Live Baccarat – play this live table game against the house
This article is about one of the most popular casino games in the world, and perhaps even New Zealand: Baccarat. Baccarat is a classic game that has been played for centuries. Originally, it was a game for the elite, including the richest industrialists and royalty. It is no surprise that it was James Bond’s favorite game. Nowadays, Baccarat is a game for everyone.
Baccarat is an exciting card game available in both real and online casinos. Though it may seem complicated at first, once you know the rules, it becomes easy and fun to play. While the ambiance of a real casino is unmatched, Live Baccarat offers a similar experience. You can play Live Baccarat from your PC, laptop, tablet, or mobile, making it possible to enjoy the game from anywhere, at any time.
In this post, we will discuss everything you need to know about Baccarat. We will explore the gameplay, recommend the best live Baccarat casinos, and share tips for winning real money.
Baccarat is one of the easiest live casino games to learn. Its simplicity has made it very popular in casinos worldwide. In Baccarat, you play against the house and can bet on one of three possible outcomes: the player wins, the banker wins, or it’s a tie. The “Banker” betting option is not linked to the house, so you can bet on both the “Player” and the “Banker.”
What is Baccarat?
Let’s start by explaining what Baccarat is. Baccarat is a game of chance which is played with cards. In general, the most popular games are being played with cards. Think about other card games like poker and blackjack for example. The name of Baccarat comes from Italian word ‘Baccara’. There are different theories, but the story is that the game was introduced in France around the 1500’s. It’s pretty bizarre that we still play games from those times, right? It was originally a game for the elite and the rules developed over the years, until it arrived in the United States in the 19th century. Although the game at first wasn’t the biggest success, it managed to become more popular in Cuba. This is where it got the name of Punto Banco. After Punto Banco was introduced again in Vegas, it became a popular game all over the world.
There are a few types of Baccarat, which are played with different details. Beneath you find the most played variants.
- Baccarat Chemin de Fer
- Punto Banco
- Baccarat Banque
Furthermore, we will share information about the different details of the Baccarat types above. But let’s take a look at the general gameplay first. While playing baccarat you will play against the house. During the game you have the option to bet on one or more of three possible outcomes. The possible outcomes are that either the player wins, the banker wins, or it will be a tie. The betting option ‘’Banker’’ has no link with the house, so you will be able to bet on both the ‘’Player’’ and the ‘’Banker’’.
How the game of Baccarat is played
Let’s start by explaining what the goal of Baccarat is. At Baccarat it is the goal to bet on the hand that ends with a total of 9 or as close as possible to 9. It is up to you to decide who will have the highest value, the player or the bank. It is also possible to bet on a tie, which means the player and bank has the same score. Beneath we will take you to the game step by step.
Evolution Gaming is one of the most popular providers of live baccarat. Source: EvolutionGaming.com
A round of Baccarat
- Betting; The first step while playing Baccarat is betting on one or more of the available betting options. At most online casinos you will be able to bet from a low as €1.- per round. While betting you can also decide to bet on for example two of the outcomes or all three of them.
- Dealing; After placing your bets the dealer will draw two cards for both the Player and the Banker. The first card will be placed face side up in the Player’s box. The second card will be placed face side up in the Banker’s box. Once done the dealer will do the same and deal both boxes another face up card.
- Counting; After drawing the cards the dealer will announce the total amount of points for each set of cards. During Baccarat all tens and faces are worth zero points. All other cards are worth their original value and the Ace has a value of 1. If the total amount of points of one hand exceeds 10 the second digit will be used as the total amount. For example; A 9 and a 8, which equals 17, will make a seven point hand. The card box which is the closest to nine will be the winner of the round.
- “Natural win’’; When one of the boxes gets a total amount of 8 or 9 with their first cards it is called a ‘’Natural win’’. In this case the game is over and all winners will be paid.
- ‘’Third card’’; When no box has 8 or 9, the dealer will look if they will get a third card. The ‘’Player’’ will need to stand on a total amount of points of 6 or 7. At any other value (0-5) there will be drawn a third card for the ‘’Player’’.
- Final draw; When the ‘’Banker’’ has a total amount of points between 0 and 5 it will draw another card. When the total amount is 6 or 7 it will also stand. There are also other scenarios depending on the third card of the ‘’Player’’. When this for example is a 9, 10, face-card or Ace, the Banker draws when he has a 1-2, and stays with a 5-6.
- Payout; Once all cards all dealt the winning hand will be decided by calculating the total amount of points. The winning hand is the one that gets the closest to 9. When a tie appears, both the ‘’Player’’ and ‘’Banker’’ lose.
A player’s hand
The Player always acts first. What the Player does depends on the total points in the box.
If the Player has 6 to 9 points, no more cards are drawn (this is known as a natural win or stand).
