Baccarat Strategy
Baccarat, or Punto Banco as it is sometimes called in the US, is a casino game that requires little technical skill to play. It is most often played for high stakes in the big money sections of European and Nevada casinos. It is a simple game where players wager on which hand they think will be closest to nine. The game is played with six or eight decks of cards dealt from a dealing shoe. Aces are worth one, 10s equal nine, and other cards are valued at their pip value.
In a round of baccarat, each player places their bet before the cards are dealt. After everyone has placed their bets, the dealer will deal two cards to the banker hand and the player hand. If either the banker or player hand totals 0 to 5, then a third card is drawn. If the total is 6 or 7, then the hands stand and no third card is drawn. Totals of 8 and 9 are known as ‘naturals’ and do not require a third card.
After the first round of play, the player and banker hands are compared and the winning hand is paid out. A winning player hand pays out 1 to 1. A winning banker hand pays out 5% more than the original bet, or 9 to 1, depending on the rules of the game. A winning tie bet qualifies for a payout of 8 to 1.
The game was formerly played with both the banker and player hand concealed; only the third card (if it is called for) and the result are revealed. However, a set of decision tables was developed that represents the best basic strategy for both the Player and the Banker with this limited information.
In addition to the decision table, a baccarat score sheet is also used at live games. This makes it easier for the players to keep track of their betting amounts. It is important for players to know the rules of baccarat, especially in regard to betting limits and payouts.
Baccarat has received significant publicity for its appearance in several James Bond films, including the 1954 television adaptation of Dr. No; the 1967 film version of Casino Royal; Thunderball; For Your Eyes Only; and GoldenEye. It is also featured in several novels by Ian Fleming, including On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Baccarat may look intimidating to the average gambler, but it is actually quite easy to play and offers one of the lowest house edges in the casino. For these reasons, it attracts high rollers. The baccarat table is always a popular attraction at the most prestigious gambling establishments. For more information on the game, visit our baccarat page. You can even find a baccarat guide for beginners. You will learn everything you need to know about this classic casino game. The guide will teach you how to place a bet, the difference between the player and banker bets, and the rules of baccarat.