Baccarat is a classic casino game played in everything from sticky-floor California card rooms to the tuxedo-laden casinos of Monaco. The game looks serious and elegant, but is actually simple to play and has one of the lowest house edges in the entire casino. That is why baccarat has been so popular in Asia and has now made its way to American gambling floors.
The rules of baccarat vary slightly depending on whether you are playing Punto Banco, Chemin de Fer, or the more traditional nine-card stud version (known as Baccarat Royale), but the basic idea remains the same: Two cards are dealt to the Banker hand and two to the Player hand, and whichever is closest to nine wins. The cards are dealt from a dealing shoe and all values are determined by adding up the pips (the dots on a playing card that represent clubs, diamonds, spades, and hearts) and subtracting ten. Aces count as one, and all other cards equal their face value.
After the initial cards are dealt, a third is drawn for the Banker or Player hand. If the third card is a nine, this is known as a “natural” and is a win. If the first two cards produce a tie, further cards are drawn to determine the winner. A tie is a loss, so it is important to make sure you are betting on the right hand.
Baccarat also features a second wager, called a “Tie” bet, which pays off eight to one if either the Banker or Player hand wins. While this bet is a little riskier than betting on the Banker or Player, it has the potential to pay off big, especially for high rollers.
In order to place a bet, you must first decide which hand you want to win – Banker or Player. Then you must choose how much you want to wager on that outcome. Once you have placed your bet, the dealer will do the rest, dealing two cards to each hand and then determining which one is closer to nine. If you bet on the Banker hand and win, you will receive a payout of 1:1. There is a 5% commission on winning bets on the Banker’s hand, and the house has a 1.24% edge on Banker bets.
Baccarat is one of the most well-known casino games in the world thanks to its appearance in numerous James Bond films, including Dr. No; Thunderball; On Her Majesty’s Secret Service; For Your Eyes Only; and GoldenEye. In addition, the game is featured in several television and radio shows, including The Amazing Race. The game has even spawned a number of poker variants, including baccarat piquet. The game is easy to learn and is a great option for new players looking to try their luck at the casino without risking too much money. The rules are straightforward and the payouts are generous. If you’re interested in giving baccarat a try, sign up today for a WynnBET account and start playing online baccarat in Michigan and New Jersey!