If you’ve been to a sticky-floor California card room or the tuxedo-laden casinos of Monaco, you’ve probably seen baccarat played. It’s a game that can conjure up images of Sean Connery wielding a gin martini in the first scene of James Bond. It’s a game that is revered as the high-stakes casino classic that combines glamour with science.
Baccarat is a card game that uses an eight-sided die and a nine-point scale to determine the winner of a hand. The goal is to bet on the hand that will come closest to 9 points, which are calculated by adding up the values of each individual card and deducting the tens digit. Picture cards (King, Queen, Jack) and the number ten count for zero points, while cards numbered 1-9 are worth their face value, and the ace counts as one point. When a player or banker hand totals 9 points, it’s called a “natural” and wins; if a total goes over 9, the second digit becomes the value of the hand.
There are several different variations of the game, with from seven to 14 seats for players and a dealer’s area. The simplest version of the game is known as Punto Banco, and it’s the game that is most commonly played in the United States. In this game, the player’s and banker’s hands are dealt two cards each, and the game ends when either hand has a total of 9 or a close-enough number. A winning banker hand will pay out the bets placed on it, and a losing hand will collect the bets that were lost. The dealer will also track commissions by placing a mark in a box every time a player owes money to the casino.
The game is easy to understand and arguably the least intimidating in the casino. Unlike blackjack, where players must choose between playing against other players and the house, bets are made on the player or banker. Baccarat’s low-house edge of 1.3 percent makes it one of the most profitable games to play with a basic strategy, and it can be played in just seconds.
In addition to the basic bets, a player can place side bets in baccarat that pay out based on the outcome of specific events. The most popular of these bets is the Super Six Bet, which pays out 12x a player’s original bet if the banker hits a 6-point card. Another option is the Pair Bet, which pays out 11x a player’s original bet on whether or not the Banker will get a pair of matching cards.
Despite all of the drama, theories and strategies attached to baccarat, the fact is that it’s still a simple game that relies on luck and a system of probability. For those with a good understanding of the game and the discipline to follow the Martingale betting system, it can be an enjoyable way to enjoy one of the most prestigious and elegant casino games on the floor.