The Rules of Baccarat
From its legendary origins in 16th century France to the glitzy casinos in Las Vegas and other parts of the world, Baccarat, or Punto Banco, has never lost its appeal to the gambler, regardless of the numerous card games that emerged.
Part of its charm lies in the fact that its rules and concepts are easy to learn, even for those who have never played the game before.
There are several variants of Baccarat but the most popular in North America is Punto Banco.
The game can be played by up to 12 players, and usually with six to eight decks. Although the norm is for a casino dealer to handle the cards, in some cases one of the players can deal the hands.
According to baccarat rules, the game begins when a player bets on either Punto (player) or Banco (bank) or Tie (also called Standoff). These terms do not designate any particular player; rather they refer to the hands that will be dealt in the game.
After the player bets, two hands (consisting of two face down cards each) are dealt, one designated Punto, the other Banco. The objective of the player is to guess which of the two hands has a higher count value, or if they are tied.
Baccarat rules state that face cards (kings, queens and jacks) and tens are worth zero; Ace count for one point, and the rest of the numbered cards are worth their face value. The highest value that the hands can reach is 9. If the total enters double digits, the number on the left is removed. For instance, a hand consisting of a 7 of hearts and 6 of spades equals 13. The 1 is then dropped. Baccarat rules, it should be noted, declare that suits are irrelevant.
If the player hand amount reaches 8 or 9, there is no need to draw a card. If it is 6 or 7, the player hand stands. If the total is or less than 5, a card is drawn from the deck.
The bank hand will also not draw if the total is 8 or 9. As in the player hand, the bank will stand on a 6 or 7. If the value is equal or less than 5, the bank will draw another card. There are, however, certain Baccarat rules on when the bank can draw a third card.
If the player's third card is a 2 or 3, the bank gets a card, provided the current total is 4. If the bank's two card value is 5, a card can be drawn if the player's draw was between 4 and 7. If the bank has 6, and the player also gets a 6 or 7, the bank draws. When the bank card total reaches 7, the hand stands.
The Baccarat rules are followed by all casinos, and most also adhere to the following payout scheme. A winning Punto bet pays 1:1. A player that bets on Banco gets a similar payout but there is a 5% house commission. If the player wagers a tie and wins, the pay is 8:1.
The simplicity of the rules of Baccarat has made it very popular among a lot players. It is no secret that Baccarat is the game of choice for high rollers. But even if you are a casual gambler, you will definitely enjoy the game.
