How to Play Baccarat and Win Big Time

Every time you step foot into a casino, the atmosphere is divided between colourful slot machines, the roulette table filled with excited players or the tensed poker ones. Nonetheless, the Baccarat section is the brightest. Lots of people waiting impatiently by the table to see the winning result. This is where the most fun takes place. But do you know how to play Baccarat 2024?

Baccarat can be just a bit intimidating to newbies, although it was considered a high-class card game among French nobility back in the 19th century. Then it became the official favourite game of James Bond’s, which made it awfully popular. The truth is, Baccarat is one of the easiest, most exciting casino games out there. No strategies or special skills needed, just bring your good mood and learn how to play baccarat and win.

History of Baccarat

Supposedly, Baccarat finds its origin in Ancient times. But how did we get from the Chinese tile games, to play baccarat online free? The first proofs of Baccarat can be traced back to the Chinese Pai Gow, based on the meaning of the name – make nine. Nine is the perfect score in the baccarat rules. Another source of its origin comes from Ancient Rome, where a similar game of cards was used during rituals.

Going straight to its birthplace, it is believed that the Italian game of Tarrochi is the ancestor of Baccarat. Felix Falguiere being the official father of Baccarat, he developed the game as we know it today, using Tarot cards. The etymology of the name is unclear as well, as the game might be named after the French town Baccarat. Others think it actually comes from the Latin Bacchi ara, translated into the altar of Bacchus.

What is Baccarat?

Played at a table of 14 players, Baccarat is a card game that involves a lot of guessing. The goal is to get as close as possible to the lucky outcome of scoring 9 points. The three possible outcomes are:

• Player wins
• Banker wins (the dealer)
• It’s a tie

During a game of the best baccarat casino game, there are several decks of cards used, and always re-shuffled. Since the dealer does most of the work, the player can simply enjoy the casino atmosphere while hoping for the lucky 9.

How to Play Baccarat 2024?

As mentioned before, the structure of the game is pretty simple so learning how to play Baccarat is rather easy. In front of each player, there’s a betting system laid out, with three boxes for the Player, the Banker and Tie. All players place their bet in one of the 3 boxes in preparation for the cards being dealt. Depending on the casino of your choice, the dealer uses six, eight or nine card decks, re-shuffled every time.

The first thing the player needs to know on how to play Baccarat is the system of calculations. To get to the desired 9 points, you need to make the sum value of your cards. Whenever the value is greater than 9, the first digit of the sum is dropped, leaving you with the result. Hopefully, your hand is better than the Banker’s.

Baccarat Rules

Right after each player sets the desired bets, the dealer deals the cards, each of the participants receiving 2 cards, face up. The one getting the closest to 9 is the winner. To do the math right, players should know the value of the cards:

• Cards from 2-9 have their face value
• 10, Jack, Queen and King account for 10 points
• Ace has the value of 1 point

Learning how to play Baccarat brings us to the understanding of several other important rules:

• Cards are dealt only after all wagers are decided, then no more decisions can be made
• When the Player or the Banker has a sum of 9 or 8, they have what’s called a natural hand. The winner is the one closest to 9, and the bets are paid
• In case both Banker and Player come to the same sum of points, only the Tie wagers win
• When there’s no natural hand or Tie, the outcome is decided based on the Player’s hand. A sum of 6 or 7 makes the Player stand, while a hand of 0 – 5 awards him another card.

Additional Baccarat Rules 2024

Now, these are the basic rules you need to know when learning how to play Baccarat. Since you’re playing against the dealer, there is one more important aspect to keep in mind. This refers to the moment when the Banker is entitled to a third card. The baccarat rules state the following card scheme:

• When the Banker has a 7, 8 or 9, he stands
• If the points total is 6 and the Player’s third card is 6 – 7, Banker takes another card
• When the sum is 5, he takes another card if the Player’s third card is 4 – 7
• At a sum of 4, he’s allowed to another card, if the Player’s third card is 2 – 7
• If the Banker has 3 and the player’s third card is not 8, but any other card, he takes another
• The Banker takes another card when he has 0 – 2 points.

