When it comes to table games, baccarat is one of the most popular ones. The online casino game has come a long way from where it used to be. Today, it is widely available not just in India but in other parts of the globe.
If you’re looking for where to learn how to play baccarat and win, you’re on the right page. In this extensive write-up, we discuss the simple rules of play and how to win with the right strategies. As you read on, you’ll discover a few game variations that are popular at some of the best online casinos in India.
History of Baccarat
One of the oldest and most popular card games ever created, baccarat has a mysterious past. Even so, making assumptions about the game’s history is fascinating. According to one theory, baccarat was influenced by games that had no cards at all. Pai Gow, a Chinese tile-based card game, is one of them.
In addition, it is reported that in ancient Rome, players would roll nine-sided dice and win if they landed on an eight or a nine. Some people think that this game had an impact on modern baccarat games where the best hand is a 9.
However, an Italian named Felix Falguiere developed the current Baccarat rules in the 15th century. Most sources agree that Falguiere was greatly influenced by games like Macao and Le Her.
Since most of the cards are worthless, Falguiere gave the game the Italian name “Baccara,” which translates to “zero” in English. Many contend that a traditional Etruscan tale about a virgin who had to toss a nine-sided die served as the inspiration for Falguierein’s first Baccara game. Her fate was determined by the throw’s outcome.
She became a priestess if she threw an 8 or a 9. She would be allowed to survive if the dice came up with a 6 or 7. However, she would be barred from future participation in any rituals or ceremonies. She was thrown out to sea to drown if she threw anything less than a six.
Baccarat in Online Casinos
At the end of the 19th century, the game made its way to the United States. However, it wasn’t until the 1950s that the game became widely available that it became popular in casinos. The variations that are well-known include Punto Banco, Baccarat Banque, and chemin de fer.
Baccarat games are now available at most online casinos, with live dealer baccarat frequently being a player favorite. We’ll discuss these variations in detail as we proceed.
How to Win Baccarat at The Casino:
Baccarat is a game of chance that is a lot of fun to play. In movies, it’s shown as formal and classy—James Bond’s favorite! —but in real life, it’s very casual. It’s a simple game with a slow pace that’s great for people who have never played before. Also, the odds in baccarat are some of the best in the casino.
Baccarat can be played in two forms at online casinos. There’s the RNG-based version. These games are played with bots, and a random number generator determines the outcome.
On the other hand, there are live dealer games where you play against a real person. These games offer a more immersive experience because they have chat features that you can use to communicate with the dealer. You can choose one based on your gaming preferences.
That said, there are a few things you should take note of when learning how to play baccarat online.
The Table
The table game version of the game has a simple betting area. When you launch the game, you’ll be faced with a large table on which the cards are dealt. On the screen, there’ll be virtual chips that you can use to place bets.
In live baccarat, the playing area usually has a spot for the dealer and anywhere from seven to fourteen player seats. It doesn’t matter how many people are sitting down to play, there will only ever be two hands dealt: the player and the banker. In this game, players don’t receive their own cards; they can only bet on what they think the outcome of the game will be.
Like in the RNG-based versions, you’ll also have a betting area with virtual chips that you can use to place bets. You’ll also be able to see an actual table on which the croupier deals cards. It’s also worth noting that you can see the dealer and the activities that happen on the table.
How the Cards Work
In baccarat, the standard 52-card deck is used, but without the jokers. The remaining cards have different points. From 2 to 9, the cards are worth their face value. This means that a 7 is worth seven points, and a 3 is worth three points as well.
The 10, jack, king, and queen don’t have any values, meaning that their point value is 0. On the other hand, aces have 1 point.
Terminologies in Baccarat
The following are the terms you’ll come across when playing baccarat in online casinos:
Banco
This is called the banker’s side. It is also the hand on which the dealer always bets. This bet has a little better chance of winning than Punto, but you have to pay a commission. Even though there is a commission, this is still considered the best bet.
Bankroll
The total amount of money a player has set aside to bet with at any given time. One of the most important parts of knowing how to win at baccarat is knowing how to handle your money.
Burn
This is when the first cards drawn from the show are discarded. The action is mostly done to confuse chats and throw them off the order of the card.
Commission
This is a fee that must be paid if the banker bet wins. It is usually 5% of the amount the player wins. However, some variants might have a smaller percentage.
