Baccarat is a casino game of pure chance, it’s usually played in the high-roller rooms in casinos where there are minimum bets of $25, $50 and even $100. While it’s often portrayed as being elegant and formal in the movies – James Bond’s favourite game – the rules are simple, and there is no real skill needed.
Baccarat involves betting on which of two hands – the Banker’s hand or the Player’s – will win. Two cards are dealt to each hand and a third one may be drawn if asked for by the players. The highest valued hand wins and players’ stakes are paid out or collected according to the results. The banker’s decision is made based on the information he or she has available, including whether each player stood or asked for a card and the total value of the player and banker hands.
There are a number of side bets that players can place on a baccarat table. They vary from place to place, but the majority of them cost significantly more than the main bets and should therefore be avoided.
Baccarat is a house-backed game. A player can bet on either the Player or the Banker hand, and there is a small edge for the casino when a player backs the banker, as it is common for casinos to charge a 5% commission on winning Banker bets. When a player backs the Player hand the house has a slightly larger edge.