Baccarat is the game of high-stakes that you see in movies of high rollers playing in opulent casinos. But don’t let the game’s mystique scare you away – it’s actually pretty simple to understand and play. The real trick is knowing when to place your chips and which bets are worth your time. This article will walk you through the rules of this thrilling card game and give you a few Baccarat tips to help you win big.
The Baccarat rules differ slightly depending on whether you are playing the Punto Banco, Chemin de Fer, or another form of the game, but the basic objective remains the same: bet on whichever hand (Banker or Player) is closest to nine. Two cards are dealt to each hand from a six or eight-card shoe, and the winner is the hand that totals closer to nine than the other. Tens, jacks, queens, and kings count as zero; the ace counts as one. A tie bet offers odds of 8 to 1 against, and is available at most casino baccarat tables.
In the 19th Century, Baccarat was producing an opulent range of glassware that delighted contemporary observers. Their displays at the Great Exhibitions of 1855, 1867, and 1878 (see image below) astonished visitors from around the world. Their milky, ‘opaline’ glass vases closely resembled fine porcelain and were prized by Victorian collectors. Their green-tinted crystal’malachite’ tableware was also very popular, as were their monumental lighting fixtures.
Baccarat also designed glassware for a range of private clients, including wine glasses and the celebrated Harcourt crystal. This thick, short-stemmed glass was particularly prized for its prismatic lustre, an iridescence that allowed the glass to reflect a wide range of colors in response to different light conditions.
There are a number of Baccarat betting strategies that have been touted, but the simplest way to improve your chances is simply to back the banker every time. This will reduce the house edge to 1.06% and offer you the best chance of making a profit in the long run. Avoid betting patterns and Martingale-based systems, however; these are unlikely to produce a consistent profit, and any winnings will be negated by the banker’s commission. Also avoid the Tie bet, which has a 14.1 percent edge in favor of the house. If you stick with the banker bet, intelligent players can often make a profit even in a single round. This is why the game was so popular in high-roller casinos throughout the world.