For a long time, baccarat was a game for high rollers or big shot players in the casinos. They had a private room, hidden from everyone else, and only a small number of chosen people knew about the game. But in the last couple of years, it has spread worldwide, and now there isn't a casino that doesn't have a baccarat table.

Baccarat is a popular card game, played with 6 or 8 decks of cards, on a table for 12-14 people. They are dealt from a shoe, two cards for the banker and the players no matter how many on the table. Bets are placed before the game starts.

The biggest advantage of baccarat is that it is one of the few games where the advantage to the house is not much higher than the player. Betting on the banker has a house advantage of 1.06% while betting on the player has a house advantage of 1.24 percent. That is why the best bet is on the banker. You need to know that casinos charge 5% commission for betting on the banker.

Basic Rules

Every turn the dealer deals two cards to players, and to the bank, with maximum number of three cards dealt. Every card (no matter of the suit) from 2 to 9 is worth face value, while face cards and 10s are worth zero points. Aces are worth 1 point. If the points total exceeds 9, the value of the hands is counted for just the right digit. Example, 5 and 8 = 13, the value is 3. The best possible hand is 9, and the one that totals zero is considered baccarat.

If the first two cards total 6 or more, players must stand without drawing cards. When the total is 5 or less, players must draw one more card.

Regarding the banker, he must stand when the total is 7 or more, and draw when the total is 0,1 or 2. In situations where the bank total is 3, 4, 5 or 6, whether he draws or stands is determined by the player's draw.

Casino Variations

Except the classic baccarat game, there are three variations, and those are: punto banco (North American), Chemin de Fer and Banque.

Chemin de Fer is a variation closest to the original baccarat game introduced in France. One of the players is the banker, and he deals until the bank loses. For the Banque version, the dealer can continue drawing cards until there are no more cards left.

Baccarat in Popular Culture

James Bond plays Baccarat. In fact, it is one of the most favorite games of the secret agent. He plays it in most of the Ian Fleming's novels, like Casino Royale, Dr. No, Thunderball, On Her Majesty's secret Service, For your eyes only and Golden eye.