Baccarat is an exciting and popular casino game. It has been played in many forms over the centuries, with its origins dating back to the early renaissance. Today, the game can be found in major money sections of European casinos. The game is usually played with six decks of cards.
The object of baccarat is to bet on the hand that has the highest numerical value after all cards are dealt. In order to win, the hand must have a value of eight or nine. If the first two cards that total eight or nine are “naturals” the hand is a winner.
When playing baccarat, the croupier or caller deals cards from a shoe. Eight 52-card packs are then shuffled by the croupier. Depending on the specific rules of the casino, the player will receive one or two Player Hand cards. These are then turned over to the Caller.
Typically, a 5% commission is charged on the Banker bet. This commission is used to offset the casino profit. However, if the bet wins, the house gets a 1.24% edge over the player. That means a 5% bet on the banker will pay out to a bettor who won 8 to 1.
During a round of baccarat, players are seated in the ‘banker’ or ‘player’ section of the game. Each player has their own betting area. A large baccarat table has twelve seats. The table is separated from the rest of the action by a green felt covering.
In the event that a player’s bet on the Banker loses, he or she must call the ‘non’, a word that is pronounced ‘no’. This is the only potentially profitable position. Once the bet has been called, the Caller turns over the cards to the player who made the largest wager.
Another option for a player is to bet on a tie. A tie is a wager that pays out in the form of a “hand” with a value of eight or nine. Although it sounds confusing, a tie bet can give a player a hefty payout. Most tie bets will pay out at 8 to 1, although some can offer a payout of 9 to 1.
Baccarat is also played using chips or placques. They are oblong in shape. Chips are placed on a special green felt that has numbers from 1 to 12. Having a chip on your hand doesn’t make you a winner, but it can give you some extra playing power.
Some versions of baccarat allow the player to take a third card. This is done in a similar manner to the chemin de fer. However, the decision to draw a third card is left up to the Banker. He or she will look at the two Banker cards, making a decision based on the available information.
A third card may be required depending on the standard house rules. When the banker has a 0-4 score, he or she can draw, while when the banker has a 5-6 or 7-6 score, he or she will choose to stand.