When you think of baccarat, images of posh casino settings come to mind. Just picture high rollers huddled around roped off tables. If you enter any casino you will see these roped off baccarat pits, but the game isn't just reserved for the wealthy. If you don't have the bankroll to play with the big dogs, you can still enjoy the game.

 

Mini-baccarat is baccarat for the rest of us. The limits are lower, and there are fewer players, but the game is played by the same rules.

 

Rules

In baccarat, there are only two hands dealt, a banker hand and a player hand. The game is played with six or eight decks. The object is to bet on the hand that has a value (or total) that is closest to nine. Before the cards are dealt, players use chips to wager on the hand that they believe will be closest to this set number. Bets can be made on the banker, the player or a tie. Betting limits are posted on the table. Wagers do not affect the outcome of the game, and this adds to the communal nature of the game. Everyone just bets on the outcome of the cards.

 

Card Values

In baccarat, all cards 2 through 9 retain their numerical value. Tens and face cards all count as zero. Aces count as one. When the total of the two cards is higher than 9, the first digit is dropped in order to get a single digit value. If a hand has an 8 and a 9, the total would be 17. Drop the first digit, and you get a hand value of 7.

 

Game Play

Once the two cards are dealt for each hand. the dealer checks to see if there's an immediate winner. If either the player or the banker has been dealt a two-card hand that totals eight or nine, the game is over. These hands are called naturals. Eight is le petit natural and nine is le grande natural. Whenever anyone is dealt a natural, there is no need to deal any more cards. Le grande natural always beats le petit natural. If both the player and the banker are dealt naturals of equal value, then the game ends in a tie. (all Baccarat terms are explained in the Baccarat glossary)

If neither the banker nor the player has been dealt a natural, the dealing continues. Cards are dealt based on a strict set of rules. If the player's first two cards total less than five, then another card is drawn. If the player has a total of six of seven, then the player must stand. Action always begins with the player's hand first.

The banker's hand is played after the player's hand. If a player only has two cards, then the banker has a certain set of rules to follow. If the player has been dealt three cards, then the banker must follow a different set of protocols.

The rules are followed by the dealer; all the player has to do is pick a side to bet. Once you familiarize yourself with the game, you'll discover that baccarat is the simplest casino game that you'll ever encounter.

If you want to learn more about Baccarat, please study the Baccarat Strategy article.