Baccarat is a game that has captured the imaginations of many people around the world, from sticky-floor California card rooms to tuxedo-laden casinos in Monaco. The game has even made its way to Hollywood, where Sean Connery was seen playing it in the first James Bond movie, Dr. No. Although the rules differ slightly depending on whether you are playing the “punto banco” or “chemin de fer” variation of the game, the overall principle is the same. You place your bet on either the Player or Banker hand, and hope that their final total will come closer to nine than the opposing hand. The final digit is determined by adding up the values of all the pips on each hand—aces count as one, while 10s, jacks, queens, and kings are worth zero.
The game starts with the banker announcing his or her initial betting amount, which players can then choose to match or go against. A second round of cards is dealt—one to the banker and one to the bettors’ hand. Sometimes a third card is drawn, which can alter the final result of the hand. The hand that is closest to a total of 9 wins the round.
If the banker or bettors’ hands are equal, a tie bet is placed. This bet pays out eight to one, but has a high house edge of over 14 percent, so most serious players avoid it. The Banker and Player bets, on the other hand, have much lower house edges—around 1.36 and 1.17 percent respectively.
While the game might seem intimidating to those unfamiliar with it, the process of play is actually quite simple. Unlike most casino games that have numerous wager options, the game of baccarat features only two main bets: Player and Banker. The Tie bet is also available, but since intelligent players ignore it, the game’s statistics are based on the Player and Banker bets alone.
In terms of global casino revenue, baccarat is the biggest game in the world. In fact, last year, casinos in Macau, which has dethroned Las Vegas as the world’s gaming capital, earned over $88 billion in revenue, and 88 percent of it came from baccarat.
The game of baccarat is an exciting and elegant affair, which makes it ideal for parties or special occasions. However, it is important to remember that this is a high-stakes game, and it’s easy to get carried away and end up spending more than you intended. To avoid this, decide in advance how much you want to spend, and treat the money as you would any other night out. This will help you stay in control and make wise decisions throughout your session. Moreover, this will ensure that you do not lose more than you can afford to.