As soon as beginners encounter Baccarat, they wonder how to play Baccarat. And not in vain, considering that the rules of this game can really seem complicated and confusing at first glance. Below you will find answers to these questions, as well as a list of modern online casinos where you can play Baccarat online or with live dealers. Our experts have studied these gambling platforms to keep you calm and fully immerse yourself in the casino atmosphere.
Baccarat is blackjack’s main rival, gradually conquering the eGambling industry. And though it still has a lot to catch up so far, the gap is getting smaller. At Asian venues, baccarat is already ahead of blackjack. As well, it’s perfect for casinos, as one coup lasts less than a minute. It’s available both as a game on Canadian online casinos and at tables with real dealers and comes in several variations. Follow this guide to find out how to play baccarat like a skilled punter.
Beginning to explore baccarat? Here are some step-by-step instructions that explain how to start with minimal risks:
In most table games, the dealer represents the house, but that’s not how baccarat works. Instead, punters are free to bet on the dealer’s side.
With this quick guide, you’ll have no problem figuring out how to play mini-baccarat on the pro level. So, your objective is to guess who will collect a bigger card combination. The one who scores closer to nine wins. The gambler chooses between three outcomes:
Cards have different values. Cards from 10 to King bring zero points; cards from 2 to 9 bring from two to nine points respectively, and Ace brings you one point. The overall card value can’t be a two-digit number. If it is, 10 points are subtracted for every 10 extra points you get. Thus, a pair of six and eight only gives four points (6+8=14, 14-10=4).
How the gambler gets cards:
If the initial hand brings: | The gambler: |
From 0 to 5 | Always gets a card |
6, 7 | Never gets a card |
8, 9 | Wins |
How the dealer gets cards:
If the initial hand brings: | The dealer gets a third card if the gambler’s extra card is: | The dealer doesn’t get a 3rd card if the gambler’s extra card is: |
From 0 to 2 | Any card | |
3 | 1-2-… — 10 | 8 |
4 | from 2 to 7 | 0-1, 8-9 |
5 | from 4 to 7 | 0-3, 8-9 |
6 | 6,7 | 1-5, 8-9 |
7 | Cards aren’t dealt | |
8-9 | The game ends |
If the initial hand brings eight or nine (a natural win), then the winner’s announced immediately.
Overall, if you know how to play casino games, baccarat shouldn’t be much of a challenge for you.
Can you guarantee a win in baccarat? No. Can you be a pro baccarat player? Certainly! Just make sure to keep a few things in mind.
Baccarat’s most outstanding feature is that your victory may not depend on your score. Punters that know how to play baccarat online would advise placing stakes on the dealer. This newbie strategy is quite efficient.
A typical baccarat deck comprises from six to eight decks shuffled into one. You’ll never see the dealer drawing the cards before you.
Figure out how many points both sides got after drawing the initial hand. By this moment, there may already be a winner.
If the overall score of the initial hand is eight or nine, it’s called natural. So if you get it, you automatically beat the dealer.
If the score of your initial hand ranges from zero to five, you draw one more card. If it ranges from six to nine, you stand, that is, get no extra cards.
That’s where things get a little more complicated:
When playing live dealer baccarat, an online casino calculates everything for you. But nobody says you can’t do calculations on your own. Just memorize the card value (1 point for Ace, 2-9 for numbered cards, and 0 for every card from 10 to King). Then, if the score is more significant than 9, subtract 10 points.
Over its centuries-long history, baccarat has evolved into several versions. However, the differences between them aren’t huge, so if you already know how to play baccarat, each casino game below won’t be challenging to master.
This one’s almost similar to the original, except that the venue doesn’t charge extra for successful bets on the dealer. Punters can also choose from additional betting areas with new options:
There’s also one bet option called “Pairs,” which allows for betting on the probability of the initial hand being a pair. The payout is 11:1. Not the best option if you’re just learning how to play baccarat. For beginners, a classic variant is the ultimate choice.
This one combines the variations above with the Gold 7 and Jade 8 options.
As the name implies, you won’t have to deal with extra payments for placing stakes on the dealer unless the latter wins by scoring six. So it’s the best option if you’re wondering how to play baccarat with max profits.
Even though online baccarat is mostly about luck, there are a few ways to tip the scales in your favour. So here’s how to play baccarat.
Avoid betting on a tie. There’s nothing wrong with ties, but betting on a position with a 14% casino win rate is not how to win in baccarat.
Control your bankroll. Be sure to know exactly when to cash out.
Don’t forget about the odds. The probability for each outcome looks like this:
Baccarat is an old table game where you compare your hand to the dealer’s one. However, unlike other table games, your bet can win even if you get a smaller hand, thanks to the great choice of betting variants.
The game doesn’t involve tactics, so there’s no magic guide on winning big in baccarat through skills. However, you can boost your chances a little by avoiding betting on ties.
The points system is simple: Cards from 10 to King bring 0 points; numbers from 2-9 get from 2 to 9 respectively, an Ace counts as one. The overall score can’t exceed nine. If there’s more, 10 points are subtracted. For instance, a pair of 8-8 equals six (8+8=16, and 16-10=6).
The rules of baccarat are easy to grasp. The main tip is never to put on a tie and focus on the dealer. This way, you’ll minimize the risks and boost your chances.
