Everything You Need to Know About Baccarat: Rules, Variants, Tactics and More

Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games in the world, partly because it is easy to get to grips with and offers a relatively small house edge. This means the casino does not automatically have a significant advantage over the player and, while it's a game of chance, it is considered by most to be fair and transparent. You may have seen baccarat in-person if you have visited a casino and you have probably seen versions depicted in major films too. It is the game Sean Connery is playing when he is first introduced as James Bond in 'Dr. No' and it also featured in other James Bond films, including 'GoldenEye' and 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'. Baccarat has also emerged as a popular option for players visiting online casinos, with live experiences, quick games and several variations keeping things interesting. Before you try out baccarat on Stake, it is worth taking some time to understand how the game works, what the variations are and what tactics you can deploy.

Baccarat Basics: How Do You Play?

Baccarat is a relatively simple, chance-based, comparing card game. Essentially, the game works by comparing two hands: a player hand and a banker hand. As the player, you place a bet on which of the hands will be closer to 9, which is the maximum value of a baccarat hand. Therefore, another way to think of this is you are betting on which of the hands will have a higher value within the rules of baccarat.A hand initially consists of two cards. Depending on the value of the player hand, a third card may be drawn. This happens if the value of the cards is between 0 and 5, as long as the banker hand does not have a value of 8 or 9. If the player hand is 6 or 7, the hand stands, but the banker may draw a third card in certain conditions. If the player hand is 8 or 9, the round ends immediately, with no third card being drawn for either the player or banker.It is important to understand that, in modern baccarat, the player hand and banker hand are really just designations of two different hands. As the player, you can bet on either the player hand or the banker hand. This decision is, however, made before any of the cards have been drawn, which is what makes it a pure game of chance.

Understanding Baccarat Card Values

One of the most important steps to understanding baccarat is learning the card values and how they work.The cards from 2 to 9 in any suit have their numerical value, while an ace has a numerical value of 1. Picture cards (jack, queen and king) all have a value of 0, while the 10 card in any suit is also worth 0. Joker cards are not used.Adding the values of the cards in a hand gives you the hand's total value. So, as an example, if a hand is a 2 and a 4, the value of the hand is 6. If the hand consists of an ace and a 7, the value is 8. Picture cards add 0 to the value, so a 7 and a king would be worth 7, while a 3 and a queen would be worth 3.The maximum value for any hand is 9, but if you add the value of cards in a hand together and the value exceeds 9, you do not have a "bust" like in Blackjack. Instead, to turn the number into a valid baccarat hand value, you subtract 10 from the total. For instance, a value of 13 becomes 3, while a value of 16 becomes 6.

Baccarat Betting Positions Explained

In a basic game of baccarat, there are three main betting positions, which are:

• Player: You are betting that the hand dealt to the player will be highest or closest to 9.

• Banker: You are betting that the banker hand will be highest or closest to 9.

• Tie: You are betting that the banker hand and the player hand will have the same value.

Statistically, the banker wins slightly more often than the player. This is primarily because the banker draws second and actions around whether or not a third card is drawn are based on the player hand. This is a small statistical advantage, which applies even when cards are dealt mechanically. Across all games, the banker hand has a win probability of 45.86%, compared to 44.62% for the player hand. A tie has a 9.52% probability.As a result, the payout for betting on the player hand is 1:1, whereas there is a 5% commission when betting on the banker hand, so the payout is 0.95:1. Therefore, a successful bet on the player hand will pay out more than a successful bet on the banker hand. The tie is usually paid at 8:1 because it is significantly less likely.You may also see two additional betting positions, which are:

• Player Pair: You are betting that the player hand has a pair (e.g. two 7s or two kings)

• Banker Pair: You are betting that the banker hand has a pair (e.g. two 7s or two kings)

These are optional side bets, which you can place alongside your main selection. So, you could choose to bet on the banker hand to have a higher value, but the player hand to have a pair. These side bets potentially allow you to increase your winnings and could also mean you still win some money even if your main selection is incorrect.

