Baccarat is one of the world’s biggest casino games. Its popularity in Asia and now the United States has made it a game that casino managers and gamblers can’t seem to get enough of. In fact, the game now accounts for 18 percent of total casino wins worldwide.
In baccarat, you place your bets on the player or banker hands. The goal is to win by getting a hand that totals closer to nine than the other. The game has three possible outcomes: the player wins, the banker wins, or a tie. The winning hand is determined by the sum of the digits in the cards when all the pips (the dots on the cards that are clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades) are added up. The player and the banker hands are dealt two cards each, face up in front of all players at the table. The first digit of the sum is dropped, so for example a seven and six would be a total of 15, but the count is 15 minus 1 – 9.
There are from seven to 14 seats for players at a baccarat table, plus the dealer’s area. Each player places his or her bet on either the Player or Banker hand. Only the player and banker have cards, but other players can see their hand by looking over the shoulder of the dealer or the card table. Each card is worth its number; picture cards and tens are worth zero points, while jacks, queens and kings count as ones. The ace counts as one point.
The rules of baccarat are simple, but the strategy is somewhat complex. The Martingale system, where you double your bet after every loss and re-bet the amount of your original bet after a win, can help you minimize losses and maximize profits if you have a large enough bankroll and the discipline to stick with it.
Baccarat has a long history, and it’s been a favorite among the wealthy since it was invented in 1500s Rome. It also has deep roots in China, as it may have spun off from pai gow, an ancient Chinese tile game.
In the 19th century, baccarat became popular in France, where it was played by nobility in private gaming rooms. The game is believed to have been invented by Felix Falguiere, who named it “baccarat” after the Italian word for zero, referring to its use of a deck of cards that only includes tens and nines. It was later refined into the faster and simpler version called punto banco and chemmy, both of which are still played today. Despite its complexity, the game is easy to learn, and it can be very profitable for those who play well. Baccarat’s growth has generated a number of side bets and variations on the game. Check out our articles on Mini Baccarat and Side bets for more information. You can play baccarat online or in land-based casinos.