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The Basics of Baccarat

Baccarat

Baccarat, or Punto Banco, is a game of chance that is played at most casinos around the world. The game is based on a deck of cards, with the players sitting in two halves around a central banker.

The game is a relatively simple one to play, and the rules are fairly straightforward. Face cards (Kings, Queens and Jacks) are worth zero points, tens are counted as 0 and an Ace is worth 1. Card values go from 2 to nine, with each digit worth its pip value (as stated on the card).

A player’s first two cards determine whether they will win or lose. If their first two cards total eight or nine, they are a “natural” and will automatically win. If the first two cards total a different number, further cards are drawn to decide the winner.

If no natural wins are made, the third card is drawn by the Banker and the Player draws a card if their hand is on a total of 0-5. The Dealer must follow a set of rules to determine when to stand or draw a card.

Before a game of Baccarat begins, the decks are shuffled and bets are placed. These bets are grouped into the Player and Banker bets, with a Tie bet available to those who are willing to take a risk and play against the house.

The Player bet is the most common type of baccarat bet and pays out if the first two cards are a pair. The payout is 9 to 1.

Alternatively, a Super Six bet can be placed on the Banker’s hand and pays out 12 to 1, if the Banker’s hand wins with six points. This bet also offers an attractive house edge of 1.2 percent on banker bets and a higher house edge of 14 percent on player bets.

Another bet is a Tie bet, which pays out eight to one if the first two cards are a match. This bet has a higher house edge than the other two, but is still a good choice for high rollers who are willing to take a risk on this bet.

The Banker’s bet is the second most popular bet and pays out if the first three cards are a pair. The Banker’s bet also has a higher house edge than the other bets, but if you are willing to take a risk on this hand it is a good choice.

Once the bets have been placed, the dealer deals the first two cards to each player. They then shuffle the deck and place the cards in a shoe, with a cut card placed on top of the seventh from the last card. The decks are then passed from one player to the next, counter-clockwise.

The dealer then shuffles the deck again and deals a second set of cards to each player. This is done alternating between the Player and Banker. This cycle continues until both hands are dealt.