Baccarat at Minimum Deposit Casinos

Breaking Down Baccarat

Baccarat is a card game where you have 2 or 3 cards. The winning hand is determined by the hand which has the higher score between the two. Baccarat is a game of chance and there is no strategy involved. Historically, Baccarat was originally a high roller game only for the elite. However, as time passed and with the introduction of online casinos, various Baccarat versions have been introduced, catering to more players who prefer playing with lower stakes.

How to play Baccarat

As a player, you only have three betting options to choose from and you should choose between the following in a hand of Baccarat:

• The Player
• The Banker
• A Tie

Only two hands are dealt in a game of Baccarat – a player hand and a banker hand. Each hand starts with two cards and the scores are calculated by adding the point values of both cards together, and then looking at just the right digit. For example, if your combined score is 16, the actual score would count as 6.

The higher score in a hand determines the winner in a Baccarat game. The player can win, the banker can win, or the game can end in a tie.

Below is an example of a Baccarat game where only two cards are drawn and the player wins:

Once players have placed their bets, the dealer gives two cards to the player and two cards to the banker. 

The value of the hand is the right digit of the total cards and the hand with the higher value wins. 

Remember, in Baccarat scores range between 0 and 9 only. All face cards (Jack, Queen, and King) and the ten card is worth 0. The Ace card is worth 1, and the remaining numbered cards from 2 – 9 represent the same score as their number. 

If the player has been dealt a King and 9, you will have a total of 09 but based on the right digit rule, the Baccarat score is 9.

If the banker has been dealt a 9 and 9, you will have a total of 18 but based on the right digit rule, the Baccarat score is 8.

The player’s score of 9 is higher than the banker’s score of 8 – hence the player hand wins the Baccarat game.

Below is an example of a Baccarat game where only two cards are drawn, and the banker wins:

If the player has been dealt a Queen and 8, you will have a total of 08 but based on the right digit rule, the Baccarat score is 8.

If the banker has been dealt a Jack and 9, you will have a total of 09 but based on the right digit rule, the Baccarat score is 9.

The banker’s score of 9 is higher than the player’s score of 8. Hence the banker’s hand wins the Baccarat game.

Below is an example of a Baccarat game where only two cards are drawn and the game ends in a tie:

If the player has been dealt a Ten and 9, you will have a total of 09 but based on the right digit rule, the Baccarat score is 9.

If the banker has been dealt a 9 and King, you will have a total of 09 but based on the right digit rule, the Baccarat score is 9.

Since both the player and banker hands have a score of 9, the game is a tie.

The game gets more complicated by adding a third card. Certain rules allow for a third card to be dealt for each hand and the total of the two card hands determines whether a third card is needed to find a winning hand.

A total score of 8 or 9 is referred to as ‘natural’ and if either the player or the banker has a natural, neither hand gets an extra card.

However, if a player’s hand is five or lower, that hand will get an additional third card.

If the banker’s hand is five or lower, that hand will get an additional third card.

Baccarat House Edge and Odds

Baccarat is popular because of the low house edge and below is a breakdown of the house edge:

• The banker bet has a 1.06% house edge
• The player bet has a 1.24% house edge
• The tie bet has a 14.36% house edge

Winning bets on the banker’s or the player’s hand are paid as 1:1 (1/1) but a 5% commission is charged on bank bets, which results in winnings of the banker’s hand being paid out as 0.95:1 (0.95/1). The tie bet odds vary from online casino to online casino but generally are paid out at 8:1 (8/1) or 9:1 (9/1).

Card Values

Aces are worth 1 point

Kings, Queens, Jacks and 10s are worth 0 points

2s through 9s are worth their face value (for example, a 2 is worth 2 points)

Basic Rules

1. As a player, you only have three betting options to choose from (the player hand, the banker hand or a tie)
2. Only two hands are dealt in a game of Baccarat – a player hand and a banker hand.
3. Each hand starts with two cards and the scores are calculated by adding the point values of both cards together and then looking at just the right digit.
4. Scores range between 0 and 9 only.
5. All face cards (Jack, Queen, and King) and the ten card is worth 0.
6. The Ace card is worth 1 and the remaining numbered cards from 2 – 9 represent the same score as their number. 
7. The higher score in a hand determines the winner in a Baccarat game.
8. The player can win, the banker can win, or the game can end in a tie.
9. Certain rules allow for a third card to be dealt for each hand and the total of the two card hands determines whether a third card is needed to find a winning hand.
10. A total score of 8 or 9 is referred to as ‘natural’, and if either the player or the banker has a natural, neither hand gets an extra card.
11. However, if a player’s hand is five or lower, that hand will get an additional third card.
12. If the banker’s hand is five or lower, that hand will get an additional third card.

Baccarat Strategy

Remember, Baccarat is a game of chance, and no sure strategy is involved. However, some common practices to understand and follow based on statistics exist. First, you should thoroughly know the game’s rules before placing real money wagers. The banker bet has the lowest house edge, so it should be your preferred bet choice. Avoid bets on the tie as these are very rare to win. Don’t follow patterns, as Baccarat is a game of chance. 

Many renowned card gambling strategies are implemented when playing Baccarat. Most of these are used with other card games like Poker and Blackjack. Popular Baccarat strategies commonly used when placing bets include:

• Martingale
• Paroli
• Self-Taught Baccarat System
• The 1-3-2-6 System
• Labouchere System
• Fibonacci

Baccarat Variations

There are numerous Baccarat variants but three of the most played variations include Mini Baccarat, Punto Banco and Chemin de Fer.

Mini Baccarat

Mini Baccarat is popular as there are reasonable table limits, which make it possible for small bankroll players to enjoy the game. The Mini Baccarat game is played at a smaller table with a single croupier. A standard shoe is used to deal the cards and the table stakes are lower than those found at high roller tables. The card values, payout rates and basic rules of Mini Baccarat are the same as standard Baccarat games.

Punto Banco

Punto Banco is similar to standard Baccarat and is mostly played in Canada, the US and the UK. Most online casinos have various Punto Banco Baccarat variations. With Punto banco, hands are assigned to the player and banker and the dealer manages both hands. The game is played with 4, 6 or 8 decks of cards. Once players have placed their bets, both the player and banker receive two face-up cards to begin the round. They are declared the winner if either side has an 8 or 9. Winning player bets pay 1:1 (1/1), and winning banker bets have the standard 5% commission and pay 0.95:1 (0.95/1). Tie bets pay 8:1 (8/1).

Chemin de Fer

Chemin de Fer is widely considered the original version of Baccarat, popular in France and Monaco. The game is played with six decks of cards and the role of the banker alternates between the players. Unlike Punto Banco, where the players play against the dealer, Chemin de Fer Baccarat, players play against each other. The banker bets any amount they desire and each player can match the banker’s entire wager. The game follows similar rules to standard Baccarat and the point system is the same. However, because players are not competing against the dealer, it’s rare to find Chemin de Fer games at online casinos. These games are usually available at physical casinos, preferably in France.

Conclusion

Baccarat is a renowned card game that has been around for decades and is popular among brick-and-mortar and online casino players. Though a game of chance, Baccarat provides players with hours of entertainment and the chance to win real money. There are various game variants and low bankroll and high rollers can play Baccarat at most online casinos.