Baccarat is an extremely popular casino game played by James Bond from the famous “Secret Agent 007” franchise. Baccarat is James Bond’s favourite card game, possibly because it necessitates a certain level of bravery. You must get as close to 9 as possible in Baccarat, but you can also wager on whether your or the banker’s card will be closer to a total of 9.
Baccarat is a fun game that is unlike any other casino table game because of its unique rules. Below you will find information on the rules of Baccarat as well as where you can play Baccarat online in Kenya.
History of Baccarat
Baccarat was founded in the 15th century. It is thought to have been invented in Italy by Felix Falguierein, an Italian player. Baccarat gets its name from the Italian word baccara, which means “zero.” It’s thought that this name came from the fact that all of the face cards and tens have a value of zero. Following that, the game gained popularity in France, particularly among the nobility, under the name Chemin de Fer.
Soon after, the game baccarat made its way to America under the name Punto Banco. Depending on the needs of the players, the game went through various rule changes each time it was introduced in a new territory. This is why, nowadays, all games have multiple variants to choose from, and it is up to the player to decide which one best suits him.
How to Play Baccarat
In this game like playing Blackjack, the player plays against the dealer, so if you are familiar with BlackJack you will immediately see the similarities between the two games.
Baccarat is a card game played with eight decks of cards, each with 52 cards (no jokers). You don’t have to have a winning hand in Baccarat; simply place a bet on the winning hand. However, the wager is made before the cards are revealed. This is what makes Baccarat such a thrilling and risky game.
Before the cards are dealt, the player makes a wager. Bets on the player’s cards, the banker’s cards, or the draw are all options. The player must choose one, two, or all three options to bet on.
The banker and the player each receive two cards after the bet has been placed. There are ten possible outcomes because the sum of your cards can always be between 0 and 9. The goal of Baccarat is to reach a total sum of nine, which is the highest possible score. The winner is the one with the closest result to 9 after the sum of the cards is calculated.
In most cases, the game ends after the two cards are dealt, and one player is declared the winner. There is, however, one exception. If the sum of the player’s cards after looking at them is between 0 and 5, the player must draw a third card. This occurs when the banker has a sum of less than eight or nine. If the banker’s total is eight or nine, he or she wins and the game is over.
Card Values in Baccarat
- Ace – 1 point
- Queen – 0 points
- Jack- 0 points
- King – 0 points
- Ten – 0 points
- Nine – 9 points
- Eight – 8 points
- Seven- 7 points
- Six – 6 points
- Five – 5 points
- Four – 4 points
- Three- 3 points
- Two- 2 points
The cards from 2 to 9 have their face value in Baccarat, whereas the picture cards and 10s have no value. The ace is worth one. As previously stated, the total number of cards can only be between 0 and 9. If the sum is two digits, ten is subtracted from the total. As a result, only the right-hand digit is taken into account.
EXAMPLE – You get the king (0) and the eight (8). 0 + 8 = 8. The sum of your hand is 8.
EXAMPLE – You were given a five (5) and a seven (7). 5 + 7 = 12. The sum of your hand is 2.
Bets in Baccarat
The player can place three different types of bets in Baccarat. Every bet is different; some have a commission paid to the casino, while others have a lower house edge. The house edge is the difference between the true chance of winning a hand and the casino’s return. The casino uses this margin to ensure that it always makes a profit. The purpose of this margin is to ensure that the casino always makes a profit.
The player in Baccarat bets blindly and the bet can be placed on his own hand (punto), banker’s hand (banco) or on a draw.
- Bet on banker’s hand – The player is betting that the sum of the banker’s cards will be closer to 9 than his own hand. This is referred to as the best bet because it has the lowest house edge. However, because the odds are in the player’s favor, the casino receives a commission every time the player wins a bet on the banker. The commissions differ from one casino to the next, so it’s best to double-check before you play.
- Bet on player’s hand – The Player bet, which is a wager that the player’s hand will be closer to a sum of 9 than the banker’s, is the second best option. In comparison to the banker bet, the house edge is lower. The good news is that if this bet wins, there will be no commission paid to the casino.
