Baccarat

Baccarat is a popular casino game that can be played in a few different ways. Online casinos almost always offer a version of this game and you can also play baccarat in live casinos.

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How Do you Play Baccarat?

1. Card Values

Before we can explain how you play the game, it is good to know what value the different cards represent.

  • An Ace is worth 1 point
  • The King, the queen and the jack are worth 10 points
  • The cards with numbers have the value shown on the card from 2 to 10
baccarat card values

2. Place Bet

You have the option to bet on the victory of the Punto (the player), the victory of the Banco (the bank) or on a tie, also known as Egalité or Tie. In addition to these betting options, so-called side bets are also possible. As mentioned, you can use this to increase your chance of winning. Side bets can vary by provider and game.

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3. The Game Begins

The player and the bank both receive two cards. The scoring as explained earlier will be used for this. The number of points on the cards must then be 9 or close to 9 to win.

If the value exceeds 9 points, the last digit of the number counts as the value you are playing with. For example, if you have a 6 and a 9, then you have 15 points and you start playing with a value of 5 points. If, on the other hand, the player or the bank immediately has 8 or 9 points when the cards are dealt, we call this a Natural. No more cards are then dealt to whoever has this number.

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4. The Dealer Deals According to the Rules

At a certain number of points, the dealer deals a third card to the player and/or the bank. You do NOT have to memorize these rules yourself. The rules for this are as follows:

Sweaters, Jerseys and Cardigans

  • 0 to 5 points: new map for the Punto
  • 6 or 7 points: the Punto passes and does not receive a new card. The Banco must draw a new card if it has 5 or less points
  • 8 or 9 points: the Punto and the Banco do not get new cards. The Punto has won if the number of points on the bank is not 8 or 9

Banco

  • 0 to 2 points: the Banco receives a 3rd card if the Punto does not have 8 or 9 points
  • 3 points: the Banco receives a card if there is no profit at the Punto
  • 4 points: the Banco receives a new card when the third card of the Punto is worth 2 to 7 points
  • 5 points: the Banco receives a new card when the third card of the Punto is worth 4 to 7 points
  • 6 points: the Banco receives a new card if the third card of the Punto is worth 6 or 7 points. If the Punto fits, so does the Banco
  • 7 points: no new card
  • 8 or 9 points: The game is over and no new cards are dealt
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5. Payout

The regular bets give, for example, the following payouts:

  • Profit Punto: you will receive your bet back plus the same amount as winnings
  • Profit Banco: you will also receive your bet back plus the same amount as winnings, minus 5% in tax
  • Draw: in case of a tie you receive 8 times your bet. However, the chance that this will happen is minuscule.
baccarat payout

Payout percentages

The RTP of baccarat depends on the provider of the game and the variant you play. We have compiled a list for you:

Provider RTP
Evolution gaming 98,95%
Playtech 98,95%
Extreme live gaming 98,94%
NetEnt 98,94%
Microgaming 98,94%
Red Tiger 98,92%

Important terms

Before you start playing the game, it is good to know what terms are used. Below you can read a number of commonly used terms and their meanings:

  • Dealer: the person who deals out the cards at Punto Banco at the table. Often these are two people
  • Baccarat Chemin de Fero: version of baccarat where there is not played against the bank, but against each other
  • Natural: term that is used when a winning value of 8 or 9 points is scored directly with two cards
  • Range: deck used by the dealers to deal cards
  • Shoe: the deck of cards being used
  • Tie: draw

Baccarat or Punto Banco?

A well-known table game that can always be played in casinos is baccarat. This game seems difficult at first glance, but it is not. With baccarat, the goal is to score a total of 9 points or a value that comes close to that.

Baccarat is therefore also called Punto Banco in the Netherlands. The player in this case is the so-called Punto and the casino is the Banco. With Punto Banco you play against the casino and with baccarat you can also play against other players. Punto Banco is a very common form of baccarat. The classic version of the game is also called Baccarat Chemin de Fer.

Differences between baccarat and Punto Banco

Beide casino games are very similar, yet there are considerable differences. For example, with Punto Banco you play against the bank. You have to take as much money from the bank as possible. As a player you can also work together with other players.

At Baccarat Chemin de Fer, on the other hand, there are several players. The moment the bank loses in this variant, the dealer will shift the game to the player to the left of the person who was the bank until then. baccarat is therefore played by the players who deal the cards themselves and Punto Banco is played with a croupier.

Baccarat Facts

Online Baccarat

Other name "Punto Banco" or "Chemin de Fer"
Invented by Felix Falguiere
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FAQ

Punto Banco is a variation of baccarat that is often played in online casinos. In this game you play against the house. In classic baccarat, also called Chemin de Fer, you play against other players without a dealer.

Baccarat is played by betting on the bank, the player or on a tie. Whoever has a number of points close to 9 wins. With a draw you also have the highest payout, because this happens very little.

Baccarat is played with 6 or 8 decks of cards of 52 cards each. It differs per variant how many cards are used in total.

  • If the player or the bank has a total of 8 or 9, both the player and the bank will fold.
  • If the player has a total of 5 or less, the player gets another card.
  • If the player folds, the bank gets one more card if he has a total of 5 or less.

Closing comments

Baccarat is a fun table game that is not as difficult as you think. You can play it at almost all casinos. What is important is that you REALLY know the rules and what actions you have to take if you want to play the game. As with all other casino games, the dealer always has an advantage. Also keep in mind that the dealer knows how the game works and can often anticipate more quickly what is to come.