As stated before, understanding how to play Baccarat is fairly easy and the dealer will be guiding you. When you play at the best brick-and-mortar baccarat casino, you basically only need to think of your wagering decisions. The dealer is the one taking care of every little detail. Same goes for the online baccarat games or Live Dealer Baccarat, where the game is fast-paced and worryfree.

Baccarat Bets

If you’re wondering how to play Baccarat efficiently, you must know from the beginning to trust your instinct. Since you’re only relying on your luck and a bit of math, the only focus must be the betting system. Baccarat rules state three different possible wagers:

• Betting on the Player
• Placing your wager on the Banker
• Guessing it’s a Tie

How to Play Baccarat Making Side Bets

Baccarat is the most popular card game due to the simplicity of the game – few Baccarat rules and several bets. Since the play itself doesn’t involve a lot of critical thinking or strategizing, some players might lose interest, when mastering how to play Baccarat. No need to worry, there are also some additional types of bets, to stir your enthusiasm. Just make sure to check this possibility with the casino rules, as not every casino approves side bets. If you want to know how to play Baccarat like a pro, take a look at the following side bets:

1. Dragon Bonus Bet – a side bet repaying you for a natural hand or a difference of 4 or more points between the participants
2. Optional Pairs Bet – place a bet on the Banker, the Player or both. If the first two cards of the Player or the Banker are an identical pair, the wager pays at 11:1.
3. Bellagio Match Bet – whenever entering a multiplayer game, you can wager on a three-of-a-kind. The baccarat payout becomes 75:1 for the Player and 68:1 on the Banker’s side.
4. Lucky Bonus Bet – a rather rare wager, but one of the best paying ones. If you want to know how to play Baccarat and win big, bet on the Banker’s winning 6 hand. Just keep in mind that the wager can’t be over 10% of the Banker’s bet. The extraordinary news here is the big baccarat payout of 18:1 while the house advantage becomes 1.11%, the smallest out there.
5. Royal Match Bet – put your money on the Player or the Banker drawing a King and Queen as the first two cards. The house edge is pretty awesome, at a 2.13% rate while the baccarat payout is 75:1.

Baccarat Odds

Learning how to play Baccarat is one of the most exciting things you can do when you enjoy casino games. Besides being extremely fun to play, Baccarat is famous for having a pretty low house edge. Actually, if you think about how to play Baccarat and win, you should know the house advantage is the lowest out of all casino games. So your odds are pretty high, as it follows:

• The Banker bet has a house edge of 1.06%
• Winning the Player bet happens at a house advantage of 1.36%
• The Tie bet jumps to 14,4%, but the baccarat payout is definitely bigger
• Chances for winning a Player’s bet are around 44,62% while those of losing it reaches 45.85%.

Tie bets materialize 9.55% of the time, but this will pay your original bet back. Because of that important detail, the odds reach 9.47:1 but the house advantage stays at 14.4%. Some players do enjoy taking the risk since the Baccarat payout is significantly bigger. However, the basic bets – although being charged the 5% commission, are the most advantageous ones.

Baccarat Strategy 2024

Betting systems used when learning how to play Baccarat can be effective in the short term winning plan. In fact, the statistics and the math in Baccarat show the intuitive outcomes. But there’s no reason why players shouldn’t give these strategies a try, especially when playing baccarat online free. This is how they can test the effectiveness of the strategy, at the best baccarat casino of their choice.

The baccarat betting system is based on a positive or a negative progression. Take a look at the following, most used strategies, to learn how to play Baccarat and raise your winning chances.

How to Play Baccarat and Win

Throughout this guide, we established how to play Baccarat, based on the rules, odds and possible strategies. But since this is a guessing game, your intuition is the secret ingredient for winning. Regardless of your preferred gameplay, playing baccarat online or in a land-based casino, this is what you need to do to win.

Always go for the Banker or Player bet and stay away from the Tie wager, as it’s the most disadvantageous. Our recommendation is to invest in the Player bet.

