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How
to Play Online Baccarat
Baccarat (pronounced with a silent "t") is an ideal game for
those who like to gamble, but don't want a less than thorough knowledge
of strategy to result in big losses. Baccarat provides the fun and excitement
of a game like blackjack without the worry about memorizing decision charts
or counting cards. In the past, baccarat at live casinos catered primarily
to high rollers, so the average player looking for a new game was either
too intimidated or too under-bankrolled to play. In the Internet age though,
anyone can enjoy baccarat.
The
Rules of Baccarat
The rules of baccarat are fairly simple. The game starts with a player
making a bet. The player can either bet "Player" (himself, although
even if there are multiple players only one player hand is dealt) "Banker"
or "Tie." The player and the banker (the dealer) then each receive
a two-card hand. The winner is the one with the hand closest to nine,
with aces counting as one and tens and face cards counting as zero. It
is impossible to go "over," since baccarat hands roll over so
that they are always one digit, so a 9 plus a 2 would not be 11 but rather
1, an 8 and a 5 would not be 13 but 3, etc.
Comparing
Baccarat Hands
If the player is dealt an 8 or a 9, he or she has a "natural"
and wins automatically unless the dealer also has an 8 or 9 to tie or
beat the player's hand. If the player has 6 or 7, he or she must stand
and if he or she has 0 to 5, he or she must hit. The banker wins automatically
with a natural if the player does not have one, and follows the same rules
for drawing as the player if the player has not drawn a third card. If
he has drawn a third card, the banker will always draw to 0, 1 or 2 and
stand on 7. The banker will draw to a 3 if the player's third card is
zero through seven. The banker will draw to a 4 if the player's third
card is 2 through 7, will draw to a 5 if the third card is 4 through 7,
and will draw to a 6 only if the player's third card is 6 or 7. The house
edge comes from the fact that players must pay a five percent commission
when they win betting on the banker
Online
Baccarat
The main distinction between online baccarat and the live game is the
lack of formality. Live baccarat caters to high rollers. The minimum bet
is often prohibitively high and velvet ropes may cord off the game with
dealers and floor people in tuxedos. The players may even be required
to adhere to a dress code. Clearly online baccarat has no such restrictions.
Just log onto an online casino with baccarat, put your money down and
enjoy.
Like
any game, there is an element of luck. But you can’t rely on luck
alone to win at baccarat. There are certain strategic tips to follow in
order to swing the luck in your favour.
The
casino edge plays a big role in the kinds of bets you will make. If you
bet on a player, then your odds are 1:1. This means that the casino edge
is 1.34% in this case.
Betting
on the banker allows you to win bigger, but a 5% “brokerage”
is paid back to the casino. In other words, if you win $100, you give
back $5 and you’re left with $95. This is all paid at the end of
the game. The casino edge, however, is 1.17% in this case. With such odds,
one would assume that the banker has a good advantage.
All
“brokerage” payouts are put in a special box with your table
number. This ensures that the game stays fair. Betting on a tie provides
very favourable odds because if you win, you are paid out 8:1. However,
you should be made aware of the fact that the casino edge in this case
is 14.1%. In other words, only bet on the tie if you are feeling lucky!
The
casino edge is relatively low, except for the tie bets. Unlike games like
blackjack and poker, the players and the banker cannot make decisions
regarding card drawing. This is why you do not have to be an experienced
baccarat player to do well. As long as you know the basics and you are
familiar with the betting procedure, you should do fine. In short, all
you need to do is guess who you think the winner will be. Your gut feel
is one of the strongest and wisest choices you can make, and baccarat
lets you do just this.
All
online baccarat rules are usually printed on the table, which means that
those who are playing for the first time have the same edge as professional
baccarat players. If you play conservatively, you should make a trickle
of a profit by the end of the night. The higher you bet and the better
you guess, the more profitable you will be.
The
best way to get comfortable with any game is to play it. There are many
online casinos which offer free online baccarat. You should enjoy the
free play and you will be able to become familiar with the game before
you head off to your chosen online casino to play for real money.
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Also
See: Casino Winning Systems |
Beginers Guide | Gambling
Tips
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