Baccarat has long been a casino game reserved for the high rollers, its gaming table usually placed in a separate alcove away from the masses and other casino action. The game is played with real cash – $100 bills stacked on the table – and in American casinos, chips are also used. Baccarat is a card game that involves wagering on which hand will win, the player hand, banker hand, or a tie. In the game, cards are dealt from a standard six or eight-deck shoe. The value of a hand is determined by adding the values of the individual cards and deducting the tens digit. If a hand totals 8 or 9 (called a natural), that hand wins; if both hands have a natural, the game ends in a tie.
Those who correctly guess that the banker hand will win are paid out at odds of 1 to 1. Those who correctly predict the player’s hand will be paid out at odds of 8 to 1, though a winning player bet must pay a 5% commission, which reduces those payout odds to 7 to 8.
Baccarat side bets add strategy and fun to the game, but players should remember to follow good stake management. It is recommended to start with a minimum of 10 units for each wager, and to limit the number of sessions to 200 units followed by a full break. Players should try to play in a consistent manner, and follow the bank streaks as suggested.
