Online Baccarat
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03/11/24
Read More
03/11/24
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The basic objective of Baccarat is for a set of cards to add up to 9. It is a game played between the player and a banker, with bets placed at the start.
The three outcomes you are betting on is the player’s hand winning, the banker’s hand winning or a tie. Therefore, it is not a game that requires technical skill. However, there are betting strategies that can help you win, which we will explain after introducing you to the many variants of Baccarat.
The cards are worth their pip value, aces are low and tens and face cards are worth zero. The dealer deals two cards to both the player and the banker and should either party have cards that add up to either an eight or a nine they win automatically, this is called a natural win and the game is over quickly.
Otherwise, the point totals decide whether either the player banker draws additional cards, with the player’s hand being counted first. Any hand with a total sum of up to 5 draws again. Once the third card has been drawn, the winner is decided by who is closer to 9. Any points higher than 9 automatically are deducted by 10 to ensure all totals are 9 or lower.
A round of Baccarat is full of suspense. It is possible to have a win on the first, second or third draw. Further variants of Baccarat can change the nature of the game, for example; involving multiple players, but the essence of chance remains the same.
Before the game can begin, all players place their bets. The total of all players’ bets must not exceed the banker’s stake.
However, while many players are at the table, each game is between only one player’s hand and one banker’s hand. Others players bet on this.
Most cards have pip value, aces are low and tens and face cards have a value of zero (Baccarat is old Italian slang for zero).
Winning bets placed on either player or banker are paid 1:1, however, there is usually a 5% commission on bets on the banker.
There are many variations of online baccarat with different levels of popularity around the world. For example, most recently ‘Mini Baccarat’ has become popular in many casinos as a lower-stakes version of the game that also requires fewer players, making baccarat more accessible to anyone.
The same is true online as for brick and mortar casinos; the choice available for baccarat players has vastly increased in the last few years. While the basic rules and objectives remain the same, slight differences in play make each game a different experience.
(The most popular variant played worldwide and the favourite of high rollers)
This form of the game originated in Cuba in the 1950s. The highest number of players (Punto) is 14 in addition to the banker (Banco). It is an automatic game of chance, with the dealer doing all shuffling of 6 to 8 decks and distribution and with neither player nor banker having a choice over the third card. The only decision to take here is how much to bet and on which side.
This chance element makes it popular amongst those looking to bet big and this version of the game is especially popular in Asia, where players have developed all sorts of superstitious rituals such as blowing on cards to blow away bad numbers.
(The oldest version of the game with more elements of choice)
Chemin de Fer comes from the game played by the French aristocracy. It is played using six decks and by six players, all of whom are overseen by a croupier from the casino. Each player takes turns to be the banker, which makes it a more active and involved game. Furthermore, in contrast to Punto Banco, the player is able to decide to draw the third card.
The order of play is decided by putting the player who makes the biggest bet first. Due to the element of choice, this game proceeds more slowly than other versions, which is probably why it is less favoured in the modern-day.
(A variant where the role of banker holds more power).
Played with three decks, Baccarat Banque has a permanent banker who presides over the game, unlike Chemin de Fer. The banker role goes to whoever is willing to bet the most, leaving those looking to win big with the best route to do so.
The banker also has the right to shuffle the cards and to choose who cuts them. The cards are then dealt to two players around the table by the banker, first to those on his right or left, then in the next round likewise around the table. This version of the game is most popular in European casinos. Again a croupier presides over the table.
(A version where all players are dealt cards and actively involved).
The banker deals each player a card and then further cards may be decided to be bought. The aim is to quickly acquire nine points or the closest value to nine points. As soon as a player has more than nine points they are busted and lose their stake.
If the same should happen to the banker then all players win who have nine or fewer points. Single stakes are won by either the player or the banker having the greater points under nine. If a tie should occur, the winner is decided by who has the least amount of cards.