Downcard
This term is used to describe a card that’s faced down.
Face cards
They are present in every deck of cards and include Jacks, Queens, and Kings. These cards, together with 10s, are worth nothing in baccarat.
La Grande
This term describes getting an exact hand that’s worth up to 9. It translates to “the big one” and has a better value than “la petite.”
La Petite
This also means the “small one,” and refers to a hand that’s worth up to eight.
Natural
This explains a two-card baccarat hand that can be worth eight or nine points. The round ends and that hand is declared the winner if just one of the two hands is dealt as a natural.
Punto
This word is also used to describe the hand in baccarat that sits next to the banker hand.
Shoe
This is the container in which the decks of playing cards used in the game of baccarat are kept.
Tie
This is when both hands have the same value. It can also mean the “tie” bet, in which the player bets that both hands will be the same. This bet pays out at either 8 to 1 or 9 to 1.
Up Card
A term for a card that has its face up.
How To Play Baccarat
As mentioned earlier, the baccarat game rules are quite simple. Here is a detailed explanation of how to play baccarat at Indian online casinos.
Step 1: Start with a Game Plan
Gambling is a pastime, but this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be prepared when you visit an online casino. That said, here are the things to put in place before you sit at a baccarat table.
Set a budget
Baccarat is exciting, and it is easy to get carried away. You might find yourself spending so much more than you expected before the gaming round is important. That’s why it’s important to set aside a certain amount and use only that money to play.
Avoid Credit Cards
Credit cards are linked to your bank account, meaning that you can keep depositing without caution. If you know you can’t control how you spend, use options like Paysafecard.
Set a Win Limit
Being on a winning streak is fun, but remember that you can easily lose the amount you accrued. Therefore, decide at which point in your gameplay you’ll walk away.
Step 2: Place a Bet
Next, you visit the online casino where you’re registered and launch the game you want. As we noted earlier, the best online gambling sites will have an RNG-based version of the game and also a live dealer version.
When you launch the game of your choice, decide how much you want to bet. In the RNG-based version, you click on the option to “Deal” for cards to be shared. On the other hand, live dealer games have a set time frame during which you place your bets.
In baccarat, you can bet on one of three outcomes: the banker wins, the player wins, or a tie. These hands have different house edges and payouts. Some variants also have side bets that you can wager on.
Once the betting round is over, the dealer deals two cards to the banker’s side and the player’s side. Note that the banker and the player don’t represent the house and the punter; they’re just two sides of the table.
Step 3: Make a Decision
The player will then be the first to decide to make a move based on the value of the first two cards that were dealt. Usually, the player has the option to hit or stand. If the hand hits, it draws a third card. On the hand, standing means that the hand would take no other card.
Step 4: Know the Winning hand
After all the cards are dealt and played, the winner is the hand that comes closest to 9 points. Nobody ever gets more than three cards in either hand. If both hands are the same, neither wins nor loses. The dealer takes the bets that were lost and gives the winners their money.
Bets that win on the banker’s hand only are charged a 5% commission by the dealer. In Baccarat, this is how the casino makes money. The dealer keeps track of commissions in the commission box and collects them for each winning banker’s hand.
Third Card Rules for the Player
In baccarat, the player or the banker can draw a third card to supplement their hand. Here are the rules that apply for the player to draw a third card.
If the player’s hand has 8 or 9 points, it’s a natural win, and no more cards will be drawn. The player’s hand will stand.
The Player’s hand always stands when the total number of points is either 6 or 7.
When the Player’s total is between 0 and 5, unless the Banker has an 8 or 9, the Player draws a third card. If that happens, the Banker wins, and no more cards are dealt.
Third Card Rules for the Banker
When the banker draws a third card, a different set of rules comes into play. You don’t have to learn these rules by heart, but you can review them. The hand of the banker depends on the hand of the player. Here’s how it works:
- When the banker has a value that is less than or equal to 2, the hand draws a third card. This happens of the player stands.
- If the banker’s total is 3, and the player’s third card is not an 8, the bank draws a third card.
- When the banker’s hand is 4, it draws a third card if the player’s third card is not a 0, 1, 8, or 9.
- If the banker has a hand that has a total value of 5, and the player’s third card is a 4, 5, 6, or 7, the bank will draw.
- If the bank’s total is 6, and the player’s third card is a 6 or 7, the bank will draw a third card.
