Card games have always been popular at casinos as well as house parties. While at the casinos, the players play cards with the intention to earn some money, the house card parties are mostly fun and a great way to spend some quality time together. So, when card games took the online way, ardent casino players were more than happy. Now they could play their favourite card games casino style, at home. Baccarat is one such popular card game which proved to be an instant hit in the online version too. And with the internet providing lots of fun and money-based variations, players soon got hooked on the online Baccarat game.
Online Baccarat game has increased the popularity of the card game by manifolds. The ease of play, great graphics details, fun versions, have all catapulted the popularity of the game. Players need not visit actual land-based casinos to play the casino card game as the online versions like live online Baccarat, emulate the actual surroundings so well that people don’t miss being in a real casino.
The easy deposit and withdrawal methods for online Baccarat is also a huge plus point. No need to carry cash and chips and all. Players can choose to play by net banking, cards, e-wallets, pay by phone and many more options.
While the originality for the game has been lost in the history, popular claims suggest that the game originated in Italy during the15th Century. The game, then travelled to France courtesy of the Soldiers who were returning from the Franco-Italian War. The game then travelled far and wide and spread across the globe by the 19th century. The first recorded reference to baccarat is a mathematical study written by Charles Van-Tenac and dates to 1847. The study was recorded under the name “Bacara”.
Baccarat games are thought to be introduced to the US during the late 19th and early 20th century. However, there is no mention of any variants in 1931 casino gambling legislation of Nevada. The first version of Baccarat seen in Las Vegas casinos was ‘Chemin de Fer’, in 1958. The Cuban variant of Baccarat- Punto Banco came after a year. Punto Banco is now the face or the most recognisable and played modern version of Baccarat.
The game of Baccarat and its successor- online Baccarat is very simple when it comes to the constituent elements. A table, pack of cards and a palette is all you need to play.
1. Table — A basic table with numbers from 1 to 9. There are partitions marking the banker area and the player’s area.
2. Palette — A beautiful elegant piece of wood for gathering and moving the cards around the table. Online Baccarat games don’t have much use for them for obvious reasons.
3. Cards — 8 full decks of cards are used in the game of Baccarat. Some versions also use 6 full decks of cards.
Online Baccarat is a very simple card comparing game. And once you get a hang of it, you are sure to love the simplicity of the game. The fact that this game offers one of the lowest house edges adds to the charm of this game. Simply put, players have a good chance of winning if they understand the game. Not to forget, even the popular British spy, James Bond loves to play the game!
The Basic — Online Baccarat has two hands to bet on, “the player” and “the banker”. Each coup i.e. round of play has three outcomes as a possibility: The player hand winning; the banker hand winning or a tie.
The Point System — Online Baccarat has a point value for the cards. Following are the values:
The Sum — A hand’s value is made up of the rightmost digits of the cards in a hand. For example — a hand having cards 2 & 3 will have a hand value of 5. But a hand having cards 7 & 8 will have a value of 5 i.e. 7 + 8 = 15, rightmost digit is 5. The highest possible value in a hand is thus, 9.
| Card | Value |
|---|---|
| 2-9 | Face value in points |
| 10-K | 0 |
| A | 1 |
| Joker | Not Used |
Basic Gameplay of online Baccarat — Here’s a basic guide to the gameplay steps:
Those who have already tried their hands on online Baccarat will agree that the online game is very convenient. The game has almost the same set of rules as land-based Baccarat, so if you understand the basic game, there’s no need to re-learn. While in a land-based casino, you must play for money, there is fun or demo version available online. The interface is very easy and colourful, and the experience is amazing. Those who still love the environment that a land-based casino provides can have the same too when they play live casino Baccarat.
Online Baccarat gives you the freedom to play the games anytime, anywhere and from any computing device. So, no need to dress up and travel and the sorts. So, the focus is on the game and not the other factors. Online Baccarat also provides many variants of the original game with added twists and more fun. So, you can play whatever you feel like. Playing online Baccarat has its set of advantages:
Online Baccarat has a simple betting method. There are three probabilities to bet on:
Player’s win — Betting on player’s hand has a house edge of 1.24%. Player bets are considered to give big results.
Banker’s win — Betting on Banker’s hand gives a house edge of 1.06%. Banker’s bet is generally considered as the best bet among the three in online Baccarat. It might not make you win big, but it won’t let you lose big too.
Tie — Tie has the highest house percentage of approx. 14.4. Tie bet is generally considered as a poor bet because of the high house edge.
So now that you are aware of the bets, you must know the payouts too that you can expect in online Baccarat. In simple terms, a payout is a money that the casino players receive, against the bet that they make, when they win. The payouts are made according to the rules of the game.
