to enter the casino world. It is the perfect game for beginners who have zero knowledge about card games or to be honest any games. To put it simply, baccarat is a guessing game that requires minimal skills. Whilst the game is straightforward, it still requires a present mind, if only to just place bets. Online casino guides for beginners will teach you step by step how to play baccarat, along with the added bonus of tips which will make you a pro in no time.
Living in the modern world has made gambling more fun and creative. You can sit at home in pajamas and play live through an internet device or head to your nearest casino looking like James Bond. We will discuss both gameplays and you can choose which is more suitable for you to start your baccarat career.
How to play Baccarat 101
Baccarat is a table game that involves just the dealer and you. Like every other casino game, your aim is to win your money back via betting. This leads us to the minimum betting limit allowed by different casinos. Some casinos have private baccarat tables with higher betting limits, albeit it’s best if you start with the ones available on the open casino floor.
At the table
Once you’re at the table, take a moment to understand the imprints on the felt surface. A baccarat table has 7 to 14 places depending on which table it is. Each player will normally have 3 spots in front of him on which they can bet upon. As a player, your only job is to bet on the outcomes of the round. In a baccarat game, there are only 3 outcomes: Banker win, Player win or tie.
A banker and player are names given to hands, participants can bet on. Betting places are marked with banker, player, and tie, upon the table where you can place your chips. After the bets are placed, two cards are dealt to each hand. The goal of the game is to be closer to the number 9. Here is what each card values at:
| 2-9 | Face value |
| 10, Jack, Queen, King | 0 |
| Ace | 1 |
For instance, if the player hand totals to an 8 and the banker’s hand is 7, then those placing bets on the player hand win. A tie will result in a situation where both the banker and player hand equals to the same total.
Advanced rules: The tiny bump in baccarat rules
Okay so, baccarat sounds awfully simple, right? I mean your two-year-old toddler could win at this game. However there is a little bump when it comes to more advanced rules of baccarat. If you notice the total of some cards can be more than 9, for example, 8 and 8. In this case, a total of 16 will demand a subtraction of 10 to be considered playable. Consequently, the final score will be 6.
Furthermore, in some cases, a draw of a third card will be essential. If either the banker or player hand gets an 8 or 9, it will be considered a natural win. Although if the cards total to a different number, some substantial set of rules come into play. Here is a table to make these seemingly complex set of rules, look easier:
Rules for Player hands:
| If the first two cards total | Action |
| 1,2,3,4,5,0 | The player draws a card |
| 6,7 | Player stands |
| 8,9 | Player and Banker must stand |
Rules for Banker’s hands:
| If Banker’s first two cards total | Draw when Player’s third card is: | Do not draw when Player’s third card is |
| 3 | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10 | 8 |
| 4 | 2,3,4,5,6,7 | 1,8,9,10 |
| 5 | 4,5,6,7 | 1,2,3,8,9,10 |
| 6 | 6,7 | 1,2,3,4,5,8,9,10 |
| 7 | Stands | Stands |
| 8 | Natural stands | Natural stands |
| 9 | Natural stands | Natural stands |
Baccarat strategies: Tips on how to become a baccarat pro
That’s it, folks, now you know how to play baccarat via online casino guides for beginners. Well, now is the time to bestow upon you some of the tips several players use to increase their chances of winning. Many players choose their betting options carefully. There is a catch when it comes to betting on the 3 available options. When you win through the player hand your money doubles unconditionally. Whereas, if you win a banker’s hand, you take 95% of the winnings with a 5% commission for the casino. Some players suggest that the banker’s hand is more likely to win than the player hand while others dismiss this with the statement that it is a 50-50 chance.
While it may be true that one is likely to win more times, many have debated on sticking to a winning streak of either hand. If you’re lucky enough with your guesses you can win an extravagant amount of money with this simple game.
How to play baccarat live
Playing baccarat live is pretty much the same, with everything being controlled virtually instead. Through a live stream, you can participate in a table with several other players. After a specified betting time, the dealer deals the cards and reveals them to you. Everything is crystal clear with no hint of confusion.
Now that you know the rules to baccarat, you can go try your luck on any medium of baccarat you prefer. Good luck!
