Baccarat game: a complete file to help you play like an ace

Article updated on 03/16/2023.

Want to join the large community of players generating winnings during baccarat sessions on online casinos? Thanks to this Special File, you will become an expert on this type of entertainment and will be able to optimize the amounts earned during your sessions. Let us explain everything to you about the strategies, rules, and tips that will help you succeed in baccarat. Get ready to increase your winnings and have an unforgettable gaming experience! this exciting game !

The origins - From its beginnings to the appearance of online baccarat, all about its history

Baccarat is now among the favorite casino games of English speaking players. It is true that this table game provides a rich entertainment experience. It is not James Bond's favorite game for nothing. However, while it is unquestionably appreciated by everyone today, this game was initially reserved for the nobility and aristocracy. In order to better understand the evolution of this incredible game, we propose to retrace the history of baccarat from its origins to the present day.

Very specific origins

The origins of the game of baccarat date back, for some historians, to the Middle Ages. The rules were identical, but it was played with a tarot deck. The ancestral specificity of this game does not lie in this aspect, but particularly in the ritual that accompanied the game. Indeed, it seems that the fate of young maidens depended on a dice roll. We prefer to imagine that the outcome was in their favor.

Whatever the case, according to the obtained result, a very definite future was announced for them. If it was an 8 or 9, a future as a priestess awaited them. If it was a 6 or 7, the young women were forbidden from religious activities and were banished from the temple. If, by unfortunate chance, it was a 5 that fell, a death sentence by drowning awaited them. What an era! Even though we are not certain of the truthfulness of this legend, it is certain that it has been a great source of inspiration.

A game reserved for a part of the population

It was the Italian Falguirein who was particularly inspired by this legend. After learning about this legend, he would then have created the beginnings of modern baccarat. It is true that baccarat translates to "nothing" in Italian. It was then King Charles 8 who promulgated this game in English territory, after bringing it back from his wars. The game of baccarat then became reserved exclusively for the aristocracy and nobility. It was then in the 20th century that the game spread to the United States. The wave of immigration brought this game with it. The game was quickly appreciated and became rapidly popular.

Entertainment now accessible to all

It is an Italian entrepreneur named Tommy Renzoni who exported baccarat to the United States. Primarily practiced in Cuba, baccarat made its first appearance in Nevada in 1950. However, casino operators modified the game's rules slightly to adapt it to American culture.

It was in the 1950s that the game of baccarat entered the land-based casinos with a bang. Thanks to its reputation, it is highly appreciated in Europe and the United States. In order to perpetuate its high-end image, casinos create reserved spaces for this game in breathtaking settings. But this high-end clientele is not enough. In 1980, land-based casinos made the decision to introduce mini-baccarat. The rules are strictly identical, but the betting levels are lower. Quickly adopted by players, it gains popularity and quickly becomes the favorite game of casinos. Just look at the panels of online baccarat available on internet casino sites to understand how much this game is appreciated...

Note that baccarat was not a resounding success but the release of the film James Bond 007 versus Doctor No completely changed the situation. On several occasions we can see the secret agent playing this game, especially against his worst enemy, the Number, in Spies place your bets , one of the novels written by Ian Fleming.

The rules - The baccarat game is decrypted here for you by our experts

As with all online casino games, the baccarat game is no exception and requires players to follow specific steps if they want to come out as winners in each of their games. Our experts have listed each step in detail to help players achieve success. baccarat rule Through this part of our special feature, start by learning how to play before deepening your knowledge of baccarat. Our guide below offers points specifically dedicated to the functioning of the baccarat game, as well as tactics and the different existing variants.

The technical presentation

In casinos, baccarat is played with eight decks of 52 cards. The first and third cards in the pile make up the player's hand, while the second and fourth cards make up the banker's hand. It is uncommon for the banker to use more than four cards, but this can occasionally happen, especially to break a tie between the two sides.

