Try Classic Baccarat
Most keen gamers have heard of baccarat but surprisingly few choose to play it when compared with current favourites poker and blackjack. It’s a shame because baccarat is an ancient game that can be just as fun and exciting to play as its more popular counterparts. For those who would like to know more, we will look at a history of the game, and introduce some of its rules.
History
Baccarat has been played since the 15th century when it first appeared in Italy, before becoming popular with the Aristocracy of France. These days it is hugely popular with Chinese gamers and most online casinos offer a number of tables to participate in. Baccarat comes in three main variations – baccarat banque, Chemin de fer, and punto banco. Baccarat banque and Chemin de fer are French versions, while punto banco is the English version and the one you will most likely find online and the one we will focus on here.
How to play
Those new to baccarat will be surprised to see that not all players get their own cards, though they do get turns. Only two hands are dealt per round – one for the dealer and the other one for the players. The goal of the game is to make a hand with a point value of nine, or as close to nine as possible. Number cards keep their value as you would expect but face cards count as two points each. If the cards in a hand have a point value over ten then the left digit is dropped. For example, 12 becomes 2, and 13 becomes 3. Players can make three bets in baccarat – on the player, on the dealer, or on a tie. Chance and luck play a large role in baccarat so make sure that you know all of the rules of the game to enable you to form an approach and strategy for improving your chances of winning.