Understanding the Basic Baccarat Rules

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There are just a few baccarat rules and they are very easy to learn. But before sitting down at a baccarat table in a live casino or starting a baccarat game online, each player should make sure to understand the betting limits (minimum and maximum). In addition, each player should set some personal limits such as how much to wager each time.

This will relieve some of the stress that comes with gambling on any time of casino game. After these ground rules are set, it’s time to start enjoying an uncomplicated but exciting game.

Among the basic baccarat rules are the three betting options: player hand will win; banker hand will win; tie. A key tip for betting on baccarat: House edge or advantage on the player-hand bet is just a bit more than 1 percent and the winning bet is paid at even money. If you bet $5 on the player hand by placing your bet on the “Player” space on the table and win, you get $10. The casino croupier, often referred to as a dealer, records what you owe in “commission” for that win. The classic baccarat table has a numbered space at the croupier station where this information is kept. Players don’t pay the “commission” each time, but pay the total at the end of a playing session.

If you place your bet on the “Banker” space to indicate that this hand will win, you are paid even money, but the “commission” is 5 percent. A key item among baccarat rules is that the “tie” bet is not a good one for the player since the house edge is nearly 16 percent on this bet.

As you learn the rules for playing baccarat, don’t let the words “banker” and “player” fool you. The terms have been part of the baccarat lingo for years, but at most baccarat tables, any one player can have the “player” hand. Not only that the 14 players at a table are not really playing against the house money, just a second hand called by the name “banker.” (Don’t worry. If this seems confusing now it will be very clear after one or two hands.)

Basic baccarat rules: The player and the banker each receive two cards. Assume the player has a 5 and 9. The card total is 14, but for baccarat purposes the total is 4 (take away the first figure). The ten card and the face cards count “0.” An Ace counts 1 point. If the banker hand has a 7 and a 9 in this case, the total is 6 and the banker hand wins.

When you are learning baccarat rules, take some time to learn the third-card rules. These guidelines give specific instructions on when a player or banker gets a third card. In most cases, the croupier will know exactly when to deal a third card. With online baccarat, the software should be designed to give a third card when necessary. A couple of third-card examples: If the player-hand value is between  0 and 5 and the “dealer” or banker hand is between 0 and 7, the player gets a third card. There is no decision to be made, however. If the player-hand total is more than 5, that hand gets no third card. Another situation mandates that the “banker” hand gets a third card if that hand total is 0, 1 or 2 in the first two cards. In some cases the third card to the banker depends on what the player total is. (Reminder: Don’t stress about these additional rules. The house staff will take charge of the decision. There really is no decision for the individual player to make.)

Basic baccarat rules: The object of the game is to have a hand that totals 9 or as close to it as possible. A player hand with a total of 8 beats a banker hand total of 6, for example.

Even with the percentages working against it, some players choose to bet that the hands will tie. If they do, the payout is 9-1. If this happens, the players who bet on either the banker hand or the player hand do not lose their bet. In baccarat language this is a “push.”

Now, all you have to do is take this brief summary of baccarat rules to your favorite casino Web site or live casino and join in the excitement.

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Quick Baccarat Tips

"Banker’s hand may be better bet - Most baccarat tips and strategy guides suggest that the player gains a bit of an advantage betting on the banker’s hand. Study the details of the game to understand how to use this to your advantage.."

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