Technically, apart from the cards, a game of baccarat also includes a gaming table. In the game of baccarat, the player must bet on their hand or the banker's hand. They can also bet on a tie. It is not the hand they have that determines their victory or defeat, but rather their ability to predict which hand will be the winner.

The object of the game and the role of the player

As explained above, baccarat is similar to a prediction game. To win, you must accurately predict whether it is the player or the banker who will have the best hand. The payout for winnings is 1:1 except in the case of a tie; the payout ratio then becomes 8:1. The cards have a very specific value in the game of baccarat. The Ace is worth one point, the face cards - also known as "logs" - are worth zero points. As for the other cards, they retain their numerical value. The most powerful card in the game is therefore the 9.

There is another important feature in baccarat: in the case of a number with a unit and a decimal, the unit can be removed. Thus, if a 2 and a 5 are worth 7 points, a 5 and a 9 will only be worth 4 points. The goal of the game is to get as close as possible to 9 points, so every decision can be important. Our guide also offers you the opportunity to learn more about the different bets and wagers in baccarat, as well as 5 precious tips to win your baccarat games and perhaps even the tournaments you participate in. Our experts will inform you about the profiles of baccarat players, the best casinos to play your favorite game, as well as options for free baccarat sites!

The different baccarat bets

The peculiarity of baccarat is that initially, all players at the table will not receive any cards, only one called the "ponte" will, while the others will only be bettors. Furthermore, the one who receives the cards and the others as well can bet on their own hand or on the banker's hand, which is quite exceptional in the world of gambling. There are three types of bets in baccarat that we will analyze together so that you know which is the best choice to make. Here, we are basing our analysis on baccarat with 6 decks of cards in the shoe.

• 1/ The hand of the laying

This is the one that we would all tend to bet on, probably in complicity with the boss who is one of us, a bettor. The boss has even more reasons to bet on his hand because he receives the cards, he could be overcome by an uncontrollable sense of possessiveness and indulge in betting on his hand. However, know that nothing obliges him to do so, he could very well bet on the banker's hand, like any other bettor can do.

If you win by betting on this hand, then you will be able to receive your winnings, which will be one times your bet. For your information, this bet has a 44.63% chance of being realized. However, you will benefit from a significant advantage by betting on a player's hand, as you will not have to pay any commission to the casino, which is the case when you bet on the bank!

• 2/ The banker's hand

According to the probabilities, which are 45.87%, it is this hand that has the highest chance of winning the game of baccarat. Therefore, we advise you to bet on this hand, even if you have seen that the probability difference between the two is very small. It is also important to know that if you win with this hand, you will have to pay a commission to the casino, either at the end of the game after tallying them up, or at the end of each round. Be careful, because if you bet a lot, this commission can still amount to a significant sum at the end of the game.

• 3/ Equality

Betting on a tie in baccarat is the most controversial bet. This hand combines two extremes: on the one hand, it pays the most in baccarat, as if you win with it, you will receive 7 or 8 times your initial bet, but on the other hand, it also has the least chance of occurring with a probability of 9.51%, which is really low compared to the other two. This is why casino operators have significantly increased the payout ratio, simply to attract the most greedy players in terms of winnings. However, please note that if you abuse this bet, in the long run, you will end up losing and disappointed: therefore, we do not advise you to bet on it.

Variants - And you, which version of baccarat casino would you prefer?

There are many variations of the famous card game that is casino baccarat! If you are ready to discover the versions of baccarat like you have never seen before, please follow us throughout this section.

• THE Point Banco

You have undoubtedly already heard of Punto Banco. This variant of baccarat is now available on all online casinos. The particularity of this variant lies in the fact that a punter is opposed to the bank.

This variant was invented in South America and quickly gained popularity among players due to its fast pace and simplicity. The player has 3 options: bet on the player, bet on the banker, or bet on a tie. The player simply places their bet and the dealer takes care of managing the player and the banker. To learn more, check out our dedicated article on this variant.

