Baccarat is one of the world’s most beloved casino games and, with an extremely low house edge of only 1.06 percent, far less expensive than slot machines or roulette. Plus it requires no special knowledge to enjoy an engaging game experience – making baccarat an excellent way to stretch every dollar spent gambling! For this reason it makes an ideal choice for casino-goers seeking maximum return from their money-spent.
Baccarat dates back to Europe in the 1400s, where it was known as “chemin de fer,” or “the banker’s game.” Upon coming to America in 1958 via Las Vegas Strip casinos, it quickly gained popularity across the world; today it can also be found at Asian casinos.
Baccarat rules are straightforward. Players bet either on the Player hand, Banker hand or tie and two cards are dealt out to each player – winning is determined by having the highest total; scoring can be determined by adding up each card’s face value – picture cards and tens count for nothing; any total exceeding nine is rounded down to its nearest digit and can easily be monitored using score sheets provided on baccarat tables.
As with any game, blackjack can be intimidating for newcomers. Although there are certain nuances you should familiarize yourself with before starting up the game, most will be handled by the dealer and its rules. Still, it is wise to familiarize yourself with these early on so you know what you can expect when starting off.
One thing that can cause confusion for newcomers to the game is drawing a third card. If either hand has a total of 8 or 9, they are considered naturals and the winner is instantly declared; otherwise a third card is drawn and drawn as necessary.
Many players believe they can gain an edge against casinos by following baccarat trends or counting cards – although this strategy may reduce the house edge by around 0.05% it is risky and illegal in many jurisdictions.
Baccarat boasts one of the lowest house edges among casino games, boasting 1.06 percent on banker bets and 1.2 percent on player bets – significantly lower than blackjack or any other casino game. It is therefore one of the more popular choices among high rollers for its lower house edge; additionally it appeals to them due to cultural associations from movies like Dr. No; On Her Majesty’s Secret Service; Thunderball; and GoldenEye where baccarat played a prominent role.