Exploring the Key Baccarat Versions

There are different versions of baccarat, but the most common is called punto banco. When you play a game of baccarat using an online casino platform like Stake.com, you are almost always going to be playing this version. Punto banco is defined by the fact that the game is banked by the casino and fixed drawing rules are used to play out both the banker hand and the player hand. The player can bet on either hand and add a side bet, but there are no other major decisions to make. The draw itself follows an automatic process and it is a player vs. casino game.One of the most popular variants is chemin de fer, which is a similar game, but it is played between players sitting at a table. This is what you may have seen in a James Bond film. Players make more of the decisions themselves, such as whether to stand or draw another card and players take turns to serve as the banker and dealer.Another version, baccarat banque, is somewhat similar to chemin de fer. It is played against other players again, but one of the key differences is a single player is designated the banker role on a more permanent basis. Within online casinos, you may also see versions with names like Mega Baccarat. These are usually variations of punto banco, where multipliers are used, meaning there is the potential for even higher payouts.

Why is Baccarat So Popular Today?

Baccarat has a history dating back hundreds of years, but the modern punto banco variant emerged in Havana during the 1940s. It has grown significantly in popularity in the decades since. Today, in most places around the world, this is now the dominant version of the game and one of the most popular casino games in general.A major reason for this enduring popularity is baccarat's simplicity. The game is relatively quick and easy to understand. Effectively, the player is betting on which hand will be higher and the most complex rules, like when to draw a third card, are handled automatically by the casino or dealer, removing complex decision-making.While there are strategies players can use while playing baccarat, at its core, it is a game of chance. This helps to make it easily accessible to new players and there is no real need to learn complicated tactics to get started. Instead, strategies are generally designed to provide a sense of structure and help you manage your money.

Key Baccarat Strategies and Tactics

Baccarat is a game of luck, so strategies need to be deployed with this in mind. No matter what tactics or strategies you embrace, you are not guaranteed to win and by the same token, you could win money while using no real tactics at all. Nonetheless, it is worth being aware of some of the common strategies.The Paroli betting system is based on the idea of capitalising on win streaks and maximising earnings. You place an initial bet, which serves as your base wager amount. If your bet wins, you double the wager for the next one and continue along this pattern. If any bet loses, you return to your base wager amount. A much more risky system is the Martingale strategy. This works in a similar way to the Paroli system, but with this method you increase your wager amount after each loss. It is a high-risk strategy, aimed at recovering losses as soon as possible. However, a losing streak can become very costly, so it should be used with caution.Regardless of the strategy you deploy, it is important to set betting limits for yourself. Before you begin, be clear about how much you are willing to bet and only play with money you are willing and able to lose. This can help to prevent situations where you try to chase losses and end up getting into financial peril.

3 Tips to Get Started With Baccarat

The following tips can help you to get started with baccarat and make sensible choices along the way:

1. Think Carefully About Your Approach

Before you start playing, you should give some consideration to your overall outlook. Are you going to play a risk-adverse game? If so, focus on smaller bets and prioritise simple bets on the player or banker hand. Would you rather play a high risk, high rewards strategy? Here, you might want to play more side bets and place larger wagers.Are you playing a few casual games or do you intend to play for an extended time? If you are playing briefly and casually, tactics are likely to be completely unnecessary. If you are playing for longer periods or for more serious amounts of money, it is worth looking into strategies like the Paroli system to optimise your winnings.

2. Remember Probabilities of Each Outcome

It is a good idea to try to remember the probabilities of each of the main betting positions:

• Player: 44.62% chance of winning

• Banker: 45.86% chance of winning

• Tie: 9.52% chance of winning

While the difference between the player and banker hand is small, it remains true that the safest bet is always on the banker hand. However, this needs to be balanced against the 5% commission to payouts associated with this bet.Putting your money on a tie is a much more risky bet, but it offers far higher returns if you are successful.

3. Have Fun and Try to Mix Things Up

Always remember that baccarat is supposed to be a fun casino game. You should avoid playing if you are feeling angry, frustrated or depressed. Only play with money you can afford to lose and try to view winnings as a bonus. This way, your enjoyment will not be affected too much if you hit a losing streak.It can also be a good idea to mix things up by playing different baccarat games. As an example, Stake.com offers Stake Originals Baccarat, along with Baccarat Live and Mega Baccarat. It is worth exploring these different options to see which one you like the most or which one feels like the kind of experience you are looking for.

Conclusion

Baccarat is a classic card comparison game, with a relatively small house edge. The rules are easy to understand and you can get started playing baccarat games quickly, but there are some strategies you can start to use as you get more serious too. Therefore, it is a game you can keep coming back to time and time again.From a player perspective, you only really need to understand the three major betting positions and the way the value of a hand is calculated. Although rules around third cards can be more complex, this process is carried out automatically and players can easily check a tableau of drawing rules online to verify fairness.