Baccarat

Baccarat: The Basic Play
by Wilson of Predictem.com

In Baccarat and Mini-Baccarat the dealer begins by dealing two cards each to the player and the banker. The cards are dealt face up. The object of the game is to bet on the winning hand.

After the first two cards are dealt the call man, a casino employee, will indicate who needs to have another card dealt to them. Both the player and the banker are trying get a hand that totals closest to nine points.

In Baccarat if a player is dealt a two card total of eight or nine it is known as a natural. A natural is an automatic winner. However, a natural nine will beat a natural eight as nine is the higher number.

If either player or banker has a natural the hand ends. But if neither player nor banker has a natural then the dealer or call man will determine who should receive another card. The dealer must play the player's hand first, and then the banker.

Let's look at how the basic rules of play are conducted. If a player's two-card total is zero up to the number five then the player must draw another card.

The player must stand if they have a two-card total of six or seven. If the player's two-card total is eight or nine, which is a natural, they must stand.

The banker hand is played based on how the player hand was played. So, if the player draws a natural on the first two cards then the banker will not draw a card. If the player hand stands on a six or seven the banker will do the following based on what two-card total he has drawn.

If the banker scores a zero through five he must draw a card. If the banker's two-card total is six or more he must stand.

Now, if the player must draw a third card then the banker must do the following based on the player's third card: If the banker has two or less he will always draw.

If the banker has a total of three he will draw if the player's third card is an ace, two, three, four, five, six, seven, nine, or ten.

If the banker has a total of four he will draw if the player's third card is a two, three, four, five, six, or seven.

If the banker has a five he will draw on the player's four, five, six, or seven.

On a six, the banker will draw if the player's third card is a six, or seven.

And if the banker's two-card total is a seven he will always stand.

Finally, when both hands have been played the one closer to nine will win that hand. The dealer will pay the players who bet on the winning hand. In case of a tie the dealer will pay those who bet on a tie. If a tie does occur then all wagers on the player and banker will be considered pushes and no money is lost.

The payoffs on all three bets are as follows: a bet on the player hand to win will pay even money, so if you bet $5 you will win $5. A bet on the banker will pay even money minus a 5 percent commission because the bank has a slight advantage over the player. So, if you bet $5 on banker and won you would receive $4.75. A bet on a tie will be paid off at either nine to one or eight to one depending on the casino. The tie wager is the worst wager to make in Baccarat as the chances of winning this wager are slim at usually ten to one.

There you have it, it may seem confusing at first, but really, you don't have to do any calculating at all because the dealer or call man does all the work for you. Luck to ya.

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