• Set in place a strong budget management. Have a clear image of the value you afford playing – and losing, and stick to it.
• Based on your budget, use one of the Baccarat strategies mentioned before. Some are riskier, others more protective of your budget. Give each one of them a trial run when playing online baccarat games for free, then play for real money.
• Always check the terms and conditions of the game you’re playing. Casinos implement different rules, so you need to know as much as possible about the game you’re investing in.
• Trust your instinct. Regardless of the many betting systems and the math involved, Baccarat is a game of luck.
• Manage your emotions and have fun while playing Baccarat.

How to Withdraw Winnings

You now know how to play baccarat and win, it’s time to enjoy your good luck and make a withdrawal. In order to do that after winning at online baccarat games, just follow the next simple steps:

Simply accept the transaction and wait for it to be completed.

Variations of Baccarat

From all the Baccarat variations out there, the three most popular are:

• Punto Banco
• Chemin de Fer
• Baccarat Banque

Punto Banco

The closest variation of the classical game of Baccarat, Punto Banco allows 12 players at the table. They have the possibility of betting on the Player, the Banker or a Tie. Since all the above rules apply to Punto Banco, the most interesting difference comes from the role of each player. The one occupying the first seat takes the role of the bank and deals the cards. The baccarat payout is at a rate of 1:1 and the most advantageous bet is the Banker’s.

Chemin de Fer

Also known as Chemmy, Chemin de Fer is the french version of Baccarat. What makes it special is the fact that players compete against each other, not the dealer. The player can also match the dealer’s stake, by saying Banco, which allows more possible bets. Just as well, the player can stand on 5 points, while the banker’s play is completely optional. At the same time, this variation is extremely interactive, as the players are allowed to shuffle the cards.

Baccarat Banque

Being curious about how to play Baccarat Banque brings us to this essential difference. The role of the Banker is actually decided – auctioned before the game starts. Three decks of cards are used during the play, while the player is dealt two hands and the banker just one. For the game to start, the presence of only one player is enough.
If you want to know how to play different variations of online baccarat games, check it with your preferred casino.

Online Baccarat Games 2024

When looking for the best baccarat casino game online, you should know that the available options are the ones mentioned above: Punto Banco, Chemin de Fer and Baccarat Banque. The last few years of casino innovations brought some new thrilling versions as Mini Baccarat, Live Dealer Baccarat or Speed Baccarat – recently developed by Evolution Gaming.

Mini Baccarat

Very similar to the traditional Baccarat, Mini Baccarat can be enjoyed simultaneously by 7 players. There is one dealer in charge of the gameplay and the rest of the rules follow. The three types of bets are available, while the closest to 9 is declared the winner.

Live Dealer Baccarat

Playing Live Dealer Baccarat games is not only incredibly convenient but so efficient at the same time. Claim the special bonuses from the best baccarat casino and get ready to win. The real dealer is professionally trained to assist your every need and you can even choose your favourite dealer. The speed of the gameplay is rather similar to the offline one and the game is exceptionally broadcasted in real-time. Are you wondering how to play Baccarat Live Dealer 2024 and which version to try out? These are the available Live Dealer Baccarat games on the online gambling market:

• Single-player Baccarat
• Baccarat Squeeze
• Speed Baccarat
• Punto Banco
• No Commission Baccarat
• Mini Baccarat
• Multi-seat Baccarat

Playing Offline vs Online Baccarat

As we all know, gambling in a real casino is a truly fun experience. The special casino atmosphere can easily sweep you off your feet. But the online baccarat games changed the world of gambling completely. The online casino brings many exquisite advantages meant to guide you on how to play Baccarat online 2024. These are our favourites:

1. Play baccarat online free – online casinos give you the chance to try out your strategies for free or playing just for fun
2. Massively convenient – online baccarat games can be played from the comfort of your home, or even on your mobile device
3. So comfortable – no need to wait for a table seat or to worry about the working hours of the casino
4. Don’t forget about the wonderful promotions – claim the bonuses awarded by the casino for a more fruitful experience.

Conclusion

One reason for Baccarat’s huge popularity stands in the lack of complexity defining other card games. Easy but so entertaining, baccarat online free or at the casino will definitely become your favourite game. Understanding how to play Baccarat, the rules and odds, the different types of bets (basic and side bets) is only the first step. Acquiring relevant strategies and testing them at baccarat online free can only improve your game and bring you the most thrilling gambling session.