- Bet on a tie – The third option, the Tie bet, is one you should probably avoid. This bet is made by players who believe that the sums of both hands will be equal. The chances of this happening are slim, and the house edge is extremely high.
The payout for the three main types of bets is always the same regardless of the casino or the variant of the game. If you decide to bet on yourself (player) the winnings are paid out in the ratio of 1: 1. If you bet on the banker, the payout is also 1: 1, however, keep in mind that the casino keeps a commission of usually 5%. The tie bet is pretty rewarding because it pays off 8:1 or 9:1. However, as we mentioned, the chances to win this bet are rather small.
Baccarat Side Bets
Some baccarat variants, like any other game, allow you to place additional bets. Side bets add to the excitement of the game because their payouts are much higher. They differ depending on the casino and variant. Dragon 7, Panda 8, Dragon Bonus, Perfect Pair, and other side bets are the most well-known.
The most popular side bet is the Dragon Bonus, which is frequently offered in Mini-Baccarat. It pays when your hand is a natural winner or wins by a large margin, and it can be placed on either the player or banker bet. For a non-natural that wins by nine points in the Dragon Bonus, the payout is 30:1.
Panda 8 is a side bet that pays out if the “Player” hand wins with an eight-digit total. In addition, the hand should consist of three cards. This side bet pays out at a 25:1 ratio.
Dragon 7 is a bet that pays out if the banker’s hand wins with a total of 7, which is made up of three cards. In EZ Baccarat, these two side bets are available. The Dragon 7 side bet pays out at a 40:1 ratio.
Baccarat games powered by the software provider Playtech offer the Perfect Pair side bet. If at least one hand, either the player’s or the banker’s, has a pair in the first two cards, the Perfect Pairs bet wins. A pair refers to two cards that are identical in rank and suit. A Perfect pair side bet pays out 12:1, and if they are of the same suit, the payout is usually 25:1.
Baccarat Variants
The game got its name from the fact that it was first played in Italy. While the various variations that have appeared over the years have changed some of the rules, they have also changed names. The most well-known baccarat variations are listed below.
Mini Baccarat
Mini Baccarat is a popular variant among players who prefer to place smaller bets, as this is the difference between the classic and this version. All of the rules are the same, and the game is played with eight decks. The same bets can be placed. Mini-baccarat differs from regular baccarat in that it is a lower-stakes game with a faster pace and a smaller table. Try Mini Baccarat at Betpesa casino Kenya.
Chemin de Fer
This variation, which originated in France, is played with six decks, as opposed to the eight decks used in the classic version. The most noticeable difference is that players compete against one another rather than the banker. Furthermore, there is no single banker; instead, all players take turns acting as bankers.
European Baccarat
The main difference in this version of the game is that the player can choose whether or not to draw another card if the sum of his cards is 5. The banker’s hand is funded by the casino and is usually limited to €1000 per hand. This means that the players’ bets per hand cannot exceed €1000. As a result, if one player bets the maximum amount, no other players are allowed to bet on that hand.
Punto Banco
Punto Banco is the baccarat variant that most closely resembles the classic game. The only difference is that instead of eight decks, it is played with six. All other rules remain the same, such as the player’s ability to make three main bets, one banker, and the player’s inability to change a bet once it has been placed. Play Punto Banco at 22Bet Kenya.
Baccarat Strategy
Since baccarat is a game of chance, you have no say in whether or not you will be dealt a third card after the first two. This is calculated automatically using the sum of the first two cards. So while you no longer have any power, you can learn a strategy to assist you in deciding what to bet on next.
In Baccarat, you can see a summary of the previous few rounds, allowing you to track the game’s progress as well as individual rounds. This can assist you in determining whether to bet on your cards, the banker’s cards, or a draw. The strategy described here, however, does not guarantee profit. It’s just one way to try to capitalize on or analyze trends. It’s similar to tracking highs versus lows, red versus black in roulette if you play Baccarat this way.
If you’re unsure whether to bet on your hand or the banker’s hand, the general rule is to bet on the banker’s hand. Despite the fact that both hands have nearly equal chances of having a sum close to 9, the dealer and the casino always have an advantage.
