Baccarat is famous worldwide as the game of choice for James Bond and high-rolling Asian billionaires.
In fact, Baccarat is arguably the easiest table game in the entire casino, functioning almost exactly like a simple coin flip.
Understanding How Baccarat is Played
In Baccarat, there are only two hands dealt on the table: the 'Banker' hand and the 'Player' hand.
Because of this dropping rule, it is mathematically impossible to 'bust' or go over 9 in Baccarat.
- The dealer distributes two cards to the Player hand and two cards to the Banker hand
- Depending on the exact totals, a complex set of casino rules determines if a third card is drawn for either side
- You do not need to memorize the third-card drawing rules; the dealer executes them automatically
Exploring Different Types of Baccarat
While the core math remains the same, casinos offer several variations to speed up the game or cater to different budgets.
Another popular variation is 'EZ Baccarat,' which completely eliminates the annoying 5% commission on the Banker bet.
| Game Term | Definition | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Natural | Dealt an 8 or 9 on the first two cards | Hand ends immediately, winner declared |
| Chemin de Fer | A French version where players bet against each other | Extremely rare outside of Europe |
If you want a low-stress game with fantastic mathematical odds, Baccarat should be your primary destination on the floor.