Baccarat is one of the most classic casino games and a favorite amongst high-rollers. It was once kept in a dark and mysterious corner of the gaming world, played in exclusive VIP pits for the elite millionaires.
It’s important to understand the rules of baccarat before you begin playing. The game is played with a dealer and from seven to 14 players seated around the table. There are three basic bets: Banker, Player and Tie. A bet on ‘Banker’ predicts that the banker hand will have a value closer to 9. A bet on ‘Player’ predicts that the player hand will have a value closer to 9. The Tie bet is a bet that neither the Banker nor the Player hand will have a value close to 9 and pays out at 8-to-1. Score sheets are available at live baccarat tables to help you keep track of your bets.
When the Banker or Player hands reach a total of 8, the game ends and the bets are paid out. If either the Banker or Player hand has a total of nine on the first two cards, it is a ‘natural win’ and no further cards are drawn. If the first two cards do not produce a natural, further cards are drawn to decide a winner.
The best baccarat strategy is to stick with your budget. Even if you are having a good run, don’t go over the amount that you are willing to lose and remember that casinos are designed to make money from you, not the other way around.