Whether in sticky-floor California card rooms or the tuxedo-laden casinos of Monaco, baccarat has long been a game of prestige and luxury. But despite its glamorous reputation, it’s actually one of the easiest casino games to play. Baccarat requires little skill and, unlike blackjack or other casino games where players can influence the outcome of a hand by placing side-bets, it’s a pure game of chance. This makes it ideal for newcomers to the world of gambling and a great choice for those with limited budgets.
In baccarat, you place a bet on either the Player or Banker hand and then sit back while the dealer deals two cards to each. The object of the game is to get closer to nine than the other hand. If the player or banker hand gets a total of nine, they win and you get paid. If the hand is eight or higher, it’s a “natural” and no additional cards will be dealt. Likewise, if the hand is seven or lower, it’s a “bust” and you lose your bet.
There are a few different forms of baccarat, but most of them work the same way. In most cases, six or more standard decks are used and the game is played on a circular or oval table. The dealer sets an initial banker bet and then players go in counterclockwise order and announce if they want to “go bank” or add to the banker’s bet. If you go bank, you can place a bet on the player or a tie (which pays out 8-to-1).
After all of the bets are placed, the dealer will deal two cards to each box: the Player and Banker boxes. A card is dealt to the Player box first and then a card is dealt to the Banker box. The Player and Banker hands are then compared to determine which hand has the highest value. Picture or ten-count cards are worth zero points, cards numbered from 2-9 have their face value and the ace is worth one point. Points are added together and when the sum reaches double digits, only the second digit is used.
Once the two hands are dealt, if the Player or Banker hand has a total of 8 or 9 on the first two cards, it is a natural and all bets will pay out. If neither hand has a total of 8 or 9, a third card may be drawn depending on the initial results.
While some players may prefer to bet on the Player hand, it’s often best to bet on the Banker hand. This is because the Banker hand wins around 45.8% of the time, while the Player hand only wins 44.6% and ties occur 9.6% of the time. This gives the Banker hand a slight edge over the player hand and is why many people choose to play this casino game. In addition, betting on the Banker side will allow you to take advantage of some of the most lucrative casino bonuses and rewards programs.