Baccarat is one of the world’s most popular casino games. It has a long and distinguished history, dating back to the gambling salons of Italy and France, but within the past thirty years it has gained popularity in casinos throughout the world. The game has become especially popular among Asian high rollers, and it has risen in prominence in the United States as well.
In its basic form, baccarat involves two opposing hands – the Player hand and the Banker hand – that are dealt out of a multi-deck shoe. The object of the game is to win by betting on which hand totals closest to nine. Cards are valued at their face value, except for tens and picture cards, which have no value, and aces, which count as one. Any hand that totals more than 10 has the digit subtracted, so that a 9 is a better result than an 8.
The game’s rules are simple, and a full understanding of them can help players maximize their winning chances. The table itself is similar to a blackjack table, with from seven to 14 seats and a dealer’s area. Each round of the game, called a coup, begins with the player and banker placing their bets. A third card is then drawn on each hand if necessary. The hand with the highest total wins.
While the game’s earliest days are unclear, it eventually found its way from Italy to neighboring France, where it became a favorite with King Charles VIII and his noblemen. The game was later reworked into its modern form, which is played in most American casinos today. The most common version of baccarat in the United States is known as Punto Banco, or simply Baccarat, and differs from older games by using a fixed set of drawing rules.
Unlike poker or blackjack, where players compete against each other, the game of baccarat is a team sport. Players sit in groups, arranged around an oval-shaped table. They bet on which of the two opposing hands – the Player or the Banker – will come closest to a number that equals nine. Those who bet on the Player or Banker are paid out according to the odds of the respective hand winning. A third bet, on a tie, pays out eight to one, but comes with a much higher house edge and is generally avoided by serious players.
Bill Zender, a former Nevada Gaming Control Agent and casino executive who literally wrote the book on managing casinos, has seen baccarat grow in popularity. He attributes this to its cultural appeal and the fact that it offers low hold percentages for both Banker and Player bets. However, he notes that high rollers also appreciate the elegance of the game, as exemplified by Sean Connery in the first scene of the James Bond movies. He also believes that a combination of card counting techniques and bankroll management can further reduce the house edge for experienced baccarat players.