Casino Game Article
Baccarat
Rules of Baccarat
The rules of baccarat are easy and simple to learn. The aim of the game is to get a hand value as close to 9 as possible. So the best hand a player can receive will equal 9 points with the first two cards dealt. Your second best hand will total 8 with your first two cards. These two hands are called 'natural' hands and no further cards will be dealt if you or the banker have a natural hand.
Baccarat hand value is calculated according to the following card values:
- Aces count as 1
- Cards 2 through 9 count at face value
- 10's and face cards count as 0.
It is important to remember that it is impossible to have a combination of cards that totals more than 9. If you are dealt a 8 and a 7, for example, the total is not 15, but 5. If you're dealt a 4 and an 7, the total is not 11, but 1.
The dealer deals 4 cards, 2 each for the house and player. If the point total of either or both sides is 8 or 9, it is called 'a natural' and no more cards are dealt. If the point total of both sides is the same, it is a tie. When the dealer's or the player's points, after the initial two cards, don not add up to a natural, or when there is no tie, one additional card is dealt according to specific baccarat rules as described below.
If the player's initial hand adds up to 6 or more, he must stand and will not be dealt additional cards. For 5 or less, the player will be dealt an additional card. If the house hand, meanwhile, adds up to 7 or more, the house must stand. Should the house total add up to 0, 1 or 2, the house must take an additional card.
If the house hand totals 3, and the player's third card is anything other than 8 (the player receives his cards before the dealer), house will hit. If the house hand totals 4, and the player's third card is anything other than 1, 8, 9, or 0, house will hit. If the house hand totals 5, and the player is dealt a 4, 5, 6, or 7, house will hit. And if the house hand totals 6, and the player's third card is 6 or 7, the house will hit.
Breakdown of Baccarat Table Layout:
- Caller ("Croupier")
- Dealer1
- Dealer2
- Drop Box
- Discard Trays
- Tips box
Up to 14 players occupy the seats, which correspond to the numbers on the layout wagers placed in a section outlined in front of the players. According to the possible choices at the beginning of each game, the player has three betting areas associated with his/her position at the table. They are: "Banker", "Player" or "Tie".
Baccarat Payouts
If you bet on a winning player's hand, you will be paid out at 1 to 1.
If you wager on a winning house hand, the payout is also 1 to 1.
If you bet on a tie, the payout is 8 to 1.