- The banker stands with a 7.
Baccarat House Edge and Payout
When playing any casino game, it is important to note the house edge, as this tells you what you will lose or gain in the long run. Baccarat is a great game because it has one of the lowest house edges. For an eight-deck card game, the player has a 1.24% house edge, while the banker’s is 1.06%.
These hands have very low house edges, but the same can’t be said for the tie bet. The tie bet has a house edge of 14.36%, making it the worst hand in the game.
When it comes to payout, the amount you receive also depends on the hand you bet on. The player’s hand pays 1:1, even money bet. This means that for every INR100 you bet and win, you get an additional INR100.
The banker’s hand also pays even money bet. However, the casino takes a 5% commission. This means that you get 95% of your bet amount. So, for an INR100 bet that you place and win, you get an additional INR95.
On the other hand, the tie bet has a payout of 8:1. This means that if you bet INR100 and win, you get an additional INR800.
There are also different return-to-player percentages for different side bets. These include
- Banker Pair – 89.64%
- Player Pair – 89.64%
- Perfect Pair – 91.95%
- Either Pair – 86.29%
- Player Bonus – 97.35%
- Banker Bonus – 90.63%
How To Bet On Baccarat
To bet on baccarat games online, one has to register and deposit on the gambling platform. Here is how to sign up at a baccarat casino online.
- Using an internet-enabled device, visit the online gambling site.
- Click the appropriate option to sign up on the site.
- Enter the necessary information; this can include your e-mail address, phone number, and full name.
- Agree to the site’s terms and conditions.
- Submit the registration form.
- Confirm your account if required.
How To Win Baccarat
Here are some tips that can increase your chances when playing the Baccarat casino game.
Unless you’re feeling particularly lucky, the tie bet is the worst hand in baccarat. It has the highest house edge, so you’re bound to lose more in the long run than gain. That said, it’s best to stick to the basic hands or side bets with a lower house edge.
This strategy is very simple. All you have to do is choose to bet on either the player or the banker every time. Keep doing this until you’ve lost three times in a row. At this point, you should stop betting and wait until the hand you prefer starts to win again. If you use this strategy, you should set a goal for how much you want to win so you know when to stop.
Online Baccarat Games
Baccarat has come a long way from what it used to be. Now, there are different variations at online casinos that you can play for your entertainment. Below, we explore some of these variants and how to play them.
Classic Live Baccarat
When you look at this table game, the first colors that catch your eye are gold and red. Baccarat Live is, in many ways, based in Asia. It has soothing features and live dealers who are very well-trained and will greet you when you start the game.
When you launch the game, you choose a place at the table. Evolution Gaming uses the best technology out there, so it will be easy for you to get live footage on the device of your choice.
You’re presented with a straightforward betting table and asked only to indicate the amount and placement of your wagers. Then, you can bet on either the player or the banker, or you can bet on a tie between the two. Your payout will depend on which outcome you bet on, so choose wisely!
When playing baccarat, the cards are always dealt face down. There are a total of 8 decks of cards, and you could play with many other punters. The dealer will tell you how to bet and how to win. You can also try your luck with the Pairs Side bet.
Additional Features
If you like keeping track of numbers, this baccarat game is perfect for you. There is a full set of interactive charts that tell you about the game’s history with the click of a button. This could help you decide where to bet next or give you interesting information about the current game.
Live Speed Baccarat
Live Speed Baccarat is a game made by Evolution Gaming that plays like regular baccarat. Since speed is more important than suspense, the cards are dealt face-up from the very beginning. As usual, Evolution Gaming’s streams have crisp, high-definition visuals. Likewise, their dealers are interesting and entertaining to chat with.
This game has an RTP of 98.94%, and eight decks are used when you play Live Speed Baccarat. In Evolution Gaming’s new game, players can choose from six different bonus bets. You have less of a chance of winning, but if you do, the prize is much greater than anything you could win during regular play.
As in every live dealer game, the round begins with you wagering on an outcome. On your screen will be a display of the virtual coins you can use to place bets. Choose a chip and then wager it on the outcome you think will come out on top.
In a game of live speed baccarat, you have three possible options. You can bet on either the player’s hand or the banker’s hand. Also, if you think the round will end in a draw, you can click the green field to indicate as much. The user interface provided by Evolution Gaming makes it easy to see how many people chose each option and how much they wagered.
