Baccarat Basics

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Baccarat Basics

Posted On : Sep-21-2009 | seen (1139) times | Article Word Count : 1467 |

Baccarat is one of the most popular card game which is found in casinos worldwide, with its own playing area in the casinos. Baccarat as an online casino game is also still popular at most online casino websites. The game is played similarly both on online and brick and mortar casinos. It is usually played by two persons, and casino customers can bet on three options: the "Banker", the "Player", and the "Tie", which is checked by a croupier.

Baccarat Objective

The winner of a single deal is determined by the values of the two players' hands. In order to win, the hand value must be as close to 9 as possible. If you have a value of 9, then the only option is either to win or tie.

A hand value can be obtained by adding the values of all the cards in hand modulo 10 (the commonly used operator for modulo is %). This means that after adding the values, the result is divided by 10 and then the remainder will be the result. For example, 8 + 6 = 14, and 14 % 10 = 4 (if we divide 14 by 10, the answer is 1 with a remainder of 4). This also means that the tens digit is dropped, leaving only the ones digit. Therefore, the highest value which can be obtained is 9, and the lowest is zero which is termed as "baccarat". Oddly enough, the game is named after the worst value of a hand.

How to Play Baccarat

Here is the most common way on how to play the game. Cards 2 to 9 have values according to their numbers. Cards 10 and the face cards (J, Q, K) are all worth zero, while an Ace card is equivalent to 1. A hand can only have two or three cards. For example, a hand consisting of 6 and an Ace is equivalent to 7 (6 + 1 = 7). A hand with 3, 9, and 5 has a value of 7 (3 + 9 + 5 = 17, 17 % 10 = 7). These two hands have similar values.

The banker will deal one face-down card to the player, then one to himself, then another one to the player, and then another one to himself, resulting to both of them having two cards each. Depending on the value of their hands, each of them can either draw an additional card or stand pat. Basically, the player can draw an additional card if his initial hand value is 5 or less. If the initial value is 6 or 7, then he makes a stand. If either one or both of them have a hand value of 8 or 9 on the initial deal, then no further cards are drawn. This situation is called "natural".

Baccarat Betting Options

Players other than the ones playing as "banker" and "player" can also place their bets. The options are "Banker", "Player", and "Tie".

The term "banker" does not refer to the one who deals the cards nor the house. It is the situation in which the one who deals the cards wins. Even payout, or 1:1 is applied if this situation wins. However, there is a 5% deduction for the house commision.

The term "player" is not the player who plays against the dealer but the situation in which he wins against the dealer. Even payout is also applied for those who win this bet.

The term "tie", as it suggest, is a situation when both have the same amount of card value at the end of the deal. If this situation wins, then the bettors are paid at 8:1 ratio.

Baccarat Banker Strategy

Playing Baccarat mostly requires luck. When you are at the player position, you should definitely draw a card if your hand has an initial value of 5 or lower. If it is 6 or 7, then make a stand. However, this doesn't guarantee your win though. But when you are playing as the banker, then strategy is required in order to win. Here are some pointers depending on the situation of the opposing player:
-- The player did not draw a card - stand if his hand value is 6 or 7, or draw if it is 5 or lower
-- The player drew a 2 or 3 - stand if his hand value is 5 to 7, or draw if it is 4 or lower
-- The player drew a 4 or 5 - stand if his hand value is 6 or 7, or draw if it is 5 or lower
-- The player drew a 6 or 7 - stand if his hand value is 7, or draw if it is 6 or lower
-- The player drew an 8 - stand if his hand value is from 3 to 7, and draw if it is 2 or lower
-- The player drew an ace, 9, 10, or any face-card - stand if his hand value is from 4 to 7, or draw if it is 3 or lower

Baccarat Variations

* The one discussed above applies to the Punto Banco, or the North American Baccarat variation. Punto refers to the Player and Banco refers to the Banker. Bettors will declare "Punto" if they are betting on the player, and will declare "Banco" if they are betting on the banker. The term applied for a tie is "Egalatie". This is also termed as the "regular" baccarat. Most online casino baccarat applies this variation.

* Mini Baccarat is a variation which is played on a smaller table, the size of a Blackjack table. Up to seven players can play against a croupier who also acts as the banker. Regular baccarat tables has three dealers who take the bets to ensure that the rules are followed. The betting limits are lower in this variation.

