Baccarat is often portrayed as serious and elegant in movies – it is James Bond’s favourite game, after all – but in reality it’s quite simple to play. It’s slow-paced, easy to understand and offers some of the best odds in the casino.
In essence, the game is a simple guessing game. Players place a bet on which hand out of two that are dealt – the Banker’s and the Player’s hands – will win. A third card may be drawn if either of the first two hands total 8 or 9. When a third card is not needed, a winning hand is determined by whoever has the closest total to 9 without going over.
Before the cards are dealt, players must know what they’re betting on and how much each bet pays out. Those who correctly bet on the winning Player’s hand qualify for a 1:1 payout, while those who correctly predict a winning Banker’s hand must pay a 5% commission which reduces their payout odds to 19 to 20. Those who wager on a winning tie are eligible for a 8-to-1 payout, and the game offers sheets for players to keep track of their results.
Like many other casinos, Baccarat is a high-roller’s paradise and the games are played on large tables in high-roller rooms for table minimums of $25 or more. The game’s ritualistic and slow-moving nature can be intimidating for average players, but there are six baccarat tips that you can use to improve your chances of playing the game well.
The earliest Baccarat pieces were glass windows and mirrors, but the company’s production would broaden significantly by the turn of the 19th Century. Its strong showing at the Great Exhibitions of that period – where it won medals for its monumental glass fountains, lighting fixtures and sculptural works – caught the attention of Charles X of France who commissioned a suite of Baccarat glassware including vases, ewers and tea sets for his palaces.
After a successful start, Baccarat’s popularity would continue to grow throughout the world. Its appearance at the 1855, 1867 and 1878 Expositions Universelles in Paris brought the firm fame and clients from far-flung countries including Portugal, Japan and India.
Today, Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games in the world and there are plenty of online gaming sites that offer it for you to enjoy. Before you head out to play the game, though, make sure you’re prepared by setting a limit for your gambling spending and sticking to it. This way, you’ll be able to have fun and still walk away with money left in your wallet! Baccarat is an exciting game, but it can be addicting if you don’t monitor your spending. It’s also a good idea to bring cash with you when you gamble, so that you don’t lose more than you intended.