“BACCARAT’’ – WHAT DOES IT MEAN? 

Published on 11th July 2019 by James

Desperate to imitate James Bond once in a while and therefore looking for an interesting casino card game to fall in love with? Then you’ve come to the right place and Ian Fleming would be proud.

Baccarat – Everything You Need to Know

Sporting quite a debatable origin story, Baccarat has managed to stand the test of time. It is just as popular nowadays as it was with French nobility during the 19th century having also been played frequently before the concept of casino gambling was even legalized (rebellious, I know).

Baccarat Banque, a three-person game, is the earliest known version of Baccarat and Chemin de Fer, another variation, is known to have emerged from it.  A shift in modern baccarat occurred through Baccarat Punto Banco which is considered to be the most popular modern variation and is played on an international level.

Wish to know more? Then get comfortable!

A Little Guide To The Different Versions Of Baccarat

Punto Banco

This seems to be the most widely played version of Baccarat. Dedicated towards playing out both hands, the player and the banker are modes of classification for the two hands which are dealt within each coup (this fancy word means round).

Hands

This is a vital unit in card games that starts with the dealer shuffling and dealing (means to arrange the pack of cards and shuffle them) their cards. It ends with the players scoring points and also, laying down a decision on who the next dealer will be. Often, when the player has no cards left, the hand is done with. The forehand, that is the player that eventually sits on the dealer’s throne, would come into play.

6 or 8 cards within a shoe, and not the literal kind but rather the slot which the cards find themselves in, are the heart of Punto Banco.

So, how do we get there?

Well, cards boast a point value, as can be seen below:

2s to 9s

Numbers between, and including 2-9, give you a face-value of points.

Aces, Jacks, Kings, Queens & 10s

Jacks, kings, and queens all have a value of 0 – despite usually being the highest value cards in most card games, alongside aces which possess a low value within Baccarat as they are always worth one point. 10s in Baccarat are also worth 0.

How Do You Score A Hand & How Do You Win?

When you’ve received, hopefully, your winning hand, how do you know how to score it?

Your score is calculated by adding together your number cards and aces. The objective is to get either an 8 or a 9 (but preferably a 9).

If your score goes over 10, the left digit of your score is dropped: for example, if you have 15 you will have a score of 5.

If you obtain an 8 or 9 you will have a chance to win or tie with the dealer.

This would be a good time to mention that there are three possible outcomes: a player win, a banker win and a tie. The dealer begins by discarding the first face-up card followed by looking at its numerical value and discarding that number of cards. Each round, two cards are dealt and the dealer announces the total.

If the player or banker achieved an 8 or 9 then the round is over and a winner is announced. If no hand possesses an 8 or 9, it’s decided whether the player should receive a third card followed by whether a dealer should also receive one.

Chemin de Fer

Chemin de Fer is the French favourite (who would have guessed?)

This version of Baccarat is rather traditional compared to Punto Banco, appearing for the first time in the 19th century.

Fun fact: It’s also the version of Baccarat that Mr. Bond is super fond of.

In comparison to Punto Banco, Chemin de Fer has more flexibility. Players all have a chance of being banker. In Punto Banco, any and every bet is placed against the house.

The main ingredients include a dealer, six decks of cards and 8 to 12 randomly seated players around an oval table with one appointed as the banker.

The aim of the game lies in obtaining a 9 through a hand of two or three cards.

Baccarat Banque

Another version of Baccarat is Baccarat Banque. As we have mentioned before, Chemin de Fer emerged from this version. This makes Baccarat Banque the oldest version of Baccarat. It uses the same rules as Chemin de Fer however, the casino holds all the bets under its belt. The phrase “a game of chance” does not apply to Baccarat Banque as it is anything but.

Macau

Although still adored by some Russians, Macau is another version of Baccarat which is not as particularly common as the other three. An interesting fact about this version is that it is believed it was transported from Asia to Europe by sailors. Coolest thing you’ve heard all day, right?

Looking to Play Baccarat?

If you’re reading this sentence right now, then you must have become hooked onto the game’s concept.

If you have some time on your hands and are looking for a challenge, you can head over to our table games page where you will find that we provide two versions of Baccarat: Baccarat Pro and Punto Banco. Even though it’s mostly played in physical casinos, as we have previously mentioned, NetEnt has produced some awesome online versions of it. So, polish your shoes and get ready. You’re in for one fascinating game.

Where To Play Baccarat?

We’re big fans of the below casinos – they’ve got great bonuses, they pack their game libraries with NetEnt games including all their Baccarat games. Check them out and start playing!

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