Online baccarat
Baccarat is a hugely popular casino game that was once the preserve of the rich but is now accessible to all thanks to the advent of the internet. The game is known for its simple rules and is fairly easy to get to grips with. Read on to find out more about if you wish to play online baccarat.
Top online baccarat sites
History of baccarat
The game has been played in different forms since way back in the 15th century. It was first played in Italy before it was discovered by the French aristocracy and is particularly popular with the Chinese today. It eventually arrived in England and is known to be a favourite game of James Bond. Baccarat also become popular in Cuba in the 20th century where it was called Punto Banco and changes were made to the rules so players played against the house rather than each other. This form of Baccarat was soon known as ‘American Baccarat’. When the casinos of Havana were being closed, the game arrived in Nevada. The introduction of the online casino in the 1990s means anyone can play baccarat online with real money.
Understanding the baccarat table
The decks of cards used in baccarat are kept in a dealing box known as a ‘shoe’. The game is played with between one and eight decks of 52 cards. The aim of the game is to guess whether the highest hand will be drawn by the Player or Banker. You can also bet on a tie between the Player and the Banker at UK baccarat sites if you wish.
Understanding the baccarat bets
In baccarat, 10s and face cards are treated as zero. Only the final digit of any total is count, so if a hand adds up to 16 it will count as four. A zero is known as a ‘baccarat’ despite the fact that zero is the worst hand you can possible have. When playing baccarat online, you need to place your bet by clicking on the relevant part of the table. Once your bet has been placed, the Player and Banker will receive two cards each. If the player has two-cards that add up to 5 or less, they will automatically be dealt a third card. The Banker also no choice in whether they are dealt a third card as this is determined by the rules. When both hands are complete, the higher hand will win the game.
European versus American baccarat
There are two main differences between European and American baccarat. In European baccarat, the player can stand or draw on 5. Technically, the banker can decide whether to draw a third card or not, but in most cases the American rule is followed and the card is dealt automatically. Once the banker’s bet is matched, no more bets can be made. Should a player wish to cover the entire bet of the banker, they can say ‘banco’, preventing other players from betting during the round. As with most variants of baccarat, you will normally have to give around 4-5% of your winnings to the casino if you bet with the bank.
What are the best betting strategies and baccarat tips?
Many gambling experts advise you to avoid making the tie bet when you play baccarat free. The house has an edge of around 14.4%, which means your chances of winning big are extremely low when you bet on a tie due to the way ties occur so rarely. A large number of experienced betters urge new players to bet on the banker and continue to do so at least until it loses. You may even decide to sit out a bet after the banker suffers a loss. The house edge on banker bets is lower than that of player bets. It’s always wise to take the time to find out what the best online baccarat sites are.
Mini-baccarat has also become extremely popular over recent years, but it’s particularly advisable to back the Banker when playing this variant. Always remember to take a break to consider your next move if you have been playing for some time, even if you have been enjoying a winning streak. Having a profit goal in mind when you play baccarat free online and walking away when it is reached can stop all your winnings being lost in mere moments. Let’s hope you find the best online casino to play with online baccarat and get the results you’re seeking.
