Individuals familiar with casino games have undoubtedly at least heard of Baccarat. It is popular, well known and respected casino game. There are a number of variations (Chemin de Fer, Barracat Banque and Punto Banco) with each having their own specific rules and histories. Baccarat is a game with Italian origins. It is believed to have been invented during the 15th century by Felix Falguerein who was a noted gambler. The game was first played with tarot cards. That is a departure from the traditional card deck used today.
Soon after being founded in Italy, Baccarat would show up in France about 10 years later and then China. Eventually, it would be introduced to the United States, though after many years. Though the game has Italian origins, the country of France has had a major influence on its development. The French are credited with two of the more predominate versions of the game, Baccarat Banque and Baccarat Chemin de Fer. Baccarat would quickly become popular amongst the upper crust and nobility in France. Eventually, it would become available to the mainstream (mid and lower classes) due to its accessibility in gambling pubs.
It would be about four centuries after the game was created in Italy before it became well known in the United States. However, Americans wouldn’t take to the game as fast as the French did. This is partly because it and blackjack hit the scene around the same time. The latter proved to be more popular and well received. It continues to be so to this day. Baccarat would continue to evolve until the 1950s. It was around this time that Punto Banco, the American version, would be invented with the help of Las Vegas. Casinos in the city reintroduced it to its patrons with a few important changes.
Today, Baccarat Banque and Chemin de Fer are mostly played European casinos. American based ones tend to solely offer Punto Banco. For individuals interested in playing all three versions or at least having their pick, the best option would be to check online. Many internet casinos offer their members the opportunity to play all three games. If not three, at least two. Though the rules differ based on what version an individual is playing, there is enough overlap that players will be able to figure out each game on their own. After a few “go-arounds,” they should begin to feel quite comfortable.
Mini Baccarat is another American version of the game. It is similar to Punto Banco. However, there are some marked differences. The table is smaller and the dealer, alone, handles the cards. Mini Baccarat was founded for functional reasons. It began to become costly for casinos to maintain traditional baccarat tables. The sentiment was similarly held by players. The game was too expensive. Mini Baccarat helped to remedy many of these problems. The lower minimums made players happy and the smaller tables meant that casinos could use excess space for either more Mini Baccarat tables or different table games all together. The latter translated into more money for the casinos. Today, this is the predominate type of Baccarat offered on the Las Vegas Strip.
The internet is helping to make the game relevant in the 21st century. It is now possible for anyone with an internet connection and desire to play, to do so. Millions of people are either being introduced to the game or now have unfettered access to it. The internet is also making it possible for new versions of the game to be introduced much more quickly then in the past.
The rules which govern Baccarat play are pretty simple. When playing the Punto Banco version, up to 14 people may participate. There are generally three casino dealers. Individuals have the option of making three different wagers, player (punto), banker (banco) or standoff. The latter, is hardly ever used, though it is available. Depending on where a person is playing, each player may take turns dealing the cards or one of the casino’s dealer will do it. Online, the casino will handle these duties, via a virtual dealer. As stated above, each player will have the opportunity to either wager punto or banco. The dealer traditionally wagers on banco. The person who has the ‘shoe’ deals. If the bank wins, the shoe remains with that player. Once the punto bet wins, the next person gets the shoe, and thus, deals.
The dealer will deal two hands. Players bet on which hand will be the winner. They can also wager on them having equivalent values (tie). If they are correct, they win even money and are paid at a 1:1 ratio. If a person bets on Banco, they will be charged a 5% commission which goes to the casino. Though it will cost the player, there is an advantage to betting on Banco. The odds are in ones favor, slightly, by doing so.
A Baccarat hands includes 2-3 cards. Two cards are placed under the shoe, face down. The individual who has wagered the most on Punto is dealt the other hand. They are also placed face down. This individual is allowed to look at the cards and then hands them over to the dealer. He or she will turn them over and the winners will be announced. A third card may be dealt if neither of the hands is a ‘Natural,’ meaning that they have a value of at least 8 or 9. There are certain rules in place which will determine if this is necessary. We won’t be discussing them in this article. The winning hand is the one with the highest count. Individuals who have wagered on this hand will be given the appropriate amount of chips, which they can cash in at the cage. Monies will be collected from those individuals who lost their wagers.
