You’ve probably seen baccarat played wherever you’ve traveled, from a sticky-floored card room in California to the tuxedo-clad casinos of Monaco.
But I doubt you’ve ever seen it performed as tastefully as Sean Connery did in the opening scene of the first James Bond film.
The rules for playing baccarat alter slightly depending on whether you’re playing “punto banco” (where the numbers on the cards predetermine the actions) or “chemin de fer,” where the players might choose to take a third card: After all cards have been dealt, place a wager on the Player or Banker hand with the highest value. The best indicator to have is nine; it can never lose, which explains why Mr. Bond frequently winds up with it.
How does baccarat operate then?
In baccarat, the object is to have the hand you’re betting on—either the player’s or the banker’s hand—be the better of the two hands that are dealt. When all the pips (the dots on a playing card representing clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades) are totaled up, the winning hand is the one whose final digit is the closest to nine.
Aces count as one, and face cards have no value. You hold an eight and a face card. You have eight instead of eighteen. Are you receiving a three and a 4? Is your rating 7. received a nine and a 7? Your score is 6, as you have 16.
I’m done now. The game is all about it.
The main issue is deciding which side will draw a third card. When the player or banker’s hand takes a third card, which never occurs when either the Player or the Banker is an 8 or 9 after the first two cards, it is indicated on a detailed chart. It is referred to as a “natural.”
However, if it doesn’t occur, the Player or the Banker may need to take a card.
Player
The Player draws a third card if their hand totals 0–5. They stand at 6 or 7. Even if the Player has an eight and the Banker has a 9; standing is still appropriate here because 8 or 9 is a natural. Sometimes it does.
Banker
The Banker behaves just like the Player if the Player has six or higher: Having hands 0–5, standing with 6–7, and naturally with 8–9, drawing a third card.
However, if the player drew a third card, the Banker will follow these guidelines about the score:
No matter what the Player’s third card is, the Banker draws a card at the numbers 0, 1, and 2.
Unless the Player’s third card was an 8, the Banker draws a third card.
If the Player’s third card was a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, the Banker draws a third card.
If the Player’s third card was a 4, 5, 6, or 7, the Banker draws a third card.
If the Player’s third card was a 6 or 7, the Banker draws a third card.
7: The Banker rises.
Remember that in addition to the benefits listed above for the Banker, the house will receive a 5 percent commission on any successful banker wagers.
Placing a Tie Bet
The game ends in a Tie if both the Player and the Banker have the same number of points. Banker and Player wagers are both reimbursed in full. Tie wagers are only ever paid off in this situation; otherwise, they are lost.
The Chance
Baccarat has the lowest house edge of any casino game, which is its finest feature. The house edge for wagers on Banker is 1.06 percent (including the 5 percent commission), compared to 1.24 percent for bets on Player.
In casinos, tie bet payouts are frequently 8-1, making the house margin 9.5 percent. Stay clear from that; it’s a pretty lousy wager.
So you can now play the same gambling game enjoyed by royalty, the rich, and the elite around the world at DraftKings Casino from the comfort of your own home or on your mobile device. Who needs all those scum in suits and gowns?
