Online Baccarat is a well-liked game that is accessible at most online casinos. If you have never played it before, don't falter to discover what the excitement is all about. The uniqueness of the game lies in the fact that in Baccarat you place your bet before your cards are dealt, and not while the game is on. Another distinguishing feature of the game Baccarat is that you can bet on the House, the players, or on the next hand predicting it to be a tie.
There are two principal bets in Baccarat, the banker or player, "Banco" or "Punto" and the seldom used Standoff. Some casinos let the players deal the cards in turn and others have a casino dealer to deal the cards. In case of Online Baccarat the cards are dealt mechanically by a virtual dealer.
Getting Started:
In an online Baccarat game, you can bet on the entity (house or players) with cards that accumulate a maximum of 9 points, calculated according to the following card values:
Aces count as 1
Cards 2 to 9 count at face value
The 10's and face cards count as 0
If you're dealt a 9 and a 7, the combined total is not 16, but 6. If you receive 3 and 8 cards, the total is actually 1. It is not possible to have a card combination with a total exceeding 9. The perfect hand totals 9 exactly with the first 2 cards. The second-best hand is 8 and, along with the 9, the hands make up the two "natural" hands.
Table Layout and Game Payouts:
A Baccarat table includes a middle area for the croupier and 2 similar ends. The Breakdown comprises the following:
Caller or Croupier
Dealers 1 & 2
Drop Box
Discard Trays
Tips box
Seats are occupied by up to 14 players, corresponding to the numbers on the layout wagers in a section outlined before them. At the beginning of each game, the player has 3 betting areas (Banker, Player or Tie) associated with their position at the table according to their choices. Baccarat Payouts are easy to grasp. If you bet on a winning player's hand as well as a winning house hand, you're paid out at 1 to 1. If you bet on a tie, the payoff is 8 to 1. The range of online table bets usually span between $1 and $250.
Baccarat Rules:
According to online Baccarat rules, you may use anywhere between 1 and 8 decks of cards, and hence the option of counting your cards is ruled out. Cards are automatically reshuffled after every hand even the single-deck games.
A baccarat game begins with the dealer dealing 4 cards: 2 each for the house and the player. If the total of either or both sides is 8 or 9, it is `a natural`, after which no further cards are issued. However, it's a tie if the total of both sides is the same. When the house or the player's points, after the initial two cards, is not a natural, or when there is no tie, another card is dealt. Some of the rules have been listed below:
If the player's initial hand adds up to 6 or more, they must stand and not receive additional cards.
5 or less: player is dealt an additional card.
House hand adds up to 7 or more: the house must stand.
House hand is 0, 1 or 2: the house must take an additional card.
House hand is 3, and the player's 3rd card is anything but an 8: the house will hit.
House hand is 4, and the player's 3rd card is anything but 1, 8, 9, or 0: the house will hit.
House hand is 5, and the player is dealt a 4, 5, 6, or 7: the house will hit.
House hand is 6, and the player's 3rd card is 6 or 7: the house will hit.
1-3-2-6 Baccarat Strategy:
Baccarat is a game of chance with little chance of altering the odds. The systems are generally not proven, but are popular nonetheless. The "1-3-2-6" system is one of them as it features even-money payouts. Keep track of your bets over 4 rounds. Start by betting one unit ($1, $10, $50) and if you win, you can add another unit to your winnings in the next round and bet that amount (for 3 units maximum). If you win this round, you have 6 units in all. The system stipulates that, you must take away 4 units and only bet 2 in the 3rd round.
If you win on your 4th wager, add 2 more units to your winnings for a total of 6 units. Winning the fourth bet results in a profit of at least 12 units. Hence, "1-3-2-6"! In case you lose your first bet, you lose only a single unit; if you win the first and lose the second, you drop only by 2 units. However, if you win the second and lose the third, you're still up by 2 units. On winning the first 3 and losing the last, you but have broken even without losing anything.
This is one of the baccarat systems, but it is never foolproof.
Game Variations
Baccarat is played in most North American casinos, where it is known as 'American Baccarat'. It is generally played in the casinos in Vegas, Atlantic City, and other places in the US. Here are a few Baccarat Variations:
Punto Banco
This is the closest you can go to the American Baccarat version, with almost the same rules, but slightly different table design. A mini version of the game is played in casinos in Europe and North America.
Chemin de Fer
This popular French version translates into "railroad" in English. Like the American variety, it is more flexible as far as drawing the third card is concerned. The casino itself does not fund this game. Participants wager between themselves with one of them as the banker. It is passed, counter clockwise, to the next player.
European Baccarat
This version originated in England and is still played throughout Europe. The casino provides funds the banker's hand. However, unlike American baccarat, the player may either "hit" or stand or take another card if the hand totals five.
Mini Baccarat Games
Many casinos have introduced smaller versions of Baccarat played on standard blackjack-sized tables by the rules which apply to the 'larger' version, but without the trimmings. The dealer handles the cards. The layout, however, adapts to the regular Baccarat table: each of the 7 positions corresponds to a particular number and a betting box with places for a banker, player and tie. The lower limits range from a $2 to $5, up to $500 maximum. Mini-Baccarat lacks the formality and the crowd and is good for game play if you're just starting out.
