A Guide to Online Baccarat
Baccarat is an elegant and elitist casino game seeping in rich history and tradition. The game is associated with high rollers, smartly dressed players with a touch of class. Further immortalised by James Bond in Casino Royale and Diamonds are Forever, where Bond places seemingly complicated bets and win high payouts. Players needn’t worry, as Baccarat is a game that can be played by anyone due to its uncomplicated betting and clear layout. The name is pronounced; ‘baa-car-rah,’ with a silent ‘t’ at the end. It is a cardinal sin to mispronounce the name at a casino, so players take note! Of course, this hardly likely to happen while playing an online version of Baccarat!
Online Baccarat Options
While many people might feel intimidated by the formal and elegant aura surrounding Baccarat, they need not fear that with the online version of the game. While it retains all its intrinsic quality the online version is a much more informal affair and players don’t have to spend a fortune to play! There are various tables with different limits that will accommodate most players’ budgets. The game can generally be played in two versions online. The standard ‘table game’ format and the more glamorous live dealer casino version. The latter provides a live setting in professionally set up studios with multiple-camera filming and streaming on real-time. The croupiers regulate the flow of play and oversee the betting process as multiple players participate. Live casino Baccarat provides unprecedented levels of player interaction and engagement as they communicate with the croupiers and other players at the table.
Online Baccarat Rules
Contrary to public perception Baccarat rules are surprisingly simple, which makes the game attractive and appealing to players. The game is played at a table that has a particular layout. Up to 14 players can partake in a game and the dealers keep everything in check. The croupier stands at the centre of the table,and makes calls on the hands, directing players according to the game procedure. The two dealers take up position behind the chip stack. They take in players’ bets and affect the payouts to the winning players.
How to Play Online Baccarat
Baccarat is primarily a game of prediction. Players bet on which of two hands, the player’s, or the croupier’s come closest in value to the number nine. A tie is referred to as the gala take. The winnings are paid on the amount of the corresponding bets. The primary objective is to bet on a winning outcome. Baccarat tables at online casinos inevitably offer different betting limits and the minimum and maximum are marked clearly on the pay table. Once participants place their bets, the player and the banker are given two cards, and a third card may also be necessary to determine the outcome of the game. The dealer will deal both the player and the banker two cards each. A maximum of three cards will be dealt out on either side. In some cases, an additional third card is needed to determine the outcome of the game. With standard versions of Baccarat, if the player’s hand wins, the payout is even money and the banker’s hand gains a 19 to 20 payout.
Card Values
Knowing the card values is the key to understanding the game and the way the points are calculated. Cards two to nine are taken at face value. The ten and picture cards are valued at zero, while the Ace is worth one point. If the total of the two cards amounts to a two digit number, the first one is dropped. Therefore, receiving a four and an eight card totals twelve when added together. The first digit is dropped leaving a hand value of two. The best possible score a player can get is 9, and it can lead to a fantastic payout.
Is there a Baccarat Strategy?
All that players really need to worry about is placing a bet, the dealer takes care of the rest, which is why baccarat is an ideal game for beginners. A clear-cut strategy does not exist; nevertheless, there are some basic tips players should take note of. Never bet on a tie. The house edge on players’ and banker’s bets are relatively small, yet betting on both increases the house edge considerably. The best way to bet is on the outcome of the player’s, or banker’s hands as it is almost like flipping a coin.
Some players believe in following the ‘shoe’, by betting on the banker’s hand until it loses, then switching to betting on the player’s hand. Another approach is to ‘play the chop’, which is to bet against the last result. Then players can choose to ‘bet the trend’ by choosing to bet on three or four hands of either participant. Any even more natural method is to always bet on the banker, who has the lowest house edge. The best advice players for players is to follow their instincts. Baccarat is a game of luck and therefore money management during the game is crucial to creating the best chances. Know your limit, and stick to it!