Baccarat Rules - Modern and Historical

 Baccarat Rules: Modern and Historical

Baccarat, a popular card game, is played in many Casinos all over the globe. It is particularly popular in Macau where Punto Banco Baccarat accounts to around 90% of casino income. Baccarat, which is strictly a game for chance, requires players to follow the rules of the card they are dealt. The dealt cards are summed, and the banker wins.

Baccarat featured prominently in Casino Royale, James Bond's first novel. The latest adaptation of Casino Royale featured Baccarat as a prominent character. However, Poker replaced it.

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Baccarat Basic Rules

Court cards have no value, while other cards have face value. Each hand begins with 2 cards. An optional third card can be dealt. The sum is calculated and the hand with the closest number of cards wins. The sum of more than 9 will result in a value return to 0 rather than going to 10, e.g. A pair 6 and 7 cards has a 3 value, not 13. Three cards 9 and 6 have a 4 value. You can ignore the leading number if the sum is two digits.

The odds of sticking or taking a third card are simple. If the sum equals 4 or less, then you should take a card. 6 and above will stick. Only if the sum equals five, the odds of either side are almost equal. The house rules make it even simpler because they require both the banker and player to follow the rules. The only choice the player has is whether or not they want to request a third card if the sum is 5. The banker may have a slightly greater freedom, and can sometimes draw on 3, 4, 5, 6, or 6 depending on the card being held face-up. However, this is still a game that requires little skill.

Baccarat, as Seymour described it in 1897

In England, the game is called "Baccara Banque", also known as just "Baccara", and in France it's "Baccara a deux tableaux", which means Baccara with 2 tables. It is not often played in the USA. Richard Seymour published a definitive version in a 1897 "Hoyle" book.

Players compete to determine who will provide the bank. The bank is kept for the length of the card in the shoe, or until the banker decides to release it (whether because of bankruptcy or not). Each deal is played head-tohead, just like other banking games. The banker starts by placing the amount to the table. Each player then has the option to say 'Banco,' and so challenge the banker in order to get all of the money he staked in one deal. This will result in the duel taking place immediately.

Otherwise, normal play takes place. The non-banking player are divided into two halves. The banker is to the right, and the other to the left. A representative from each side of the banker is selected for each deal. These represent the players on either banker's side. If a player loses the privilege passes on to the next person. The representative duties then return to the banker next to them. The banker will play two head-tohead games against the representatives of each half-table for each deal.

The initial stake is placed by the banker. Players then take turns to put down stakes of any amount up until the banker's stake equals their share of the table. The banker then hands two cards to him and to his two representatives. If any player or banker has a total of 8-9, it must be shown immediately. The two other hands will be then shown, and bets will be placed accordingly.

Each of the three players are allowed to choose a third class, starting with the player at the banker's left and ending with them. If one of the players refuses to accept a third-card, then the banker will take a fourth card. Any third card is dealt face down and all hands are then shown and bets made accordingly. Baccarat - Gambling Card Game