Baccarat is one of the more well-known casino card games. Often hidden away in high-limit gaming areas and made famous in a James Bond film, baccarat offers some of the easiest options to play within its lower house edges and can prove very lucrative when played correctly.
Players bet on either the player hand, banker hand, or tie. Cards are dealt two at a time face up and visible to all at the table; those coming closest to nine win with Aces counting as one and higher-value cards being worth nothing; winners receive 95% of their stake back as winnings while an optional Super Six bet pays out 12x the initial bet amount while Pair Bets provide additional side bet opportunities that pay out when either first two cards dealt are either player or banker pairs.
A third option is the tie bet, which pays out eight-to-one if both player and banker hands tie exactly. Banker and player wagers each have an approximate house edge of around 1.2 percent each; most serious players usually stick with these options; the tie bet has an overwhelming house edge of 14 percent and should be avoided.
Simply put, to play baccarat is to place a bet on either the player or banker hand and let the dealer do his or her thing. There are various variations of baccarat available; most casinos use Punto Banco rules – a simpler version which originated in France in the 19th century and was particularly beloved among royalties and noblemen.
American audiences have become more fond of playing baccarat thanks to James Bond movies featuring scenes showcasing this elegant card game. However, other factors also explain its popularity; among these being its ease of learning and quick game times that allow large groups of people to participate.
Once all players have placed bets, a croupier will distribute one card per box and reveal two for either player or banker hands – the one with the highest ranking hand wins that round and collects his or her winnings.
Experienced players can reduce the house edge through pattern playing. This method uses past wins and losses to predict future ones – similar to Martingale system used for roulette but adjusted slightly. Players should always practice good money management by setting limits on how much they can bet per session as well as following recommended betting sequence and taking frequent breaks from their game.