Baccarat – The Casino Game of Choice for High Rollers
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In a game that has a mystique steeped in opulence and ritual, baccarat is the card game of choice for the world’s high rollers. Tucked away in high-limit gaming areas, it is a simple and straightforward game, played against the dealer, with bets placed on either the player or banker hand winning. The side that comes closest to nine (picture cards and 10s count as zero, aces as one) wins.
The game became popular in the James Bond movies, with Sean Connery playing a version of the game in several films, including Dr. No; the 1967 film Thunderball, where Bond beats Le Chiffre at baccarat; and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service; and GoldenEye. A number of casinos have baccarat tables, and it is available online as well.
As a result of its history, baccarat is played slightly differently than other casino games, and some players can become intimidated by the rules and etiquette. It’s a good idea to learn the basic rules and the card ranking before trying your hand at the game.
Baccarat combines elements of poker, chess, and blackjack. Players place bets on the Player or Banker hand, and the winner is the side that gets closer to nine points. The game is usually dealt from a multi-deck shoe, and all cards are face up. There is no busting like in blackjack, and the highest possible score in a hand is 9. Cards numbered from 1 to 9 have their face value, while aces are worth one point.
There are three main types of bets in baccarat: the Player Bet, the Banker Bet, and the Tie Bet. The Player Bet pays out 8-to-1 and is the most common bet in the game, but an expert gambler I know points out that it has one of the highest house edges in the casino and should only be used on a hunch.
The Banker Bet is a more secure bet, but the payout is low at 1-to-1. The Banker Hand wins about 45.8% of the time, while the Player Hand wins about 44.8% of the time, with ties occurring about 9.6% of the time.
There is a lot more to the game than just betting on the Player or Banker Hand, and players can make even more complicated bets. For example, the Super Six bet is a bet on any combination of nines, eights, or sevens in the hand. This bet is much more profitable than the Banker or Player bets, but it can be difficult to understand how it works. It’s important to learn how these bets work before placing any real money bets. The game is easy to learn, but can be difficult to master. A savvy player can reduce the house edge by understanding the rules and using a strategy. If you want to try your hand at the game, visit a reputable online casino or play in person at a real casino. The game may seem intimidating at first, but with a little practice you’ll be winning in no time.