• THE Casino Railway

The best way to describe chemin de fer is to compare it to a condensed version of Punto Blanco. This variant of baccarat is said to be the origin of the game of baccarat as we know it today. The intrinsic difference between the various variants of baccarat and this particular version lies in the fact that the role of the dealer is taken on by another player instead of casino staff.

Of course, the casino dealer remains present throughout the games to ensure their smooth running. With this variant, the player has more freedom to make decisions regarding the management of their hands and actions during the game. If this variant interests you and you would like to know more, please refer to our article dedicated to this type of baccarat game.

• Baccarat in Bank

The operation of a game of baccarat in bank is similar to that of the previously described variant. Once again, the players will assume the role of the bank and will have to be more aggressive in the game in order to succeed in challenging each other, all in order to win the bet. You will need to make a banco in order to increase your chances of winning.

It is therefore more appropriate to say that baccarat en banque is a mixture between the classic version and other variants of the game.

Here are the different specificities of baccarat in the bank:

1. If you want to take the role of the bank, you will have to do "banco", bet the same amount as the bank, and win, in addition, your bet;
2. If you go "banko" three times in a row, without ever winning any of your bets, you will no longer be allowed to place bets and therefore cannot assume the role of the banker.
3. If you do not represent the bank, you will not be able to bet on this hand;
4. If you take the role of the bank, you can choose to draw a third card, or, on the contrary, to stay.

The role of the bank is advantageous for the players. That is why bank baccarat requires certain criteria to claim this function. If you want to win many winnings in this variant, you will have to bet as intelligently as possible to be able to ensure this precious role.

• Mini Baccarat

If you enjoy Punto Banco but want to play in a more relaxed setting, we recommend trying out mini baccarat! Although the gameplay is the same as the base version, the atmosphere is more laid-back, which is suitable for beginners and players looking for entertainment without needing to bet large amounts of money.

Mini baccarat has a significant advantage in terms of betting limits, as they are much lower than the classic version. In addition, this variant uses only 6 decks of 52 cards, which clearly benefits the player. The mini-baccarat table is smaller than the one used for traditional gameplay.

The course of a mini-baccarat game is similar to that of a classic version. Indeed, the goal of the game is the same, namely: to get as close as possible to the number 9, without ever exceeding it. To win money, players will be able to place their bets on different bets. Indeed, they can choose to bet on the player, on the bank, or on equality if they think that the value of the two hands will be strictly the same. The dealer will have the role of dealing the cards to start the game. To do this, the player and the bank will each receive two cards. If one of the two hands directly reaches 8 or 9, it will automatically win the game. However, if none of the parties manage to reach this score, the next draw will follow different guidelines.

• Super Pan Nine

We want to give you a brief taste of this variation of baccarat in this short introductory paragraph. Indeed, although the fundamental operation of baccarat remains unchanged as well as the value of the cards, the card extraction systems differ, just like the number of cards included in the deck.

Do you like baccarat and want to make things more complex? Super Pan Nine is the variant made for you. Indeed, you will be able to enjoy the stakes of a classic game, by adding exciting challenges to the game. This game comes straight from Asia, but it is starting to gain popularity in Europe. Indeed, it is not uncommon to see it appear in the game library of some online casinos.

As you probably know, in classic baccarat, cards 1 to 9 have a face value, while 10 and face cards (jack, queen, and king) are worth 0 points. In Super Pan Nine, cards 7, 8, 9, and 10 are removed from the deck. Therefore, this variant is played with only 36 cards. Additionally, in this version, the dealer deals three cards to both the bank and the player, instead of two. However, the objective of the game remains the same as in traditional baccarat, where the hand that comes closest to 9 wins the bet.

