Baccarat has it origins in Europe where it is still very popular. The are several variations of baccarat but in North America Punto Banco is the most common among casinos. Many gamblers find baccarat intimidating but its really not that hard to play and there are far fewer decisions to be made. Baccarat is known as a high roller game and it not uncommon for so called ‘whales’ to hit the Las Vegas casinos and win or lose millions. These losses can sometimes even have a dramatic impact on a casinos bottom line, particularly if a high roller makes a big score and run or move to another Las Vegas casino, because the house edges are slim their action is often welcomed but also feared.

How to Play Baccarat-Punto Banco

Its very easy to learn how to play baccarat as the hands play themselves, the player does not have to make any decisions on whether to hit or stand like blackjack. No strategy is involved after the bets are made its a game for true gamblers. On a baccarat table you will find 3 different betting spots in front of you marked  player, banker and tie. Before the hand is dealt the player must decide whether to bet on the:

Bankers Hand

If you chose to  place your bet on the banker you will be betting on the bankers cards and hope that his hand will beat the players. This is the best bet for the gambler as house advantage is about 1%

Tie

When betting a tie in baccarat you are hoping the bankers hand will tie the players hand. Incidentally this is considered the suckers bet as its more in the houses favor. House advantage is over 14%

Players Hand

When betting the players hand obviously you are hoping it beats the bankers hand. House advantage is about 1% just slightly more than the bankers hand

Now your job as a better is done, you have nothing else to decide. The dealer(Called a croupier in baccarat)  will deal two cards face down to the players hand and two cards face down to the bankers hand. After this the dealer will turn both hands face up. In baccarat the cards are dealt out of a shoe just like blackjack. The shoe will hold multiple decks just like blackjack to prevent card counting.

The object of baccarat is simple the hand closest to 9 wins.

Card Valuations in Baccarat

• 2-9 are worth their face value       8 of clubs =8, 2 of hearts=2 ect……
• Aces =1
• 10 and face cards =0

The action is first on the players hand. The value of the two cards is added together. If the total is over ten the first digit is dropped.

Some sample hands and the value

• 2 clubs and 7 clubs = 9
• Ace and Queen 1+0= 1
• 7 Spades and 8 Diamonds (total is 7+8=15 but the 1 is always dropped) =5
• 4 Hearts and 9 Spades (4+9=13 total is 13 but 1 is dropped)= 3
• King of Clubs and King of Diamonds 0+0=0

(note:The suit of the cards is meaningless as in blackjack)

Action After The Two Baccarat Hands Are Turned Over and Added Together

Now the dealer will look at the players hand and determine if another card is drawn for the players hand.

Players Hand Action

• If the players hand equals 0-5 he will draw one more card and add all three cards together for a final hand value for the player.
• If the first two cards of the players hand equals 6,7,8,9 no card will be drawn and the players hand stands.

(8,9 are called naturals)

Bankers Hand Action

The Bankers hand actions are based on if the players hand drew a card and what that card was.

• If the Players hand did not draw a card, the Bankers hand draws if the two card total  is 0-5, and stands if he has 6,7,8,9
• If the Players hand drew a card and it was a 2 or 3, the Bankers hand draws if he has 0-4, and stands if he has 5-7.
• If the Players hand drew a 4 or 5, the Bankers hand draws if he has 0-5, and stands if he has 6-7.
• If the Players hand drew a 6 or 7, the Bankers hand draws if he has 0-6, and stands if he has 7.
• If the Players hand drew an 8, the Bankers hand draws if he has 0-2, and stands if he has 3-7.
• If the Players hand drew an ace, 9, 10, or face-card, the Bankers hand draws if he has 0-3, and stands if he has 4-7.

Payouts for baccarat are even money for the Players hand and even money for the Bankers hand minus 5% house commission since the Bankers hand obviously has the advantage of going second. Ties are paid off at 8-1.

You may wager on both a tie and any combination of the Players hand or Bankers hand.

I hope I explained how to play baccarat in a easy to understand format, now go try a little low stakes mini Baccarat and see how your luck is.