If you play live or online casino games, then you’ll know that baccarat is one of the most popular casino table games out there. It’s also one of the best games for beginners, as winning the game is based a lot more on luck than it is on skill. Despite being one of the simplest types of casino games, there are a few things that every player should know before playing, so consider this the perfect starting point if you’re wondering how to play baccarat.
Brief Overview of How to Play Baccarat
Regardless of whether you’re playing a baccarat game online or in person, its premise and rules remain the same for standard games. In traditional versions of this popular casino game, you place a bet on one of the hands before the cards are dealt. Thereafter, two cards are dealt to both the player and the banker. The point totals of both sets of cards are then announced. To win, you must bet on the hand that totals closer to nine.
If either hand totals nine exactly, a natural win is declared and the game ends. If not, you determine whether the banker or player get a third card by looking at the point totals. The best way to get started with playing baccarat is by familiarizing yourself with the baccarat rules and practicing through baccarat online free game options.
In addition to the above, here is a list of things that you should know about baccarat.
Baccarat Bet Types in Traditional Games
One of the things that makes baccarat such a popular online casino game is that it is incredibly easy to play. That mainly comes down to the fact that there are only three bets that you can possibly make in games that use traditional rules:
- Banker Bet: Betting on the banker’s hand to win.
- Player Bet: Wagering on the player’s hand to win.
- Tie: Betting that both hands will tie.
Formulating Your Baccarat Strategy
Because there are only three different types of bets in standard baccarat, it means that choosing a strategy is pretty straightforward. Depending on how you want to approach the game, it’s always best to look at the odds – based on the house edge – of each option and what they represent. The good news is baccarat is said to have one of the lowest house edges in casinos. The lower the house edge of a game, the more favorable for you as a player.
The house edge is as follows:
- Banker bet = 1.06%
- Player bet = 1.24%
- Tie bet = 14.36% (8:1 payout) or 4.84% (9:1 payout)
The banker bet has the lowest house edge, and this includes a 5% commission that is normally taken out of the winning banker wagers. Even with this commission, the banker bet is still the top choice.
The odds are as follows:
- Banker = 45.84%
- Player = 44.61%
- Tie = 9.45%
As you can see, betting on a tie is probably the last thing that you want to do, as winning anything is extremely unlikely.
“Hot Tables” and Other Gambling Fallacies
Of course, as with many casino games, some players believe that there are patterns of play, hot tables, and other fallacies that could predict their next big win. More often than not, this is a huge strategic flaw that won’t bring in the results that you’re looking for.
Baccarat is mainly a game of luck, and the best skill that you can develop in this game is how you react to the unpredictability of the game.
Traditional Baccarat Rules for Hand Scoring
In any game in a casino, the card game rules are of utmost importance to get the best betting experience. Traditional baccarat might only have three bets to choose from, and the scoring rules are similarly simple.
The idea of the game is for the player’s or banker’s hand to get as close to the highest score as possible, which is nine. Both the player and the banker receive two initial cards, and depending on their initial totals, they might receive another.
Here are the scores for each card:
- Ace = 1
- 2 to 9 = Face value (i.e., 3 is worth 3)
- 10, Jack, Queen, King = 0
If there’s a hand that is higher than nine, the first digit is dropped, and the second digit is the total. So a hand with an actual total of 16 would score as a six.
What to Know About No-Commission Baccarat
While no commission baccarat exists and is an option that you could pursue, many people and baccarat enthusiasts advise against it. Much like other popular casino games, no commission baccarat is prominent in Vegas casinos. However, the truth is that your odds in no commission baccarat are often worse than at regular tables. Here’s why.
As mentioned, there is normally a 5% commission on the banker’s hand, but some casinos do offer no commission games. This sounds great, right? Not exactly. The catch in these no commission games is that the casinos usually put a rule in that if the banker wins with a score of six, you’ll only get 50% of your bet.
This happens more regularly than you’d think, despite the banker winning with a score of six just 5.39% of the time. This is actually quite a high percentage, given that you are only receiving half of your bet back.
Baccarat Variants Tweak the Rules for New Experiences
With the growing popularity of classic casino games because of technology and the advent of online casinos, several variations of some of the most popular games have come to the fore. This includes baccarat, whose variations make for an added level of excitement for those who may be looking for something new every now and then. However, that’s not to say that the different baccarat games steer too far from the original game.
In all baccarat variants, the objective is still to bet on the winning hand, which has a score closer to nine. However, in some variations, the banker and/or player have more freedom in whether they take a third card. There are many different kinds of baccarat to choose from that you might enjoy.
For example, at Borgata, just a few of the baccarat games that we offer include:
- Baccarat Professional Series
- First Person Baccarat
- Baccarat Live
- Baccarat
So, you really don’t need to stick to one game. Having the choice between different games is a great way to ensure that you don’t get bored playing the same game over and over again.
Play Baccarat at Borgata Online
Now that you have a better understanding of what baccarat entails and some of the recommended strategies, you’re on the right track to try your hand at it. Given the relative simplicity of the game, just about anybody can give it a go. So, if you’re ready to get your James Bond on and put some of these tips and tricks to practice, then you’ll be spoiled for choice when you see what we have to offer.
Whether you’re a novice or an experienced baccarat player, Borgata Online has got you covered. Our online casino has a wide variety of games to choose from, including online slots, casino table games, live dealer games and much more for you to explore. Register to play at Borgata Online to immerse yourself in the thrilling world of a leading online casino..