How to Play Online Baccarat?

Baccarat, pronounced “ba-ka-ra”, is a game invented by an Italian cards player Felix Falguiere and its name originates from the old Italian word for ‘zero’ (why zero you will see shortly). The game is available at most of the top UK online casinos like Dunder Casino. For now, you should know 2 major things about baccarat. It is a game appreciated and played mostly by wealthy, prominent people or high-rollers if you may, which pay from $100 to $100,000 per a bet (in James Bond style). The second thing you should know is that baccarat requires no skills whatsoever. You can play it without focusing or memorizing anything – all you have to really pay attention to is how much you want to bet and on which of the 3 possible bets.

Baccarat Basics

Baccarat is a game that is played by 12 to 14 players. The standard deck of 52 cards is used, where the cards from 2 to 9 have their pip value. The aces, compared to what they’re worth in other card games, count as 1, while the jacks, kings, and queens are worth, believe it or not, as 0. Now, the aim of the game is to be dealt a hand that is closest to a total of 9. Another interesting thing about the count is that 10 is subtracted from the total in order to get the wanted 9. So, if you have a total of 17, your cards actually count as 7.

Now, How to Play Baccarat?

If the game requires no skills, then how is it played? Well, the banker deals you two cards first, which you don’t touch and then deals 2 cards for him as well. Before looking at the cards, you have to make the most important step in the game: bet. You can bet on three bets: The Player Bet, The Banker Bet or The Tie Bet. This means that you’re guessing whether you will win, the banker or it will be a tie. Then, after bets are set, you look at the cards. If your total is 5 or less, you are dealt with another card, while if it is 6, 7, 8, or 9, you don’t get another card.  The Banker doesn’t get another card if his total is 9, 8 or 7. After the dealer compares the totals, he announces the winning bet.

How About the Wagering?

As there are only three bets you can make, you can assume that there are different house edges for all of them. And you’re right. The Player bet has a 1.24% house edge, the Banker 1.06% and the Tie has 14.36%. Now, if you bet on the Player or the Banker, you will be paid even money or 1 to 1 but you will pay a 5% commission to the dealer. On the other hand, if you bet on the Tie, 8 to 1 is paid to you or in some casinos even 9 to 1. This is the riskier bet, so before you master the game, try to stay away from it.