What Is Baccarat? | Everything You Need to Know

There are games that have made a significant impact on the history of casinos, including the well-known European roulette, slot machines, and the famous blackjack. But if you’re reading this post, it’s because you’ve probably heard or seen someone betting on punto banco and want to know: What is Baccarat?

Well, here, at JefeBet, we’ve decided to teach you everything you need to know about Baccarat, also known as bacará. Furthermore, we have a special offer for you at the end of the article, so you can put your newly acquired knowledge into practice and start winning the game. Keep reading and discover how!

Everything You Need to Know to Play Baccarat

So, what is Baccarat? Well, it is one of the most popular and exciting online or physical casino games. The objective is to reach a hand totaling 9 points, or as close as possible to that amount. Each game is made up of 6 or 8 decks of cards, which depends on the casino as such.

The most played version of baccarat is Punto y Banca (we will talk about the other variants later on) and it is specifically this one that we will delve into throughout the article. But first, it is essential to know the value of the cards we will be betting with. Let’s take a look:

• The numeric cards (from 2 to 9) are equal to their face value.
• The cards 10 and the figures (J, Q, K) are worth 0.
• The Ace is worth 1.

Note: if the sum of the cards is greater than 9, the last digit of that sum is taken.

1. Example 1: You have an 8 and a 5.
   • 8 + 5 = 13
   • Sum in baccarat: 3
2. Example 2: You have a Jack (worth 0) and a 7.
   • 0 + 7 = 7
   • Sum in baccarat: 7
3. Example 3: You have a Queen (worth 0) and a 9.
   • 0 + 9 = 9
   • Sum in baccarat: 9
4. Example 4: You have an Ace (worth 1) and a 3.
   • 1 + 3 = 4
   • Sum in baccarat: 4
5. Example 5: You have a 10 and an 8.
   • 10 + 8 = 18
   • Sum in baccarat: 8 (only the last digit, which is 8, is taken)

When it appears in the first round, a hand that adds up to 8 or 9 is called Natural, and automatically stops the game, as it becomes a winner by default.

How to bet in baccarat?

We have already said what baccarat is and its objective, but unlike blackjack, the cards never get to the player’s hand.

The entire game is played on the table, managed by the dealer, who deals two cards to each side (dealer and player). The player decides which type of bet to make before the cards are dealt and chooses which one he/she believes will be the winner:

• You can bet on the player. It is also called Punto, hence the name Punto y Banca.
• You can bet on the banker.
• You can bet on a tie.

For example, if you bet on the banker and the banker comes closer to 9 points than the player, you win the bet. The case is the same when betting on the player. As the odds of a tie are lower, the winnings on this bet are higher.

How to play baccarat?

We are going to simulate a game and to exemplify it in the best way, we will explain the case in 5 simple steps:

1. Bets are placed: Once the player has selected the table on which to play, they decide the type of bet to place (player, banker, tie).
2. Card Deal: Two cards are dealt to the player and two to the dealer. The values of the cards are added together, and only the last digit of that sum is used. If you have a 7 and a 5, your hand is worth 2 (because 7 + 5 = 12, and the last digit is 2).
3. Third Card Decision: If the player or the dealer has a sum of 8 or 9 (natural) on the first two cards, a third card is not dealt. If not, specific rules are followed to determine if a third card is needed for either or both hands.
4. Determining the Winner: After all the necessary cards are dealt, the sum of points of the player’s hand and the dealer’s hand is compared. The hand closest to 9 wins. If both hands have the same sum, it is a tie.
5. Win and collect: If you bet on the player’s hand, and they won, you receive a payout equal to your bet (1:1). If you bet on the bank, and it wins, you receive a payout (1:1), but a small commission is retained, usually 5%. If you bet on a tie and you win, you get 8 times your bet (8:1).

Third card baccarat rules

Basically, you already know what baccarat is, but there is an aspect that often determines who wins or loses in the game, we are talking about the Third Card. There are rules that apply to it, but not equally for the player and the banker, let’s see:

Rules for the player:

• If the player has a natural hand (8 or 9 points), a third card is not dealt and the highest possible value is considered.
• If the player ‘s sum is 6 or 7 points, he stands and does not receive a third card.
• If the player ‘s sum is 0-5 points, a third card is dealt.

Rules for banking:

• If the bank has a natural hand (8 or 9 points), a third card is not dealt and the highest possible value is considered.
• If the banker’ s sum is 7 points, he stands and does not receive a third card, regardless of the player‘s third card.
• If the bank‘s sum is 0-2 points, a third card is always dealt.
• If the banker’ s sum is 3–6 points, the third card is dealt according to an additional rule based on the player‘s third card:
  1. The croupier receives a third card if the player also received a third card, and its value is not 8.
  2. The dealer stands if the player did not receive a third card.

Versions of baccarat

Baccarat has several popular versions that are played in casinos around the world. Some common variants include Punto y Banca, Chemin de Fer and Baccarat en Banque. We have already seen how to play the punto y banca, and although the others are similar, they also are slightly different.

Chemin de Fer: is a European version where the player can play the role of the banker, and other players continue to be players. These compete with each other seeking the sum of 9.

Baccarat en Banque: here the banker has two hands and the player one, as in the rest of the variants, the objective is to guess who will have the winning hand.

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To Sum Up

Now you know what baccarat is, and you know all the aspects you need to know to start playing and betting, the only thing left to do is to start winning money.

You don’t need to be the most experienced player to enjoy punto y banca. In fact, if you are just starting out in the world of online betting, this is an excellent option thanks to the simplicity, fluidity, and fun it offers.

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