Baccarat is a game of pure chance with some of the best odds in the casino. It’s often portrayed as being very formal and elegant, especially in James Bond movies, but it is actually quite easy to play. It’s a slow-paced game that can be played with as little or as much strategy as you want.
The rules of baccarat are straightforward: two cards for the Player and Banker are dealt face up in front of all players at the table. The hand that totals closest to 9 wins the game. You can bet on either the Player or the Banker – you can even bet on both, and each has its own house edge. If you bet on the Banker, the house pays out 1:1 minus a commission that varies by casino. If you bet on the Player, the house edges are slightly higher.
Once the bets have been placed, the dealer deals the first card into the Player box and then the Banker box. If your bet is on the Player, you are wagering that this hand will have a higher total than the Banker’s. If the Player or Banker hands do not have a nine-digit total, they are drawn to an additional card. If the added card does not improve their total, they lose the game.
If the player or banker bets win, the winnings are paid out based on the payout tables. There are some additional rules that apply to the game, such as the fact that a tie bet pays out 9:1, but this is not always in favor of the player and can sometimes result in a loss. The game also has a third-card rule that differs from other games.
Baccarat was invented in Italy by Felix Falguiere and is based on an old Etruscan legend of a virgin who had to throw a nine-sided die to determine her fate. If she threw an 8 or 9, she was elevated to priestess status and allowed to take part in community events, while a lower number meant death.
During the 19th century, the game spread from Italy to France, where it was popularized by King Charles VIII and his noblemen. The game then caught on across the Channel in England, where Ian Fleming learned to play and wrote his famous James Bond novels. It didn’t catch on in the United States as quickly, however, and casinos hid the game away by requiring high minimum bets and putting it in special rooms with posh leather chairs.
Baccarat’s popularity is growing in Asia, where it has become a staple at high-roller casinos. Its growth is fueled by the fact that it appeals to Asians’ preference for low-roller games, and it also satisfies their desire for a game with low house edges. In fact, Bill Zender, a former Nevada Gaming Control Agent and casino executive, literally wrote the book on managing casinos, and he believes that baccarat is poised to be the next big thing among Asian high rollers.