BACCARAT The Rules Of The Game
Baccarat – the Rules of the Game The most popular variation of Baccarat is Punto Banco. In this version of the game two hands are dealt by a dealer, namely the player and the banker. These hands are played out according to a set of predetermined rules, unlike other more dated versions of the game in which hands were played by different people who had the choice of whether or not they wanted to draw a card.
Baccarat – the Rules of the Game Players are now limited to the choice of betting on the player (punto) or the banker (banco) to win; the player may also bet that they will tie. Neither hand is in any way associated with the house or the player: the player and banker hands are simply competing hands on which the player may place a bet, like red or black in Roulette.
Baccarat – the Rules of the Game Punto Banco is dealt from a shoe containing 4, 6 or 8 decks with a cut card placed before the seventhlast card. Drawing the cut-card indicates the last round of play for the shoe, this is called a coup. For each coup, two cards are dealt to the player and banker (starting at the player and alternating between hands) – drawing rules are then applied and the outcome is determined by comparing totals.
Baccarat – the Rules of the Game • • • • •
Evaluating Hands Cards valued 2-9 are worth face value. 10s, Jacks, Queens and Kings are valued at 0. Aces are valued at 1. Suits don’t matter.
Baccarat – the Rules of the Game The score of a hand is calculated by adding the value of all the cards together modulo 10. This means that if the sum of all the cards is a double-digit number, the score of the hand is equal to the rightmost digit in the sum. This means that 15 will be valued at 5 and 25 also at 5.
Baccarat – the Rules of the Game If the sum of the cards is not a double-digit, the total is taken at face value. A hand consisting of 4, 6 and 10 is valued at 0, or Baccarat. The word ‘Baccarat’ is used in place of the word zero to refer to zero-valued cards and hands. The best score one can get is 9.
Baccarat – the Rules of the Game • The Drawing Rules (Tableau) for Punto Banco Once the players have made their bets on the banker (banco) or player (punto) or that they will tie, two cards are dealt to the player and banker respectively. If either the player or the banker has a hand with a total of 8 or 9 on the initial deal (this is known as a natural), no further cards are drawn and the outcome is determined based by the present totals. Should no naturals be present in the initial deal, further cards may be dealt according to the following sets of rules:
Baccarat – the Rules of the Game • The Player’s Rule: Should the player’s initial total be between 0 and 5, a third card will be drawn. If the player has an initial total of 6 or 7, it stands. • The Banker’s Rules: If the player has not drawn a third card (has stood pat), the banker draws a third card if its hand has an initial total of between 0 and 5. The banker will stand if its initial total is 6 or 7. If the player draws a third card, the banker will follow a set of more complex rules:
Baccarat – the Rules of the Game Players Draws
Banker Action
2 or 3
Draws if hand totals between 0 and 4 and stands if hand has a total between 5 and 7.
4 or 5
Draws if hand totals hand totals between 0-5 and will stand if hand totals 6 or 7.
6 or 7
Draws if hand totals between 0 and 6 and stands if hand totals 7.
8
Draws if hand has a total of between 0 and 2 and stands if hand totals between 3 and 7.
9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace
Draws if hand has a total of between 0 and 3 and stands if hand totals between 4 and 7.
Baccarat – the Rules of the Game The dealer will announce the winning hand and will collect losing bets and pay winning bets. Usually, bets are paid at 1:1 to the player (punto). 5% commission is paid to the house for all bets won betting on the banker (banco) i.e. bets are paid at 95%: it has been established that over an 8-deck game, on average, the bank will win three to four more hands.
Baccarat – the Rules of the Game Should the banker and player have equal totals, the dealer will announce that tie bets have won and winning bets will be settled at 8:1. Understanding the basics and rules of Baccarat, know that you are well-equipped to take on the Baccarat table at any casino, online or landbased. Please feel free to distribute and republish this document providing that all links contained herein remain intact Š MMXI CrazyVegas.com