If the Player and the Banker have the same amount of points, it is a draw.
When the Player has 8 points and the Banker has 9 points, the Banker wins.
When the Player has 9 points and the Banker has 8 points, the Player wins.
If the Player’s first card totals 0 to 5 points, they will draw another card. Once this happens, the Player’s hand is finished.
The banker’s hand
If the Banker has 8 or 9 it is a natural win. When there is no natural win the Banker will stands when the amount of points of the first two cards total is 7. If the Banker has a total of 0, 1, 2 or 3 it will always hit a card, unless the Banker has 3 against a Player with a total of 8. When the Banker has a total of 4, 5 or 6 with his first two card it will hit depending on the Player’s hand. It works like this;
- When the Banker has 4 it will hit against a Player with a total of 2 through 7;
- When the Banker has 5 it will another card when the Player’s total equals 4, 5, 6 or 7;
- If the Banker has 6 it will hit against a Player which has 6 or 7 points;
One of the easy things about Baccarat is that the dealer will do all the work. You only have to verify that the dealer is counting right. Unlike during Blackjack you won’t have to call for a hit or stand. You simply have to drop your bets and wait for the outcome of the game!
Regular bets
While playing Baccarat you can bet on the ‘’Player’’ or the ‘’Banker’’. When you get it right, you will double your stake. In some cases you might pay a commission then you bet on the ‘’Banker’’. This commission can be around 4 or 5 percent.
Tie bets
During Baccarat you can also bet on a tie. When winning, this betting option pays 8 to 1. Although this is an interesting return the tie bet has a 9,5% house edge. Because of this it is not smart to bet on this option every turn (you can try it sometimes if you feel lucky).
Side bets
Most Baccarat games also allow you to place side bets. You can bet on the player to get a pair, the banker to get a pair or on both options. When you get it right, you will be paid 11 to 1. Although it can be fun to place side bets, you will always be in disadvantage of the house. The house edge on side bets while playing Baccarat with 8 decks is 10,36%. The hit frequency of a pair is 7,47%.
Strategy towards winning money
While playing Baccarat you will need to consider some things. First of all the ‘’Banker’’ always acts last. Because of this the ‘’Banker’’ has a small advantage which results in a lower house edge. During most varieties of Baccarat the ‘’Banker’’ has the lowest house edge after commission (1.06%). This is one of the reasons why many high roller love to play this game.
As stated before the tie bet is fun, but is not something you should use if you want to win in the long term. The house edge on this betting options is around 9,5% which means it will kill your winnings pretty quickly unless you are really lucky. At some casinos you will also find a tie betting options which pays 9 to 1, which has a far more interesting house edge round 4,84%. But still it is not enough if you like to get the highest odds of winning.
Although you can use some strategy during Baccarat the game is still based on luck. Since the house always has an advantage, in the end you will lose. Because of this it is important to stop when you made profit, or still have some money on the table.
Our selection of the best Live Baccarat casinos
We made a list of the best online casinos to play Live Baccarat. The online casinos are reviewed and rated on several aspects. Obviously, we started by reviewing the available Baccarat games. We focussed on the Live Baccarat games. In our list, you will only find online casinos, who offer games from proven reliable game providers. For example, with games from Evolution Gaming, you have the guarantee that the gameplay and connection are 100% reliable. Other than the availability of the best Baccarat games, we reviewed the following aspects of the online casinos.
- Baccarat games
- The best available bonuses
- Level of customer service
- Reliability of the online casino
- Payment methods
- Mobile compatibility
- Loyalty promotions
- Minimum bets
After our thorough reviews, we came to the following list of the best Live Baccarat casinos.
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Winning chances at Baccarat
The winning chances of a game could be something to take into consideration before you decide to play the game. We believe this shouldn’t be the only reason to play the game, because success also depends on your preference, personal skills and external influences like other players. But we do want to inform you about the winning chances of Baccarat. As mentioned, there are 3 options in a game of Baccarat.
The first option is the bank wins the game. The second option is the player wins the game. The last option is the game is a tie. The winning chances of the bank winning the game is 45,8%. There is a 44,6% that the player wins the game. This means there is a 9,6% chance that the game will end in a tie. The bank normally gets a 5% commission over the winnings from a game. Beneath you find an overview of the winning chances of a game of Baccarat.
- Bet on the winner of the game
- Banker: 45,8%
- Player: 44,6%
- Tie: 9,6%
Online Baccarat versus offline Baccarat
Playing online Baccarat has some serious advantages. As you know, at BestBettingCasinos.com, we are big fans of playing at online casinos. There a few good reasons why we love it so much. One of the reasons is that at online casinos, you can play at any time of the day, from every place you prefer. You can play Baccarat from behind your laptop, tablet or even by using your mobile phone.