To start a game of Super Pan Nine, the dealer must distribute 3 cards, face down, to both parties. The player can ask for an additional card during the game. The bettors around the table will be able to bet on the hand they believe is closest to 9. However, the player who has the role of the banker must not place any bets. Instead, they can choose to receive a new card or not, once all the players have bet. It is highly recommended to stay if the player has a total of 7, 8, or 9 points. However, they will have no choice but to receive a new card if the value of their opponent's hand is between 0 and 5 points. Thus, Super Pan Nine has the same characteristics as traditional baccarat but allows players to complicate the game with new stakes.

Strategies - We help you boost your baccarat winnings with simple tips

Through this special baccarat feature, you are gradually beginning your apprenticeship of this essential casino game. Our experts have deemed it useful to provide you with some tips that will prove decisive in your future baccarat sessions, whether you are a beginner or an experienced player. These tips come straight from enthusiasts of this game, just like you, and will have the merit of enabling you to be more successful when you decide to participate in online baccarat games! Here is the list of each. baccarat strategy who will make the difference...

• Favor a casino where the house edge is low

After carefully reading our articles on baccarat, you may have come to realize that the house edge is an extremely crucial element to consider both during your games and when choosing the most suitable variant for your playing style! On average, the house edge in baccarat is maintained at 1.5% in most online casinos. Our first tip is therefore to thoroughly explore the site on which you wish to play in order to find a casino with a relatively low house edge, in order to maximize your winnings and minimize your losses.

• Avoid betting excessively on equality

As we have mentioned in our section dedicated to baccarat tactics, there are several different types of bets. One is on the bank, another is on a player's hand, and the final bet is on a tie. This last one remains the favorite of players, and this choice is very easy to understand, as the payout ratio of 8 to 1 is extremely attractive. However, keep in mind that you only have a 1 in 30 chance of winning the bet, and the house edge on the game is still 14.3%. Needless to say, you should bet on a tie as few times as possible to make your games profitable.

• Challenge the bank

As we told you in the paragraph above, the bet on a tie is extremely popular among players. However, although the 1 to 1 payout ratio in a bet on the bank may not seem extremely lucrative, our advice would be to bet on this option more often. Indeed, the percentage of your winnings that will go to the house is only 5%, and your chances of winning profits are around 44.64%!

• Think about your budget

As with every casino game, the advice that we consider to be crucial is related to allocating a specific budget to your passion. You absolutely must establish a financial limit not to exceed. The advantage of a fixed budget will allow you to have total control over your bets and therefore your game. This will allow you to stay rational and will lead you to many victories.

• Choose the right variant

In order to make your bets profitable and benefit from an incredible gaming experience, we suggest you explore the options of variants available to you, in order to find the baccarat variant that suits you perfectly. Your choice will be decisive for your gaming experience and your winnings.

Golden tips - Play baccarat in the best conditions at an online casino

In order to complete your learning of the essential concepts related to baccarat, what could be better than benefiting from a ready-made list of the best gambling establishments that offer the best versions of baccarat on the whole internet? Our experts have therefore decided to propose their selection of the best online casinos to play baccarat, based on the type of software used, the best offers, and the best live casino, all to challenge your opponents at the baccarat tables!

Choose the casinos with the best software

You know well, the best casinos are those that have games from the best software providers. Our experts have therefore deemed it necessary to inform you about casino game software that offers the best baccarat games. Their choice was based on the clarity of the game's images, graphics, game platform stability, and added features that delight baccarat enthusiasts. Our top 3 game software for baccarat is as follows: Betsoft, Microgaming, and NetEnt. These 3 software providers offer different game tables, all equally impressive. Betsoft focuses on realism, while Microgaming and NetEnt offer more interactive and modern game tables. Therefore, we advise you to head towards casinos that have these software providers' technology.

Opt for an operator offering live casino

Baccarat on an online casino also appears in an innovative form: live! Nowadays, most establishments display a complete range of traditional casino games, with a touch of modernity due to the presence of live dealers. You will benefit from a more authentic gaming experience thanks to this game mode, and sometimes even enjoy extremely interesting bonuses for newcomers to the site, as well as for regulars, all in order to allow you to play with peace of mind!

