Every gambler knows that baccarat "is the favorite game of all aristocrats." Also, everyone knows the legendary James Bond, Agent 007, of Ian Fleming's novels, the hero of numerous cinematic adaptations, preferred this one.
Such an image may scare ordinary people. They think the game has too complex rules, and bets should be incredibly high. This state of affairs exists only in elite clubs that no ordinary person can enter.
In the online gambling business, the situation is just the opposite. Baccarat has become a public game with simplified rules and affordable ranges of bets.
Now it's trendy at land-based casinos in some countries.
More than 90% of Macau's gambling revenue in 2014 was
obtained at the Punto Banco tables.
Articles in this section of Casinoz will teach you how to play baccarat, introduce its main versions, and give practical advice on achieving success.
Features of Baccarat
Initially, baccarat was a club game. Opponents played against each other. They dealt cards one at a time or involved a banker. They also decided whether to take another card, counted the score, and determined the winners.
At the casino, customers play against the house. They're betting on the win of one of the conditional parties and then watching the gameplay.
Some online baccarat games simulate participation in gameplay, but the general principles do not change.
Basic Rules of Baccarat in 2024
You are welcome to read about club baccarat in articles on Casinoz. They explain the details of scoring, picking the winners, and other nuances.
Online casinos often offer so-called mini-baccarat.
The goal of playing baccarat is to guess whether the dealer or the banker wins and place a proper bet. You can also predict a draw.
When the bets are made, the dealer deals the cards to himself and the opponent. The deal is regulated. Find out how exactly the baccarat score is calculated in the above articles.
As soon as the cards are played, the winner is announced. Bets on the winning party are paid.
The odds may vary slightly in different games. Usually, they are the following:
- Banker's win – 1:1 (about 5% winning fee goes to the casino);
- Player's win – 1:1 (no additional fees);
- Tie – 7:1 or 8:1 (no fees).
If this is your first time playing baccarat in a casino, don't forget to check out the odds.
RTP in Baccarat
Experienced users always check the levels of return to the player and the house edge of the games. Baccarat bets offer the following house edges:
Numbers vary slightly depending on the odds and fees.
Bet | Payout | Fee | House Edge |
Banker | 1:1 | 5% | 1.06% |
Player | 1:1 | No | 1.24% |
Tie | 7:1 or 8:1 | No | 14% |
Varieties of Baccarat
A brief review of the features of the most popular types of baccarat:
- Classic baccarat is a traditional game where customers play against each other.
- Mini-baccarat is a common name for casino baccarat.
- Punto-Banco is a modern version, widespread in different countries.
- Chemin de fer is a French game with slight differences in the rules.
We discuss the nuances of the rules above.
Live Baccarat at Online Casinos
This game was one of the first in live casinos. Usually, they offer mini-baccarat with real croupiers.
In most cases, the game's general rules are nothing unique, so we will not pay it much attention. Don't forget to read the T&C directly at each table.
Bonuses in Baccarat
Some games at online casinos offer extended options and prize features. We will not list them all but only highlight the most common ones:
- A progressive jackpot is your chance to hit the pot;
- Bonus payouts are to get more wins in particular situations;
- Side bets allow to participate in the prize draws;
- The specific odds are unique payoff multipliers.
We discuss the details of all casino bonuses and prize options in the Casinoz reviews of baccarat from different producers.
Card Counting in Baccarat
Pro gamblers are trying to count cards in baccarat. Such a practice makes sense in land-based casinos. It allows getting a math advantage over the institution.
Gambling operators strongly discourage the use of this method. There are cases when casino owners refuse to pay hefty amounts to customers, just saying that the rules prohibit card counting.
Online baccarat powered by the random number generator makes it useless to count cards. In a live casino with real dealers, you can try to use this approach, but the features of this format often negate all the efforts.
Tips for Baccarat Players in 2024
Here are some practical recommendations for winning in baccarat at online casinos more often. We will focus on the mini-version, most often found in online gambling.
- Choose a game with the minimum fee on the bet on the banker.
- Give preference to the bet on the dealer.
- Never bet on the draw.
- Do not rely on card counting in games with a random number generator.
- Consider all the gameplay features if you count cards in a live casino.
- Carefully study the rules and features of the unique varieties.
- Don't get carried away with baccarat with jackpots and bonuses.
Read more tips on winning in baccarat in the thematic articles and strategies sections.
Baccarat Rules on Casinoz
In the articles about the baccarat rules, we cover the following:
- General information about the game;
- The goal of the game;
- The gameplay;
- The winners;
- The odds;
- The RTP;
- The basics of the strategy.
You are welcome to write a review of baccarat, share your opinions, and ask a question to the experts below the articles.
Conclusion
Baccarat is no longer a game of wealthy aristocrats. Now it's available to any land-based casino or online gambling site client. You can even play baccarat on your smartphone from anywhere in the world where you can connect to the internet.
Before you risk your money, learn the main versions' rules, identify the most profitable games, and master the basic strategy. Casinoz articles will help you with that.