Another reason to play online Baccarat is that the quality of Live Baccarat, nowadays, is very good. Game providers like Evolution Gaming offer Live Baccarat with real dealers, who are actually in a real ‘brick and mortar’ casino. Reliable game providers also offer secure connections, so your game never disconnects on their side. So basically, you watch and play at a real Baccarat table, and you also have the possibility to have conversations with other players. This means it comes as close as possible to the real casino experience. Other than that, the minimum bet of online casinos is often lower in comparison with real casinos. Therefore, it is possible to play more games with a lower stake.
Bonuses and promotions – online much more common
Another big advantage of playing at online casinos is the possibility to claim bonuses. Online casinos often offer attractive bonuses, because they want to attract new players. They also often offer promotions to frequent players, because they want players to keep playing at their online casino. At BestBettingCasinos, we are always looking for the best bonuses for our visitors.
The last big advantage of playing at an online casino, is the availability of ‘No Commission’ Baccarat. This means you don’t have to pay the standard 5% commission to the banker, which you always pay in a land-based casino. In the end, this advantage gives you a higher revenue.
We are definitely not against real casinos, because there is nothing like the exciting atmosphere of a real casino. This is something you can’t really experience behind a screen. So, if you want to experience that feeling, we advise to visit a real casino and join a Baccarat table!
Tips and tricks to win more
We are happy if you win money while playing Baccarat. That’s why we share some tips and tricks to help you win at a game of Baccarat.
- Don’t play every round. Try to bet on a side which is in a winning streak.
- The odds during Baccarat can defer depending on the amount of card decks that are being used.
- Having a look at the history of a game can help you decide where to bet on.
- Baccarat is a game based on luck, keep things fun and only risk money you can lose.
- Don’t drink a lot of alcohol or use drugs while you are playing. This could have a negative effect on your decision-making process.
- Don’t bet on a tie, the house edge is way to high on this betting option!
Different types of Baccarat games
Over the years, a lot of different Baccarat variations emerged on the market. Most of the times the location influences which type of Baccarat is played. The general rules are usually similar to each other. Most of the times the difference is about the drawing rules and player interactions. Beneath you find the most common variations of Baccarat.
1. Punto Banco
The most common variation is Punto Banco, which is played in the United States, Canada and Australia. The casino always acts as the bank and the game follows the standard Baccarat rules. This is also the most played game at online casinos.
2. Chemin De Fer
If you play Baccarat in Europe, you will most likely play Baccarat Chemin De Fer. There are two differences in comparison with Punto Banco. A major difference is that the players do all of the dealing. The role of being banker rotates around the table. The other big difference is that players have the option of standing or taking another card if the hand total is five.
3. Baccarat en Banque
This game is also mostly played in Europe. This version is generally played with 3 decks of cards. The role of banker is appointed to the player who is willing to take the biggest risk. The drawing rules are often similar to Chemin De Fer.
4. Super Pan 9
This Baccarat variation uses a limited deck of 36 cards. The cards that are used are all face cards and A, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Both banker as player are dealt three cards first. They have the option of drawing one extra card with the purpose of getting to 9 or to get as close as possible.
5. Three Card Baccarat
This a specific Baccarat game is very popular in Asia. This game is pretty different in comparison with the standard rules. Only one deck of cards is being used at this game. Both player and banker receive three cards. The highest possible hand is three face cards. After this, the ranking is based on the traditional rules.
Frequently asked questions
Below you will find a wide range of frequently asked questions about the game of Baccarat.
What is the minimum bet while playing Baccarat?
This amount varies from casino to casino but in many land based casinos in the United States the minimum bet is around $20. In land based casinos in Europe this amount is low, around €10. While playing in online casinos you will be able to play with lower stakes, €5 per round or even €1 per round.
Is Baccarat the same as Punto Banco?
Punto Banco is a name which you will also find in various casinos, and it is an American variation the popular game Baccarat. During this game you won’t bet on the ‘’Player’’ and ‘’Banker’’ but on ‘’Punto’’ or ‘’Banco’’. One difference between these two games is that Punto Banco is always played with an eight-deck shoe. Punto Banco is known for having one of the lowest house edges in the casino.
What happens when both the ‘’Player’’ and ‘’Banker’’ have 6 after the first draw?
In this case both boxes will need to stand. This means the final result is a ‘’tie’’.
How much commission do I pay while playing Baccarat?
In many land based casinos you will pay around 5% commission when you bet on the ‘’Banker’’. Online you will find many games without any commission, which is better for players.
Is it clever to bet on both the ‘’Player’’ and ‘’Banker’’?
Although this is possible in most games of Baccarat, it is not really helpful. The first reasons is that some casinos might claim a commission. Because of this you will still lose a certain percentage of your stake when either of one wins. In addition to this you will lose all your bets when the ‘’Player’’ and ‘’Banker’’ tie.
