Baccarat is one of the few table games in Las Vegas that evokes a sense of refinement, a game that brings to mind images of high-rollers clad in tuxedos and cocktail dresses placing bets as they watch a dealer distribute cards. But don’t let the baccarat mystique intimidate you, this classic card game is easy to learn and can be very rewarding if played correctly.
Players place bets on either the Player, Banker or Tie. Then a dealer passes two cards to the game spaces, the banker’s space and the player’s space. The hand that totals closest to 9 wins. The rules of baccarat include that all picture cards and the number 10 count as zero, Aces are worth 1, and all other cards are valued at their face value. If a card’s total crosses over 9 or enters into double digits, the second digit is used to determine the result of the hand.
Winning wagers for the Banker and the Player are paid even money, while winning bets on the tie pay 9-to-1. A win for the banker is more profitable than a winning Player bet, but a banker bet has a greater house advantage and casinos collect a 5% commission on banker wins. For that reason, it is not advisable to bet on ties even though they have irresistible odds.