Additional Features
Live Speed Baccarat from Evolution Gaming has six more side bets, all of which are about pairs. The player pair and bet pair side bets can be accessed from the main board with a simple click. If the first two cards dealt to the player or banker are a pair, then the player or banker wins.
The Perfect Pair, Either Pair, P Bonus, and B Bonus side bets also provide you with the chance to earn extra money. A perfect pair pays if you have two cards with the same value and suit. If the player and banker have the same hand, the payout is increased. Simply put, an Either Pair bet indicates that the bettor believes either the banker or the player will hold a pair.
Lastly, we have a P bonus and a B bonus. If the player or the banker wins the round with a natural eight or nine, they are awarded an extra sum of money. This bet also pays out if the winning hand wins by at least four points. The payout goes up the more points one hand has over the other.
Live Baccarat Squeeze
The excitement of card-squeezing is brought to your computer with Evolution Gaming’s Live Baccarat Squeeze. Its dealer will give you a tip about the next card by showing you the card’s edges.
The software developer gives us access to an amazing, high-quality stream from their studio. Furthermore, the dealers are friendly and easygoing, and they’re happy to talk unless they’re in the middle of a squeeze.
This game has an RTP of 98.94% and requires the regular shuffling of cards. You can increase your chances of winning big with Evolution Gaming’s six different bonus bets. However, these bigger wins come at the cost of a lower RTP.
You can bet by choosing a coin from the bottom of the screen and putting it on the board. A small clock tells you how long you have left to bet before the game is over.
Like every baccarat game, there are three possible outcomes you can bet on. You can wager that the player will win or that the banker will win the round. There is always the chance that it will end in a tie, but this is the riskiest bet to place. The game also keeps track of how many times each bet has won. This lets you keep up with trends and use them to help you decide what to bet on.
Additional Features
The additional bets here are similar to what we have in Baccarat Squeeze. There are the player and banker pairs. With these bets, you get a payout when either the banker or the player’s first two cards are a pair.
Evolution Gaming’s Live Baccarat Squeeze has six optional side bets. It begins with matched sets of players and banks. A side bet will win if the first two cards dealt to the player or banker are a pair.
The Perfect Pair and Either Pair wagers come next. To win at Perfect Pair, you need to have two cards that are both of the same suit and value. It’s ideal if you can get it only on the player or banker side. However, the grand prize is awarded for a perfect pair on both hands. On the other hand, Either Pair pays out if either the player or the banker has a pair as their first two cards.
Finally, there are the P bonus and B bonus extra wagers. In this game, the player or banker wins if their hand contains a natural eight or nine. Alternatively, the winning hand must outscore the losing hand by a margin of at least four points. The larger the margin, the greater the payout.
No Commission Baccarat
Evolution Gaming No Commission Baccarat is a live casino table game where all winning banker bets don’t have to pay a 5% commission. Live No Commission Baccarat is played with 8 decks. As we’ve come to expect from Evolution Gaming, the stream is of the highest quality. The dealers are also very nice and talk to the players all the time to keep them interested.
A simple menu lets players get to video and audio controls, their own game history, and the rules of the game. You can also switch between a “classic” view and a “3D” view and show scorecards on a light or dark background. In the general settings, players can choose to hide the chat of other players or show all side bets. They can also hide the betting statistics that are shown above the digital betting area.
You have three betting choices in No Commission Baccarat. Bets can be made on either the player’s hand or the banker’s hand. There is also a “tie,” which only wins if both sides are equal.
Both the Player bet and the Banker bet pay out even money unless the Banker rolls a 6. If that happens, you’ll get paid out at a rate of 0.5:1.
Additional Features
This game has a side bet called “Super 6.” You can only bet on it after you’ve already put down the main bet. You win the side bet if the banker wins with a score of 6.
There are side bets called “player pair” and “banker pair,” which pay out if the first two cards drawn are pairs. The Player pair only pays if the pair is on the player side, and vice versa. Perfect Pair, on the other hand, pays out if either player draws two cards with the same value and suit. If both the player’s hand and the dealer’s hand are a Perfect Pair, you get the best win of all.
The last two side bets are the P bonus and the B bonus. They pay if the hand they bet on wins with a natural 8 or 9, or if they beat the other hand by at least 4 points.
