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BACCARAT HISTORY

The word baccarat is derived from the Italian word baccara, meaning zero, and refers to the zero value given to all of the face cards and tens. In Europe, the elegant game of baccarat is one of the most popular casino games. The game baccarat has long held the attention of gamblers and an early version was played with cards from a Tarot deck back in the Middle Ages. The game may have originated in Italy around 1490, but by the early 1950's baccarat had become the game of choice for the French nobility. Eventually baccarat evolved into European baccarat and the French game chemin de fer. What is known as American baccarat actually originated in England and spread to South America. The version of baccarat that is played today came from the Capri Casino in Havana, Cuba.

When baccarat was introduced to Nevada in the late 1950's, casino's tried to instill the glamorous aura associated with the European game. In most casinos, baccarat is played in a roped-off area, is closely monitored and sometimes even guarded.

While the grandiose atmosphere of baccarat may attract the well-dressed high roller, baccarat is a simple game of chance that involves no degree of skill on the part of the player or dealer. Players may sit in any of the 14 open seats at the table, as seating position does not affect the play in any manner. Each seat corresponds to a number on the layout, one through 15, excluding a spot numbered 13 to avoid bad luck. Three dealers service each table. The dealer standing in the middle is known as the croupier or the caller. The croupier makes the calls on each hand as they are dealt, and directs the players on the procedure of the game. The other two dealers are responsible for handling the payoffs.

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BACCARAT RULES

How to Play Baccarat

Part of what makes Baccarat a great game is that it's so simple. The Player's decision is limited to deciding what kind of bet to make. From there on it's in the dealer's hands and you collect or pay when it's over.

In Mini Baccarat, which is the only version most of us will ever see in play, you don't even get the option of handling the cards. In the "whale" games of European Baccarat they get to mangle the cards whenever they like just for personal entertainment. But then they're dropping $1000 or more a hand and you can bet that that buys a lot of replacement cards.

Betting

Bet on your own hand (Player) and you face a house edge of 1.24%. Bet on the Banker's hand and the edge is either 0.6% if there's a 4% House cut or 1.06% is their cut is 5%. Finally there's the Tie bet which at best gives the house almost a 5% edge (Pay 8:1) and at worst 14+% (Pay 9:1). Forget the Tie bet for obvious reasons. Unless you can find a game with 4% vig on Banker bets, betting Player or Banker is six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Strategy

The first thing a casino player asks themselves when stepping up to a game is "how do I improve my odds?" The answer in Baccarat is easy: you don't. Other than avoiding the Tie bet there's nothing you can do.

What about card counting you ask? After all, everyone seems to do it on TV. Save yourself the trouble because it's a facade. Statistical analysis has shown that card counting in Baccarat is totally ineffective until the game hits the bottom of the shoe and even then it's a miniscule advantage. It basically boils down to paying yourself $10 an hour for risking $1,000,000. You're better off getting a squeegee and washing people's windows for spare change.

As to playing the game, that's it. As to knowing what's going on, it's a matter of strict and fixed rules, and here they are:

The Objective

The objective of Baccarat is to draw a two- or three-card hand that totals closer to 9 than the banker.
10, J, K, Q count as 0, A is a 1 and all other cards are face value.
If your total is more than ten, you drop the ten. So a 7-9 hand totals to 6 (16, drop ten).
There is no such thing as a "bust" hand.

The Rules

The banker and the player each draw two cards.
If either the player or banker total 8 or 9, both automatically stand, no exceptions.
If the player's total is 6 or 7, the player stands.
If the player stands, the banker hits on a total of 5 or less.
If the player's total is 5 or less, the player automatically hits and the banker gives the player a third card.
If the player receives a third card then the banker draws a third card according to the following:
- Banker's hand totals 0,1,2: Banker always draws a third card.
- Banker's hand totals 3: Banker draws if Player's third card is 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9-0 (not 8)
- Banker totals 4: Banker draws if Player thirds 2-3-4-5-6-7
- Banker 5: Banker draws if Player thirds 4-5-6-7
- Banker 6: Banker draws if Player thirds 6-7
- Banker 7: Banker stands.
Once the final cards are dealt, the one with the total closest to 9 wins.