* Chemin-de-fer is a French version. Its rules are almost the same as the regular baccarat, except when the player acting as the Banker loses a hand, the next player will become the banker. This continues on and the state of the "Banker" travels around the table, similar to a train running on a railroad, which suggest the name of the variation. Chemin-de-fer means "railroad" in French.

* Baccarat en Banque is another French variation. Unlike in the regular variation, a player is dealt with two hands, and the bettors are allowed to choose from the two hands on where to place their bet. However, they can't place their bet on the banker. Another difference is that only the casino can handle the position of the banker.

* Private Baccarat is a variation in which the banker has the option to deal the player with either one or two hands. The player will decide whether he will be dealt with one hand, like in regular baccarat, or he can play two hands. If the player chooses two hands, this is termed as a cheval, and he must win both hands in order to win the deal. If he can only win one of the two, then it is a tie.

* Super Pan Nine is a variation in which all the cards with values of 7, 8, 9, and 10 are removed from the deck. Both the banker and the player are dealt with 3 cards each. Either of them can make a choice whether to draw an additional 4th card or to stand with just the 3 cards. It is common that they will draw a 4th card if the initial hand value is 4 or lower.

Baccarat is used on so many popular culture. Did you know that the first version of the James Bond movie Casino Royale in 1967 features the game Baccarat? It is only replaced by Texas Hold'em poker in the recent 2006 movie version because of the currently great popularity of Texas Hold'em at the time of filming. In the film Rush Hour 3, Detective James Carter (portrayed by Chris Tucker) attempts to play baccarat in a casino in Paris, but he mistook the card game to be a Blackjack game. The dealer warns him that the game is Baccarat when he asks for a third card. Later on Carter got a hand with three Kings and he cheers happily because he again mistook the rules to be of poker. The value of his hand only evaluates to zero, which causes him to lose.

Baccarat is a very exciting game, and the rules are simple and easy to remember. You must be lucky enough to obtain the lucky 9 and win the deal.

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<h1>Baccarat Basics</h1> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_Gary Blaze.aspx'>Gary Blaze</a> Baccarat is one of the most popular card game which is found in casinos worldwide, with its own playing area in the casinos. Baccarat as an online casino game is also still popular at most online casino websites. The game is played similarly both on online and brick and mortar casinos. It is usually played by two persons, and casino customers can bet on three options: the "Banker", the "Player", and the "Tie", which is checked by a croupier.

Baccarat Objective

The winner of a single deal is determined by the values of the two players' hands. In order to win, the hand value must be as close to 9 as possible. If you have a value of 9, then the only option is either to win or tie.

A hand value can be obtained by adding the values of all the cards in hand modulo 10 (the commonly used operator for modulo is %). This means that after adding the values, the result is divided by 10 and then the remainder will be the result. For example, 8 + 6 = 14, and 14 % 10 = 4 (if we divide 14 by 10, the answer is 1 with a remainder of 4). This also means that the tens digit is dropped, leaving only the ones digit. Therefore, the highest value which can be obtained is 9, and the lowest is zero which is termed as "baccarat". Oddly enough, the game is named after the worst value of a hand.

How to Play Baccarat

Here is the most common way on how to play the game. Cards 2 to 9 have values according to their numbers. Cards 10 and the face cards (J, Q, K) are all worth zero, while an Ace card is equivalent to 1. A hand can only have two or three cards. For example, a hand consisting of 6 and an Ace is equivalent to 7 (6 + 1 = 7). A hand with 3, 9, and 5 has a value of 7 (3 + 9 + 5 = 17, 17 % 10 = 7). These two hands have similar values.

The banker will deal one face-down card to the player, then one to himself, then another one to the player, and then another one to himself, resulting to both of them having two cards each. Depending on the value of their hands, each of them can either draw an additional card or stand pat. Basically, the player can draw an additional card if his initial hand value is 5 or less. If the initial value is 6 or 7, then he makes a stand. If either one or both of them have a hand value of 8 or 9 on the initial deal, then no further cards are drawn. This situation is called "natural".

Baccarat Betting Options

Players other than the ones playing as "banker" and "player" can also place their bets. The options are "Banker", "Player", and "Tie".

The term "banker" does not refer to the one who deals the cards nor the house. It is the situation in which the one who deals the cards wins. Even payout, or 1:1 is applied if this situation wins. However, there is a 5% deduction for the house commision.

