Baccarat, also known as Punto Banco, is one of the oldest casino games around. In fact, it was invented in the middle ages! At heart, it’s a simple guessing game; two cards are dealt and the player must guess who will have the highest value, the player or the banker. However, there are many further rules which make Baccarat more complex than it may first seem.
This, in turn, makes the game far more exciting, however it can seem confusing if you’re just starting playing. Luckily then, we’ve put together this brief guide to playing online baccarat; we’re talking about the rules and how you can play the game from the comfort of your own home.
The Differences Between Online and Real Life Baccarat
One of the major differences between online and real life baccarat is accessibility. As with any online version of a casino game, it’s much easier to play as you can do it anywhere, and at any time. You don’t need to trek to your local bricks and mortar casino to play the game, and you don’t need to wager large amounts to play either. This is perfect for beginners, as it means you can build up your confidence before you start making larger bets.
Whilst this is true for any online table game, be it Roulette or Blackjack, it’s especially important for Baccarat. In major casinos, Baccarat is usually played in dedicated rooms, away from the casino floor. They do this because it’s usually played as a high stakes game, and so the separate room provides an extra measure of privacy and security. Whilst in bricks and mortar casinos Baccarat is frequented by high rollers, online baccarat can be played for as little as £1.
There are actually three variations of Baccarat; Punto Banco (or North American Baccarat), Baccarat Chemin de Fer (or Chemmy) and Baccarat Banque (or Deux Tableaux). However, nearly all online casino versions of Baccarat within the UK and the US are Punto Banco Baccarat.
Learn To Play Baccarat
Baccarat is an easy game to get to grips with. Whilst there are rules which make the game a little more complicated, the basic aim of the game is to predict whether the player or banker will have the higher number of cards, or if it will be a tie. ‘Player’ and ‘banker’ bets are simply labels for the the two hands dealt, and you can bet on either. Player has no particular association with the gambler, and Banker has no particular association with the house. The third option, a tie, is paid out at 9 to 1, and is the highest paying bet of the game.
Baccarat is played with a six deck or eight deck ‘shoe’. A shoe is a casino device that holds and distributes cards to be dealt. One of the most important things to learn in Baccarat is the value of each card. Face cards, as well as 10s, have no value and the suits of each card are also ignored. Cards with values lower than 10 are counted at face value, and an Ace is always worth 1.
Only single digits are counted in Baccarat. This means if a hand reaches double figures, the left digit is dropped. For instance, if a hand is dealt 8 and 5, the total would actually be 3 as the ten has been dropped from the 13.
The dealer will deal two cards to each hand and place them face down. Once the two hands are dealt, bets are made on which one will win, or whether they will tie. There are some instances where a third card can be dealt, and this is based around the total of the hand. For instance, if the player’s hand totals less than five, then that hand will receive a third card.
It gets a little more complicated than this, but luckily in online baccarat play is automated so you don’t need to know all the intricacies. If a hand totals 8 or 9, it’s called ‘a natural’ and the hand will receive no further cards as 9 is the highest hand value possible.
In Baccarat, bets are played out at even money, or 1:1, apart from the 9:1 stand off bet. Because of the low house edge, many players are drawn to the game. Even though Baccarat is essentially just a guessing game, the uncertainty of the outcome makes it highly thrilling and entertaining.
Play Baccarat At Fortune Frenzy
If Baccarat sounds like it could be the game for you, then you’re in luck! There’s few better places to play a great game of Baccarat than right here at Fortune Frenzy. We have two variants of the game, including a high quality online game and a live dealer version too. Playing online makes it easy for you to practise, as you don’t need to make large wagers, and you can even play the game in demo mode whilst you get to grips with it.
One of the main benefits of playing Baccarat here at Fortune Frenzy is that you can play on mobile, as well as desktop or tablet. Both versions are available via our mobile app, and they’re especially designed to look great and run flawless, no matter which device you decide to play on.
