| Baccarat
No game seems to draw attention
like Baccarat, and no wonder. Usually the
area where Baccarat is played, is roped
off, the dealers wear tuxedos, it¹s eerily
quiet, and the décor of the playing area
and demeanor of the players all spell W-E-A-L-T-H.
It is a game where not only big money is
bet, but a game that can determine whether
a casino has a profitable week or month.
Baccarat also gives the impression to gambling
novices that it is a game that probably
takes years of study to master. Nothing
could be farther from the truth. Baccarat
is not only a simple game to learn, but
is a good game to play if you like a low
house edge and something that doesn't involve
any strategy decisions.
Two hands are dealt and you bet which one
will win, or that they will tie. It is almost
like betting on the toss of a coin.
The rules and house edge are the same in
baccarat as mini-baccarat; the differences
are in the manner of play.
THE PLAY:
Regular baccarat is usually played in a
separate casino area with high minimum bets.
The playing table is about the size of a
craps table with three casino dealers and
up to 12 or 14 players.
Each player, including the player dealing,
may bet on either the player or the banker,
but it is customary for the dealer to bet
on the banker.
The deal will rotate around the table, much
like the dice rotate around the craps table.
Players may opt not to deal, passing the
shoe to the next player. The same person
will keep dealing as long as the banker
keeps winning.
The person dealing will put two cards, face
down, tucked under the shoe, and give the
player with the greatest bet on the player,
the other two cards, face down.
This player then looks at the cards and
then gives them back to the player who is
dealing.
Then the player who is dealing will turn
over the cards and one of the casino dealers
will announce the totals.
Depending on the totals the dealer may then
instruct the person dealing the cards to
deal a third card. Finally, the dealers
will pay winning wagers and collect losing
ones.
The player who actually deals is not assuming
any financial responsibility of the other
players' bets, and is just turning over
cards.
MINI-BACCARAT:
Mini-baccarat is played in the regular casino
area on a table about the size of a blackjack
table. The dealer controls everything, resulting
in a larger number of hands being dealt
per hour.
THE RULES:
Baccarat is played from an eight-deck shoe.
Cards less than 10 are counted at face value,
aces are worth 1, and 10s and face cards
are worth 0. Suits don't matter.
Play begins by players betting either on
the 'player', 'banker', or a tie.
The dealer gives two cards each to the player
and the banker. The score of the hand is
the right digit of the total of the cards.
(For example, if the two cards dealt were
an 8 and 7, then the total would be 15,
and the score would be a 5.)
The scores will always range from 0 to 9
and it is impossible to bust.
A third card may be dealt to either or both
the player and the dealer depending on these
conditions:
1) If either the player or the banker holds
a total of 8 or 9, they both stand. This
rule overrides all other rules.
2) If the player's total is 5 or less then
the player hits, otherwise the player stands.
3) If the player stands, then the banker
hits on a total of 5 or less. Winning bets
on the banker pay 19 to 20 (or even money
less a 5% commission); winning bets on the
player pay 1 to 1; winning bets on a tie
pay either 8 to 1 or 9 to 1, depending on
where you play.
THE COMMISSION
You may wonder how the dealer collects the
5% commission on winning banker bets. If
they did so every hand it would involve
a lot of change and slow down the game.
To avoid slowing play, the dealer will pay
even money to winning banker bets and consider
the 5% an IOU.
As play progresses through an eight-deck
shoe, the dealer will keep track of the
commissions every player owes.
At the end of the shoe, or when a player
wants to leave mid-shoe, the dealer will
collect the commissions. Make sure you don't
run out of money with outstanding commissions.
Back
to Top
|
|
|