The payouts are made to the online casino players by a banking method they opt for. The payouts can be made using e-wallets or cards and more options. The time that is taken to credit the payout depends on the method chosen by the player.
| Bet | Probability | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Banker | 45.85% | 95% |
| Player | 44.62% | 100% |
| Tie | 9.51% | 800% |
Baccarat has the lowest house edge amongst all the casino games. This fact adds to its advantage. A House Edge is an advantage, often calculated in percentage, that a Casino holds in a game. This ensures that the games being played at the Casinos remain profitable for them. For example, if a game has a house edge of say 5.26%, it will mean that for every £1 that the players place in the bet will earn them 95p back as the winning. The 5p is what the Casino earns as the house edge. After all, the casinos are here to make money too.
| Banker’s Win | 1.06% |
|---|---|
| Player’s Win | 1.24% |
| Tie (8 to 1 payout) | 14.4% |
| Tie (9 to 1 payout) | 4.85% |
Baccarat is a game of luck and chances. While there is no fixed strategy to get you a sure-shot win in a game, there are many tried theories that one understands as strategies while playing baccarat. Here’s what the baccarat pundits have to say:
The Banker mostly wins strategy
Mathematically speaking, the probability of a Banker winning is higher than a player’s win or a tie. It is generally understood and agreed upon that Banker bets pay off better than any other bet in the long run. So, most players are advised to use this strategy while playing Baccarat.
1-3-2-4 Strategy
The 1-3-2-4 strategy suggests varying your bet amount during the game. This strategy is known to help players bounce back from losses in the previous round. So, the strategy says to place 1 unit of bet in the first round, 3 units in the second, 2 in the third and 4 in the fourth round. A player is advised to keep repeating or following the strategy as long as they are winning. Once you lose, you need to restart. To summarize:
All eyes on the table
Paying attention to the current trend is very important as a strategy. The history of the game is visible next to the table. So, while playing you need to keep a good track of your bets and the outcomes. It will help you see the current trend and decide the next bet.
Follow the trend
According to this strategy, players are advised not to change their bets randomly. Most players place their bet on the trend, i.e. if the banker’s hand is winning, they bet on the banker’s hand. Players are then required not to change simply because the banker’s hand is winning continuously. If you think that the banker’s hand has won many times and now it must change to player’s hand, you might get trapped. Use this along with 1-3-2-4 strategy to get the best results.
The inner voice
A game of chance and luck like Baccarat calls for players to trust their instincts. Many times, this one strategy has proved to be the best among all. Some players even create a new strategy on-the-go following their instincts.
Every player who has ever played the game of online Baccarat is sure to give new and old players their piece of advice. It doesn’t matter if it worked for them or not. But everyone loves to give out a few tips to fellow players. Listed below are few tips on online Baccarat for you too:
Understand the game and rules
Like every other game, you need to understand the basic game of Baccarat and how cards are dealt in a round. It is very important to learn the rules, the values of cards, the third card run and other such details of the game.
Learning the odds
Be aware of the odds that the online Casino is offering. While the odds are generally standard, a few online Casinos might just beg to differ. The odds also slightly differ in 6 deck card and 8 deck card Baccarat.
Keep up with your progress
Make use of that scorecard. If the online casino doesn’t offer you one, use your own. It always helps to check how one is playing. It helps to spot the current trend of the game. Keeping track of one’s wins and losses help minimize the losses too.
Keep your streak
Traditionally speaking, one should continue with one’s winning run and not break it. So, if you are winning by betting on the Banker, do not randomly switch to some other bet.
When in doubt
The banker bet is considered to be the safest bet. So, if you are in a doubt and can’t decide on the starting bet, go with the Banker bet. And keep going until Banker losses.
Tie Bets are no bets
Tie bets are generally considered to be not taken into consideration. They are generally the invisible bets and don’t count in the run. So if your play and win sequence read banker, banker, banker, tie, you still continue to bet on Banker. Treat the tie as it never occurred.
Take your time
“All good things to those who wait” goes a saying. Baccarat demands your time. Take it easy and enjoy the game. Do not make hasty decisions. If you just broke your winning streak, do not switch immediately. Wait for at least one more round before deciding on the switch.
Keep track of your finance
It’s important to stay within your budget. Decide well in advance how much are you willing to lose. Also, keep a check on your balance and bet size if you are winning. It is important to know and decide when to quit the game.
Believe in yourself
Whatever you do, do not forget to enjoy your game. Once you enjoy your game, you are relaxed, and you tend to listen to your instincts more clearly. A clear, relaxed mind also help to spot the trends and make better decisions.
Call it quits, on time
It is important to know when to stop. If you have already met your profit target, it is better to leave with your high earnings rather than to stick around and push for more. The casinos always have a way to hold an advantage. If you play longer than what you decided for, you might end up losing instead of winning. So, it is important to make the right call at the right time.
