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The Basics of Baccarat
Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games worldwide. It’s easy to play and offers plenty of James Bond-style gambling fun.
The game originated in France and Italy during the 14th and 15th centuries. In the 17th century it became popular among royalty and high-ranking citizens.
In the 19th century it was one of the most popular games in casinos in Europe. It was also an extremely popular form of gambling in London.
A croupier (dealer) deals eight 52-card packs from a shoe, which is a small box that releases the cards face down, one at a time. There are several different types of baccarat, including Punto Banco, Mini-Baccarat and Macau-style, but the basic rules remain the same.
Players place their bets at the betting area on either the Banker or Player hand. The dealer deals two cards to each side, first to the Player and then to the Banker. The bets are then paid off or lost, depending on the results of the first two cards.
If the total of the cards on each hand doesn’t equal 9, then both the Banker and Player hands are eliminated from the game. If the total on each hand is equal, then the third card is drawn and a final decision is made as to who wins.
There are some optional bets that can be placed in addition to the basic wager. These include a Super Six Bet, which pays off 12 times the original bet, and Pair Bets, which pay out 11x the initial bet if the first two cards are a pair of the same suit.
The game is played in a table with a large number of seats, six on each side of the dealer, and green felt covering the entire surface. The layout shows the area where a bet can be placed on the Banker or Player hand, with numbered areas marked from 1 to 12.
When all bets have been placed, the croupier calls ‘no more bets’ and the dealer deals another card for each hand. The cards are then shown to the players and they make their bets based on the number of points they believe are worth.
In some games, players can also choose to bet on an additional bet called the Tie bet. If both the Banker and Player hands have identical totals, then this bet is won 8 to 1.
Unlike many other card games in casinos, baccarat has a low house edge on both the Player and Banker bets. The house advantage varies by game, but it’s usually less than 1.2 percent.
Most serious baccarat players choose to stick with a player or banker bet. There are a few other betting options that add variety to the game, but the simplest strategy is to bet on the Player or Banker.
As the name suggests, baccarat was originally a game of chance and purely luck of the draw. The game was introduced in Europe around the 18th century, but it didn’t become popular in the United States until the late 19th century. It is the only game that combines a croupier with a dealer in a single seat, which makes it one of the most popular games in casinos. It’s easy to play and has a low house edge, making it a very attractive option for high rollers.