Baccarat, in most variants, is largely a game of complete chance, which makes having a strategic approach difficult. For that reason, those who love the thrill of unpredictability in their gambling flock to baccarat. However, those who are fans of skill and strategy have still found ways to play baccarat without relying solely on luck, by approaching the game with an eye to its statistical odds.
While not changing the fact that in its essence, baccarat is chance-based, if carefully applied these ideas might help you win.
This system is useful in any bet where the chances are 50:50, like a coin toss, or close to that rate, such as Baccarat. The rules are very simple: You follow the sequence 1,3,2,6 with your bets. So, if you bet €1, and it wins, you progress to betting €2. Then if that €2 bet loses, you return to betting €1. Once you have followed the sequence through, you return to 1 and continue to do so. If at any point you lose, you return to 1.
This strategy is also based on the idea that in a game of luck, two outcomes have an equal chance of occurring. The first step is to decide on your staking unit, for example, 1% of your total roll. Then on the first cycle of the game, stake one unit. Then for every cycle you lose, you must increase the stakes.
For example, if you bet €1 on the first cycle and lost, then bet €2 in the next. If you lose again, bet €3. However, if you win, you must decrease your stake. In the example we are using, if the next cycle saw you win your €3 bet, reduce your wager back down to €2 again.
Named after an Italian mathematician, the Fibonacci method is based on the sequence of the same name, where each number is the sum of the previous two numbers. This series of numbers occurs in many natural phenomena.
To use it, first decide upon your unit, say €1 and bet that in the first cycle. Then after losing a round, double that number, moving up the sequence. After winning, move one step down on the sequence, decreasing your wager. Even for subsequent losses or wins, keep increasing or decreasing your wager in accordance with the wager. Furthermore, if you are in profit at the start of a cycle then start again at the beginning of the sequence.
The Labouchere system attempts to recover multiple losses with multiple wins. First, write down a series of numbers. Added together, these numbers represent the total possible profit of the game.
Your bet is then the sum of the first and last numbers. If you win; cross these numbers off the list. Should you lose; add the sum of them to the end of the list. If you are ever left with just one number, then wager that amount only. For example, if your sequence is 1,2,3 then you bet €4 in the first cycle. If you win then next time bet €2. If you lose, then your list now reads 1,2,3,4 as 1 plus 3 is 4.
Incredibly simple, the Martingale System is based on two rules. First; double your stake after a loss. Second; reduce your stake to a base unit after you win. It is a good idea to use a small base unit however, as with this method it is very easy for the stakes to become sky-high after even a short string of losses.
The principle is that even after these losses, just one win will leave you with a profit of one betting unit. However, it is not as great as it seems at first as a losing streak easily leads to your profits being wiped when the stakes get too high too fast.
Ready to play? Here are 5 Baccarat Strategy Tips provided by Casinokix to help you get off to a winning start. These tips apply to all Baccarat variants but don’t forget to do some further research into the exact type that you want to play to be completely prepared.
For your own enjoyment and to be able to formulate a betting strategy, make sure you are well familiar with the rules of the specific variant you are playing.
While it is less than other casino games, the casino still has a house advantage in Baccarat; around 1%. This is on the banker’s hand, which still means the odds are close to even.
Statistically, a tie is less likely with only a 9.5% chance. So, don’t waste too many bets on this outcome.
Before you start to play set yourself a budget for your bankroll and make sure that you can afford to lose it. If you should go past your budget then stop and cut your losses.
No deposit bonuses are yours to bet with even without any money of your own involved, whereas deposit bonuses match a percentage of your own deposited cash increasing your available funds.
Many casinos offer a Free Play Version of baccarat which is a great way to get to know the rules of the game and see whether you enjoy the experience of playing. Free Play means that you do not have to put down any of your own money, making it the perfect way to begin playing baccarat.
If you have any further questions about online baccarat or the best baccarat casinos you can read our FAQ. If you choose an EU casino or a UK casino, we let you make that decision according to your location. Online baccarat is available in most of the online casinos if not all. We recommend you to check that out.