The term "player" is not the player who plays against the dealer but the situation in which he wins against the dealer. Even payout is also applied for those who win this bet.

The term "tie", as it suggest, is a situation when both have the same amount of card value at the end of the deal. If this situation wins, then the bettors are paid at 8:1 ratio.

Baccarat Banker Strategy

Playing Baccarat mostly requires luck. When you are at the player position, you should definitely draw a card if your hand has an initial value of 5 or lower. If it is 6 or 7, then make a stand. However, this doesn't guarantee your win though. But when you are playing as the banker, then strategy is required in order to win. Here are some pointers depending on the situation of the opposing player:
 -- The player did not draw a card - stand if his hand value is 6 or 7, or draw if it is 5 or lower
 -- The player drew a 2 or 3 - stand if his hand value is 5 to 7, or draw if it is 4 or lower
 -- The player drew a 4 or 5 - stand if his hand value is 6 or 7, or draw if it is 5 or lower
 -- The player drew a 6 or 7 - stand if his hand value is 7, or draw if it is 6 or lower
 -- The player drew an 8 - stand if his hand value is from 3 to 7, and draw if it is 2 or lower
 -- The player drew an ace, 9, 10, or any face-card - stand if his hand value is from 4 to 7, or draw if it is 3 or lower

Baccarat Variations

* The one discussed above applies to the Punto Banco, or the North American Baccarat variation. Punto refers to the Player and Banco refers to the Banker. Bettors will declare "Punto" if they are betting on the player, and will declare "Banco" if they are betting on the banker. The term applied for a tie is "Egalatie". This is also termed as the "regular" baccarat. Most online casino baccarat applies this variation.

* Mini Baccarat is a variation which is played on a smaller table, the size of a Blackjack table. Up to seven players can play against a croupier who also acts as the banker. Regular baccarat tables has three dealers who take the bets to ensure that the rules are followed. The betting limits are lower in this variation.

* Chemin-de-fer is a French version. Its rules are almost the same as the regular baccarat, except when the player acting as the Banker loses a hand, the next player will become the banker. This continues on and the state of the "Banker" travels around the table, similar to a train running on a railroad, which suggest the name of the variation. Chemin-de-fer means "railroad" in French.

* Baccarat en Banque is another French variation. Unlike in the regular variation, a player is dealt with two hands, and the bettors are allowed to choose from the two hands on where to place their bet. However, they can't place their bet on the banker. Another difference is that only the casino can handle the position of the banker.

* Private Baccarat is a variation in which the banker has the option to deal the player with either one or two hands. The player will decide whether he will be dealt with one hand, like in regular baccarat, or he can play two hands. If the player chooses two hands, this is termed as a cheval, and he must win both hands in order to win the deal. If he can only win one of the two, then it is a tie.

* Super Pan Nine is a variation in which all the cards with values of 7, 8, 9, and 10 are removed from the deck. Both the banker and the player are dealt with 3 cards each. Either of them can make a choice whether to draw an additional 4th card or to stand with just the 3 cards. It is common that they will draw a 4th card if the initial hand value is 4 or lower.

Baccarat is used on so many popular culture. Did you know that the first version of the James Bond movie Casino Royale in 1967 features the game Baccarat? It is only replaced by Texas Hold'em poker in the recent 2006 movie version because of the currently great popularity of Texas Hold'em at the time of filming. In the film Rush Hour 3, Detective James Carter (portrayed by Chris Tucker) attempts to play baccarat in a casino in Paris, but he mistook the card game to be a Blackjack game. The dealer warns him that the game is Baccarat when he asks for a third card. Later on Carter got a hand with three Kings and he cheers happily because he again mistook the rules to be of poker. The value of his hand only evaluates to zero, which causes him to lose.

Baccarat is a very exciting game, and the rules are simple and easy to remember. You must be lucky enough to obtain the lucky 9 and win the deal.About the Author: Get to know more about baccarat and other online casino game only here at OnlineCasinoAdmin.com, the best <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.onlinecasinoadmin.com/">free online casino</a> portal with the best online casino review for the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.onlinecasinoadmin.com/top_casinos.html">top online casino</a> sites and the best online casino bonuses. Article Source: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Baccarat-Basics_3366.aspx'> http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Baccarat Basics_3366.aspx</a>

Article Source : http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Baccarat Basics_3366.aspx

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