Baccarat is one of the world’s most popular casino games. Although it is commonly associated with wealth and sophistication, it can be enjoyed by any player.
Players make a bet on either the Player hand, Banker hand, or Tie. Two cards are dealt to each hand and the one with a value closest to nine wins.
Game rules
Baccarat is a simple card game that requires little skill. Essentially, whoever’s cards are closest to nine wins. Players take turns betting on the player, banker, and tie. The banker puts down the initial stake and then players may bet on any amount until they reach the total for their half of the table and cover the banker’s stake.
Once all bets are placed, the dealer deals one card to the Player box and then another to the Banker box. If a hand totals 8 or 9 on the first two cards, it’s called a “natural” and the game ends with all bets paid. Otherwise, a third card is drawn and the winner is determined. A winning Banker hand pays out 1 to 1, while a win on the player hand pays out 8 to 1. A winning tie bet qualifies for a payout of 9 to 1. Face cards count as zero, while aces are worth one.
Payouts
Unlike other casino games, baccarat has a number of different payouts for players. A winning bet on Player or Banker pays 1:1 and 1:0.95 respectively, while a win on the Tie offers an excellent payout of 8:1. The game also has side bets that offer higher payout odds.
These side bets include the Either Pair and the Banker Pair bets, which are based on the probability that the first two cards of the banker and player will form a pair. A winning Either Pair bet pays 4 to 1, while a winning Banker Pair bet pays 5 to 1.
Another popular side bet is the Big and Small bet, which is a wager on the total value of four, five or six cards. This bet has a high house edge and requires a three-card game, but it can pay very well if the player or banker gets a two-card hand worth eight. However, the game’s commission rules should be taken into account when making these bets.
Side bets
Baccarat side bets are a great way to add variety to the game. They function independently of the main game and will pay regardless of the outcome of your primary bet. They can also help you win more money if you follow a betting system. However, you should be cautious of betting systems that encourage you to wager more when you win and less when you lose. This approach can actually jeopardize your winnings.
Several online live dealer baccarat games offer different side bets. Some of them include the Double 8, Dragon Bonus, and Matching Dragon side bets. The Double 8 side bet wins if the player or banker has an initial hand with a value of 8. Its payout is 15:1. The Dragon Bonus side bet, on the other hand, pays if the banker has three cards that each contain a 7. Its payout is 40 to 1.
Another popular Baccarat side bet is the Big and Small side bet, which allows you to bet on the total number of cards between the Banker and Player. This bet is available in some live baccarat games by Ezugi, Playtech, and Extreme.
Variations
There are several variations in baccarat, but the most popular is Punto Banco. This is the game that you’ll have seen in James Bond movies and it’s played in casinos around the world. Chemin de fer is another variation of the game and it’s also a popular option for players in Pennsylvania casinos.
In this version of the game, players wager against the banker in counterclockwise order. Each player announces whether they want to go bank and can add bets to cover the initial banker bet. Players can also make a Player bet and a Tie bet.
EZ baccarat is a variant that uses the same rules as traditional baccarat but does not charge a commission on winning Banker bets. It also offers side bets such as Dragon 7 and Panda 8. The house edge on these side bets is higher than in ordinary baccarat, but it’s not as high as the blackjack house edge.