How to

How to play Baccarat?

Since a few days the Live Casino of our platform 777.ch is available. Already on offer is one of the most fascinating, oldest and exciting games offered in casinos. During gaming evenings among friends, time was often forgotten and the sunrise at the table was not noticed: Baccarat.

Baccarat

Baccarat, sometimes also written Baccara or Baccarat, is a game of chance, since it lives on the tension and the quick decision. The nervous tension and the adrenaline rush increases with the duration of the game and the increases in stakes that often go hand in hand with it – as described in the following quote:

“At 3:00 a.m., the smell of perfume, smoke and sweat is intoxicating. The nervous wear and tear caused by playing for high stakes, greed and fear becomes unbearable at this time, and the senses awaken and revolt against it.”

This quote is from the first James Bond novel and in many films Bond plays the most elegant version of this once elite game on behalf of Her Majesty Baccara “Chemin de fer” – for example in: “Fireball”, “James Bond chases Dr.No”, “In Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, “In Deadly Mission” and “GoldenEye” Bond pursues this exciting passion.

What is good for the man of the world, bon vivant and gambler James Bond, should also be good for us, therefore I present this wonderful card game to you:

History of Baccarat

According to the most widespread opinion, Baccarat was invented in Naples in the 16th century and the name derives from the word Baccara, which means “zero” in the Neapolitan dialect. According to another version, the game was named after the city of Baccarat in Lorraine. However, some card game experts believe that the game is much younger and was only created at the beginning of the 19th century in a form similar to the one we have today.

In the past, casinos mainly offered two variants: Baccara chemin de fer and Baccara banque. Today, most casinos and online almost exclusively the variant Punto Banco is played.

Basic rules

Cards

Baccarat is played with six decks (packs) of French playing cards of 52 cards each, that is 312 cards. On “real” Baccarat cards there are no index signs (e.g.: K, J, 10 or 7) printed on the decks. Another feature of the classic cards are the single-coloured backs.

Object of the game

The player tries to score 9 points or as close as possible to 9 points and score more points than the opponent. The cards count the following points: Ace one point, deuces to nines count as two to nine points, tens and all face cards count as zero points. If the cards add up to ten or more points, only the ones digit counts. For example: a six and a five, then (6 + 5 = 11) is one point, because the tens digit is deleted. A six and a four, then (6 + 4 = 10) counts as zero points or “baccarat”.

How to play Baccara chemin de fer

As with the Poker Cash Game, the casino only takes on the role of game management and monitors compliance with the rules of the game. The participants in baccarat play against each other, with one person holding the bank – the banker. In the first round, the player to the right of the croupier receives the bank. Now the other players – the pointers – can place their bets, up to the maximum amount of the banker’s stake.

When all the bets are on the table, the croupier begins to deal the cards from the sled: the first is dealt to the opponent who has placed the highest bet – the ponte, the second to the banker, the third to the ponte again and the fourth to the banker again. In the classic Baccara chemin de fer, the banker places the cards for the Ponte on a pallet with which the croupier hands the cards to the Ponte.

The ponte now checks his cards and announces whether he wants to draw another card. The exception is if the first two cards total 8 or 9 points, the Ponte immediately reveals his cards and no more cards are drawn.

Then the banker reveals his cards without having looked at them first. If he has 8 or 9 points, the Ponte forfeits the right to draw another card, if he also has 8 or 9 points, the dealer immediately determines the winner: the player with the higher number of points! If both players have the same number of points, the result is a tie – “en cartes” and the coup is annulled.

However, if the banker has 7 points or less, he reveals the card that the ponte may have chosen. Now the banker explains whether he wants to draw or not. There are certain brick rules that depend on the Ponte’s cards and the banker’s hand. More about the brick rules in the next blog.

If the banker wins, the bets of the pointers go to the banker and the banker has the possibility to continue playing as the banker. If the opponents win, they are paid out of the bank in the amount of your bet in the ratio 1:1 and the player to the right of the replaced banker receives the bank.

Punto Banco

Punto Banco is currently the most played variation of Baccarat and differs from Chemin de fer as follows:

The players do not play against each other, but against the casino. The players can bet on the following events:

  • the banker’s winnings (banco or banker) or
  • on the profit of the players (Punto or Player) or
  • bet on a tie (Égalité or Tie).

In Punto Banco, the brick rules differ from baccarat in some respects and do not allow for any leeway, so the cards are dealt face up. More on this in the next blog.

Conclusion Baccarat

In Baccarat, it is not the game strategy that matters, but the money management. The game thrives on the short moment of decision and the sometimes immensely high stakes. Not for the faint of heart. Until you can read more about Baccarat – stay curious and use the Online Live Casino of Casino777.ch.