Baccarat is the classic in every casino! Especially among passionate high rollers, Baccarat is probably the most popular card game. A long gaming history provides the appropriate atmosphere full of glitz and glamour, which is supported by the possibility of grandiose winnings. Really high stakes are popular with experienced players. Newcomers, on the other hand, should choose tables with small stakes.
The first glance at the game may be confusing, but actually the structure is very simple. Baccarat is basically about the role you take as a player and how much courage you have to take risks. Before we explain everything in detail, as always the question of where you can best play the game online.
How are the card values calculated in Baccarat?
In terms of card values and adding up the cards, Baccarat is different from other card games. The ace counts simply, the numbers 2-9 each the number printed on it. The jack, queen, king and ten card each have a value of 0!
We remember: the aim of baccarat is to get as close as possible to the number 9. Therefore, it makes no sense to carry a card with a higher value in the deck.
Since two cards are always dealt by the dealer, the visible values are added together. If the sum is higher than 9, the tens digit is subtracted. We will show what this means in a small example:
If you receive the numbers 5 and 6, the sum would be 11. In this case, the tens digit is subtracted, so only the value 1 remains. Another example: If you receive cards with the numbers 6 and 7, the total is 13. After subtracting the tens digit, you are left with the numerical value 3.
In what proportion are the bets paid out?
The payout options for the three betting options winner, loser and draw are as follows:
- successful bets on the player are paid out at a ratio of 1:1
- successful bets on the banker are also paid out at a 1:1 ratio, but 5% of the winnings go to the house as a commission
- in the event of a draw, most casinos pay out at a ratio of 8:1, sometimes even 9:1
Based on the odds, it can be seen that the chance of a draw is quite unlikely. In principle, therefore, it is not worth betting on such an option.
What do James Bond and Baccarat have to do with each other?
In keeping with the elegant and, due to its long history, partly elitist character of Baccarat, there is a scene in the James Bond film “Dr. No” from 1962 in which Bond plays “Baccara chemin de fer”, which is nothing other than today’s Baccarat.
“Chemin de fer” is French and means something like railway. This refers to the passing around of the card carriage, which changes players in each round.
James Bond of course wins in this card game without batting an eyelid and, despite the highest stakes, presents himself in his usual casual and unagitated manner. Just like a real, successful high roller.
Useful tips for Baccarat beginners
The chance that the banker’s hand will win is always a little higher. The banker sees how the player acts and therefore only has to react. According to statistics, the house advantage is 1.24%.
If you win when betting on the banker’s hand, you have to pay a 5% commission. This reduces the house advantage to 1.06%.
You should never bet on a draw. Even if the odds are 8:1 or even 9:1, the probability of this bet succeeding is far too small.
Gambling systems such as Martingale and Paroli can be used in Baccarat. How these work and what effect they have can be read here.
Basically, you should first participate in Baccarat as a silent observer. As soon as you have understood the system, small bets make sense for the beginning. In the future, too, you should avoid very large bets so as not to lose all your money too quickly.