As an introduction to casino table games, baccarat is probably the best game to sit down and play.
An inexperienced player can sit at the table and get the same low house edge as an old pro. There are no basic strategy tables to memorize, as in blackjack, nor does it take as large a bankroll as the combination of pass or don't pass plus free odds in craps, and the odds are a lot better than roulette.
It's a game though, that has not really caught on with the low rollers, as they tend to be intimidated by the table - so please let's try and change this, as compared to other table games, there are no strategies to memorise and your odds of winning are better than any other table game at the casino
OBJECTIVE
You must bet on the outcome of one of 3 options, of who has the closest number to nine, either the player, the banker or if it will be a tie.
You are neither the player or the banker, but these are marked boxes on the table, and you select which one you think wil have the closest total to 9.
HOW TO PLAY
As I mentioned you have to decide between 3 options: Player hand, Banker hand, which has the highest total to 9 or a Tie bet.
The card values are as follows:
All tens and picture cards equal zero.
The Ace's equals to 1.
All other cards count as their face value.
If the value of cards exceed 9, then the hand value is adjusted by subtracting 10 from the total.
Example:
9+7=16 Hand counts 6
5+5+5=15 Hand counts 5
10+9=19 Hand is a "natural" 9
King+Ace+5 Hand counts 6
The Player and Banker are dealt two cards each. When the Player and Banker hands are the same total, the hand is a Tie. A third additional card may be dealt automatically, according to the third card rules. No hand will receive more than three cards.
Third Card Rules:
"Natural" - If either Player hand or Banker hand totals 8-9, the hand is called "Natural". In this case, both the Player and the Banker must stand, and a third card is not pulled.
If the Player hand total is -0-5 Player hand must draw
If the player hand total is 6-7 Player hand must stand
If the Player hand stands on two cards then two card Banker hand totaling 3,4,5 must draw and 6 must stand.
After the Player hand is dealt a third card, Banker hand receives a third card according to the following rules: if the Banker hand is -
0-2 Banker hand must draw
3-6 Third card to Player hand determines draw or stand
7 Banker hand must stand
When Banker hand Totals 3-6:
Payoff
Winning Player hand wagers are paid 1 to 1.
Example: if you bet $5 on the Player hand, and the Player hand was closer to 9 than the Banker hand, you will get your $5 back plus another $5.
Winning Banker hand wagers are paid 1 to 1 but the player must pay a 5% commission to the house
Example: if you bet $5 on the Banker hand, and the Banker hand was closer to 9 than the Player hand, you will get your $5 back plus another $4.75 ($5 minus $0.25).
Winning Tie bet wagers are paid at 8 to 1.
Example: if you bet $5 on the Tie hand, and Banker and Player have the same hand count, you will get your $5 back plus another $40.