While online Baccarat and live online Baccarat are the basic variations you will find in the online Casino, there are a few variants of the game itself. Choose the variant you think you will enjoy the most.
Punto Banco
Punto Banco is the most popular version of online Baccarat and is played in many Casinos. The popularity has labelled the game simply as Baccarat. So, when you are playing Baccarat at an online Casino, you are most likely to be playing the Punto Banco. The game is generally played on a large green table which can accommodate almost 14 players in a land-based Casino. The online Casino tables are obviously smaller, but when playing Live Baccarat, you can play with a large setup.
Punto Banco has a few variations of itself too:
These are the smaller versions of the online Baccarat game. Midi Punto has the table being dealt with by a single croupier or dealer which is generally smaller than the usual table. Mini Punto has an even smaller table set up. The table has smaller minimums and maximums than usual.
Chemin De Fer
Chemin De Fer, is a French variant of the online Baccarat game, often thought to be quicker than the basic Punto Banco. It is very popular in European online casinos. What makes Chemin De Fer different is the fact that the Croupier or the Casino Dealer is not the Banker here. The role of Banker is taken up by one of the players typically seated around an oval table. The Banker is now the Dealer. Rest of the players on the table are the “Punters”. The role of Banker passes counterclockwise as the game progresses. The banker places his bet to start the game. Rest of the players then make their wagers. The highest wagering player is chosen as the leader of the players. The Banker then deals four cards; two for the banker and two for the group of players. An 8 or 9 by either ends the game with decisive clarity. In all other cases, both the banker and the players have a choice whether to go for the third card. Whatever be the choice, the cards are then turned and compared to decide the winner of the round.
If the Banker wins, the position of the Banker stays. If he loses, the position shifts to the next player.
We at Monster Casino offer a wide range of online Baccarat games. We host the most popular as well as few exclusive Baccarat games.
Baccarat Squeeze
A live online Baccarat game, developed by Evolution Gaming, in which the dealer deals the cards face down and slowly reveals them once the bets are placed. The card with the highest bet is revealed first and the last one to be revealed has the lowest bet. The slow revelation of cards is what adds to the suspense and is worth all the drama. Apart from the standard bets of Banker, Player and Tie, the Baccarat Squeeze game also offers two side bets.
Baccarat Control Squeeze
Powered by Evolution Gaming
Baccarat Control Squeeze is based on Macao and is Live Baccarat Game. Unlike online Baccarat Squeeze, the game offers to squeeze control to players turning them into the dealer for a while. The game is a high wagerer with the side bets, apart from the traditional bets, have a range from 5 to 15000. The game can be played on desktops as well as mobiles, supports both iOS and Android. The streaming is quick and HD quality.
Punto Banco
This is the most loved version of online Baccarat. Developed by NetEnt, the game uses six decks of the card set against an ominous green table with chips ranging from £1 to £50. The minimum bet for the game is set to £1 while the maximum is set to £100 per game. Placing and winning a bet on Punto will result in a payout of 2 to 1. The payout for placing and winning banker is 2 to 1 but a 5% commission is levied. A tie in the game pays 9 to 1. The game is compatible with all computing devices and can be played on mobiles too.
Baccarat Live
The classic game of Baccarat is available in the Live Streaming format. Powered by Evolution Gaming again, the online Baccarat game follows the classic rules of Baccarat using the Live Gaming Format. Live and professional dealers, HD quality pictures, quick streaming are the features that you can enjoy as you play the game. An informative screen shows the minimum and the maximum bet. It also shows the player’s available balance. A pair side bet is allowed in the game apart from the bets on Banker, player or tie.
Speed Baccarat Live
This online Baccarat game, powered again by Evolution Gaming is a speedier version of Live Baccarat. They have removed some time-consuming features from the original Live Baccarat thus efficiently reducing the time duration of a single round of play. Consider this, a single round lasted for 48 seconds in the previous version, while in Speed Baccarat Live it takes only 27 seconds. The game gives only a 12-second window between two consecutive rounds for the players to decide on the bets or leave the game. Those who enjoy quick results and speedy games are in a treat with this game.
| Baccarat Table | Oval Table used for the game of Baccarat. Has numbers and marked areas for banker and player. |
|---|---|
| House Edge | The advantage that the online Casino holds in a game. |
| Croupier | The Dealer in the game. Responsible for dealing cards and handling player’s bets. |
| Banker | The Dealer in the game of Baccarat is also known as Banker. |
| Punter | The Players in the game of Baccarat are known as player or Punter. |
| Banker’s Bet | The bet made in favour of the Banker’s hand. |
| Player’s Bet | The bet made in favour of the Player’s hand. |
| Payout | The money that the bet makers receive when they win a hand. |
| Odds | Odds are the likelihood of an event, generally represented by a number. |