Baccarat

ORIGINS AND NAME OF THE GAME

The name of this game, Baccarat, comes from the Italian word for zero, baccara.

Ironically, the name refers to the fact that all of the face cards and tens are worth zero and zero is the worst possible hand in Baccarat. It is generally accepted that the Italian game Baccara is based upon the Etruscan legend of a virgin who had to throw a nine-sided die to decide her fate. If she rolled below a 6 then she was to be sent to the sea to drown, if she rolled a 6 or 7 then she could live but would not be allowed to take part in any future community or religious events, but if she rolled an 8 or a 9 then she would rise to the glory of being a priestess.

Whilst this is not the most pleasant of tales, it does give rise to the basic rules of the game Baccarat. When played today it’s unlikely to find anyone banished to the sea, but they can expect to lose the game if they roll below 6.

The Game Today

Around Europe Baccarat has become one of the most popular casino games. When the game was introduced to Nevada towards the end of the 1950’s, the casinos attempted to recreate the respect and glamour associated with the game in Europe. As a result, Baccarat is usually played in a sectioned off area with close monitoring and occasionally it is even guarded. Thanks to the internet, Baccarat’s popularity has been rapidly growing. Unlike in most casinos, when playing online you do not need to be a high roller to be able to take part.

BACCARAT STRATEGY

When you feel you have understood the basic rules of the game, such as the card values and types of bets, it is time to start thinking about strategies. This not only adds to the enjoyment and excitement of a game, but could even help you win!

One of the key questions in a game of Baccarat is whether or not you should draw a 3rd card. The table below will show you the recommended moves.

PLAYER’S 2-CARD HAND RULES
Total	Outcome
6-9	Stands
0–5	Draws 3rd card
BANKER’S 2-CARD HAND RULES (IF THE PLAYER HAS DRAWN A CARD)
Total	Outcome
7–9	Stands
0–6	Banker draws when:
6	Player has 6 or 7
5	Player has 4–7
4	Player has 2–7
3	Player has 0–7 or 9
0-2	Player has anything

In addition to this, there are well established systems which many players use to increase their chances. Like any luck based game there is no guarantee, however, there is a chance it could help.

1-3-2-6 Baccarat System

The 1-3-2-6 system is designed to make a small bet produce a large return.

The numbers (1, 3, 2 and 6) refer to how many units you bet on each hand. A unit is an amount such as $1 or $50 that you have decided to bet with. Following this system means that in the first hand you will bet 1 unit, if you win the bet keep both your original bet and the winnings in play and add an additional unit to the bet. In the second hand you will bet three units (so if your unit is worth $1 you will bet $3). If you win this hand then there will be six units on the table, you should then take away four of these units to leave 2 for the third round. If you then go on to win the third bet there will be 4 units on the table, add an additional 2 for a total bet of 6 units in the 4th round. If you manage to win the 4th bet then you have won 12 units 10 of which are profit. If you lose at any point in the game then you should start again with 1 unit.

The beauty of this baccarat system is that the maximum loss on any bet is 2 units. If you lose the first bet you lose 1 unit. If you win the first hand and lose the second, you've lost 2 units. If you win the first two hands and lose the third, you've actually made a profit of 2 units. If you win the first three hands and lose the forth, you break even. That's all there is to it.

The advantage of this system is that the most you can lose on any bet is only 2 units. The first bet could lose you 1 unit, if you win the first but lose the second you’ve lost 2 units, if you win the first two and lose the third you’ve still made a profit of 2 units and if you with all except the last then you’ve broken even.

The Avant Dernier System

Amongst Continental European players this system is extremely popular. Avant Dernier means “before last” in French which is how this simple system works. You bet on the second to last winning result.

For example, if you have the results Banker, Player, Player, Banker then you should bet on the Player, the second to last. Alternatively if you had Player, Banker, Banker, then your bet would be Banker.

The idea of this system is that you can catch a streak of wins on either the Banker or Player. In reality, it is possible to ignore the Tie bet wins as the chances are minimal compared to the other two types of bet.

Although this system is incredibly simple it also has a high success rate at creating winning sessions and because of this it has remained popular with experienced Baccarat players.

Terminology

Baccarat	This is both the name of the game and the worst possible hand, one worth zero.
Banker	The player who takes on the role of dealer, it is also known as ‘banco’.
Chemim de Fer	The French name for the game, in England this is known as ‘chemmy’ and as ‘shimmy’ in the US.
Deal	When cards are given to both player and banker to play the game.
Face cards	The Jack, Queen and King in any suit.
Natural	This is when you have 8 or 9 points which is idea. Players automatically win if they are dealt a 9 unless the dealer is also dealt one. If a player is dealt an 8 they automatically win unless the dealer has an 8 or a 9.
Player	Anyone in the game who is playing against the dealer, also known as ‘punto’.
Push	This is a bet on a hand that is tied. If a hand is tied the bets don’t win or lose, they simply stay of the table for the next hand (unless tie bets are permited).
Rebet	In any round but the first a bet of the same value can be placed to start another game.
Stand	According to the rules of the game, neither the player nor the banker may draw a third card to raise the number of points they have closer to 9 when their points are within a certain range.
Tie	When the player and banker have the same score.

PEEK INTO THE SOFTWARE

The pictures below show you the Baccarat table as it is in our software when the different kinds of bets are placed.

If you would rather play with a real dealer then why not play our LIVE Baccarat version, you’ll have an exciting game through your webcam at home.