BACCARAT STRATEGY

Riding trends

Every baccarat table will have plenty of scorecards and pencils for baccarat players to keep track of the outcome of every hand. Most baccarat players will do so religiously and carefully analyze their card for trends as the winning hand switches back and forth from the banker to player. This is a big waste of time! The smart baccarat player will bet on the banker every time and leave the scorecards alone.

Where to play baccarat
The game baccarat is becoming a hard game to find. In Las Vegas only the largest casinos generally offer the game. Of the four megacasinos at the intersection of Tropicana and the Strip (MGM Grand, New York New York, the Excalibur, and the Tropicana) only the MGM Grand offers baccarat. In downtown Las Vegas only the Golden Nugget offers baccarat and only on weekend evenings. Many places that do offer baccarat only deal it at night (the Luxor and Hard Rock for example).

The baccarat table minimum is usually very high. During my last Vegas trip I inquired about the minimums at the MGM Grand: one table was $500, one was $1000, and another was a private game. A sign at the baccarat room at the Stardust indicates they have a $25 minimum game (nights only) which is the least I have ever seen. I believe the Las Vegas Hilton has a $100 minimum. The Silver Legacy in Reno offers big table baccarat in the main casino for a $10 minimum. While I was there nobody was playing baccarat other than myself.

Win Baccarat - Great Odds & Easy & Fun to Play!

If you are looking to have some fun in a game of chance, Baccarat is a good choice not only is it fun and easy to play and surprisingly easy to win at Baccarat.

Before we look at how to win at baccarat, let' look at plays to help you avoid losing that are made by novice players.

My players feel they can win by studying patterns in Baccarat but this is simply a gamblers myth. Looking for patterns and cycles in baccarat is just as futile as in roulette or slots.

Their all games of chance and patterns mean nothing.

The previous play never influences the next play.

This is a mistake many novice gamblers make when trying to win at Baccarat and they end up losing.

If you bet on the flip of a coin, and it landed on heads 22 times in a row many gamblers would say the chances of tails on the next flip have increased.

The chances however remain 50 -50 for the next toss regardless of how many times the coin has fallen on heads in previous throws

Winning at baccarat – Systems

Casino's give out cards where you can write down the games history and look for patterns.

While many players take them seriously, they won't increase the odds of success or help you win at baccarat.

You see them on the net all the time systems to help you win at baccarat consistently, but they never work and you should save your money.

Winning at baccarat avoid card counting

Card counting is usually associated with blackjack, as it is an effective strategy when utilized correctly to help you win and give you a small edge over the casino.

Is it a good strategy to win at baccarat? The answer is no.

The problem is though, the issue of used cards being fed back into the shoe before very many cards have been dealt as there are only a few cards out you cant use card counting

Another problem is unlike blackjack, baccarat does not offer you an opportunity to alter your bet in mid-hand play.

Blackjack offers this in a number of situations, so you can increase your bet if your count changes and the odds shift in your favor.

Using card counting in baccarat though offers so few situations with an advantage against the house that it does not help you win at baccarat.

The best bet in baccarat

The house has an edge in baccarat, as in all, casino games but it's a small one at just 1.24% for bets on player and just 1.06% for bets on banker.

The odds of winning at baccarat are much better than many casino games such as roulette, slot machines and blackjack using basic strategy.

The only game with a better odds bet is the craps odds bet at (0%).

Winning at baccarat means you need to use the banker bet as often as possible, as it's the bet with the best odds and the lowest house edge.

5 ways to win at baccarat

+1. Number of decks: Choose the game with as few decks as possible.

+2. Commission: Look for the casino that charge a commission on banker bets lower than 5% shop around and cut costs

+3. Bet on the banker. This bet has the lowest house edge and greatest odds to win at baccarat, as previously discussed

+4. Money management. Set a bankroll in advance have a profit and loss cut off point, don't spend more money than you have chasing losses

+5. Don't use baccarat systems. It is futile to base your gaming decisions on results of previous bets, when the game is a random game of chance.

There is only ONE good bet.

Use the banker bet the most, for variety you may want to bet on the player occasionally but never bet on the tie.

Winning at baccarat

Baccarat attracts both novice and experienced players, it's a fun game, easy to play and with great odds when you know how to play.

Use the above and win at baccarat. Good luck!