Whether in a sticky-floor California card room or the tuxedo-laden casinos of Monaco, Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games around. It was made famous by Sean Connery in the first scene of the James Bond movie series and remains a game that attracts VIPs to the world’s finest gaming rooms.
The game is played on a large table with from seven to 14 seats for players, and a section for a banker. Eight 52-card packs are shuffled together and then dealt by the croupier (dealer) from a box called a ‘shoe’, with cards being dealt face down. A third card may be dealt in certain situations, and the winner is whichever hand has the final score closest to nine. Tens and picture or face cards are worth 0 points, while the numbers 1 through 9 equal their face value, and the Ace counts as one.
After the cards are dealt, the banker and player make their bets and then a winning hand is declared. The payouts for a winning Banker and Player bet are 95% of your stake, while a Tie bet pays 8-to-1. Score sheets are available at baccarat tables to help you keep track of the game.
Some players choose to place an additional bet, known as a Super Six or Pair Bet. These bets are placed alongside the initial bet and pay out if the Banker or Player hands have two of the same cards. A winning Super Six bet will have a total of 6 points, while a winning Pair Bet will have a total of 11 points.
