Developed in 1400 by an Italian, baccarat is a card game that is played with two cards. Players choose to bet on either the banker or the player hand. The goal is to be closer to nine than the other hand.
The game is played on a large table in high-roller rooms. The dealer, known as Bill Zender, is a former Nevada Gaming Control Agent who has been playing for more than 40 years. He will explain the game to you.
There are five players on each side of the banker. The banker’s job is to try to beat the other hand by wagering more money. The banker knows how much the other players bet and how much they have to lose. If the player’s hand is closer to nine than the banker’s, the player wins.
A tie bet is an option on most Baccarat games. A tie bet is a wager that the two hands will have equal values. Typically, a tie bet pays 8 to 1, but it is possible to get better odds.
The house edge for a tie bet is slightly higher than the house edge for the banker’s bet. However, it is still relatively low at just over 14 percent.
Aside from the tie bet, there are several other options available to the player. One of the most popular is a “natural” hand. A natural is a hand that adds up to 9 without using any face cards.