Note that the best live dealer game provider for animating live baccarat tables remains Evolution Gaming. If the casino you are interested in offers this provider, you will know that you will have access to games with striking fluidity amidst stylish settings...

The best casinos

We based our list of the best casinos to play baccarat on the software they offer. What you will need to check is the presence of numerous variations of baccarat. We also suggest ensuring that the operators benefit from the technology of multiple reputable software providers and offer many demo versions of baccarat and its most popular variants.

Tournaments - Spice up your online baccarat competitions with these tips

Online casinos have developed a range of options to enhance the gaming experience for players. Among these options, one of the most interesting remains tournaments, dear players. The tradition of tournaments also applies to baccarat, and given the resounding success of these tournaments, we have decided to share with you the method to apply if you too want to win big in baccarat tournaments. Our site has therefore accepted the challenge of making you winners of baccarat tournaments just by reading this section.

• Optimize your chances

We can't stress it enough, but it's an essential element to win all your baccarat tournaments, take into account the house advantage factor. When you engage in a baccarat competition, you must keep in mind that you will always be in an inferior position against the bank, which will always have a larger advantage over the game. However, our guide doesn't leave you alone to your fate, and suggests maximizing your chances of winning by betting on the bank and on the player!

• Make the right bets

To explain the crucial aspect of betting during a baccarat tournament, there is nothing better than putting you in a typical game situation. Imagine that you are part of the final four of a baccarat tournament, with a prize of 10,000 euros at stake. So far, you have managed to preserve your bankroll by playing defensively, which is by far the best tactic to adopt. Let's say that at this stage of the competition, you have a total of 800 euros and the other three players have 400 euros in chips each. If one of them decides to bet on a tie, then the other two will leave the table. You will be left alone against a player who has more money in their bankroll than you. What do you do? If either of you decides to bet on the banker or the player, then one of you will win the hand. However, if your bets cancel each other out, you will have to split the winnings. Nevertheless, keep in mind the option to bet on a tie to be absolutely sure of winning!

• Make your bankroll your priority

It is important to have a substantial bankroll if you want to endure in a baccarat tournament, but above all, if you want to win! The best advice we could give you would be to preserve your bankroll as much as possible, starting from the beginning of the competition, by opting for a defensive game rather than an offensive one. This is the best way to have, and maintain, a significant advantage over your opponents, and inevitably find yourself in the final round of the tournament!

Profiles - And you, what type of player are you?

If you are curious to know the profiles of the different players who you will encounter during your baccarat games, then this final section is made for you... We offer you to discover the 3 main profiles of baccarat players that you will be facing.

• The great strategist

The player we have chosen to call the "grand strategist" is one of the players you should closely observe. Indeed, although these players are not professionals in mathematics, they have a rather impressive logic and an equally astounding memory capacity. These two elements are decisive in baccarat, as well as in the various other casino games that you enjoy. The strategist is perfectly familiar with the various techniques related to baccarat, as well as the payout ratios for players. Beware of this cerebral player, who has an extremely high level of concentration!

• The defensive player

The "defensive" player is an excellent manager of their funds throughout their baccarat games. These players are mostly extremely patient and do not take any excessive risks. However, patience and caution do not lead to losses. Indeed, these players manage to gather significant winnings and regular sums without winning big. For these players, being consistent is more than just a playing style, it's a way of life. Additionally, you might be surprised, but these players often find themselves among the final group in baccarat tournaments. A piece of advice, if you come across defensive players, we recommend preserving your bankroll and avoiding excessive bets!

• The offensive player

The offensive player or "the gambler" is a player who is primarily a risk-taker. Although most of these players have years of gaming experience, they are known to be high rollers who do not hesitate to bet colossal sums of money, relying on chance. These players are real party animals who never miss an opportunity to entertain the crowd. In online casinos, these players are recognizable through their bets, but also through their multiple participations in the chat section!