Rules of Baccarat - Modern and historical

 Baccarat Rules: Modern and Historical

Baccarat, a popular card game, is played in many Casinos all over the globe. It is especially prominent in Macau, where Punto Bank Baccarat accounts to around 90% of casino income. Baccarat, which is strictly a game for chance, requires players to follow the rules of the card they are dealt. The dealt cards are summed, and the banker wins.

Baccarat featured prominently in Casino Royale, James Bond's first novel. The latest adaptation of Casino Royale featured Baccarat as a prominent character. However, Poker replaced it.

We stock excellent Baccarat playing card palettes and other equipment made by Dal Negro in Italy. They are one of the most trusted suppliers of high quality playing cards.

Baccarat Basic Rules

Court cards have no value, while other cards have face value. Each hand begins with 2 cards. An optional third card can be dealt. The sum is calculated and the hand with the closest number of cards wins. The sum of more than 9 will result in a value return to 0 rather than going to 10, e.g. A pair 6 and 7 cards has a 3 value, not 13. Three cards 9 and 6 have a 4 value. You can ignore the leading number if the sum is two digits.

The odds of sticking or taking a third card are simple. If the sum equals 4 or less, then you should take a card. 6 and above will stick. Only if it is a five, are the odds almost equal. The house rules make it even simpler because they require both the player as well as the banker to follow the rules. The only choice the player has is whether or not they want to request a third card if the sum is 5. The banker may have a slightly greater freedom, and can draw on 3, 4, 5 and 6 depending on the card being held face-up.

Baccarat, as Seymour described it in 1897

In England, the game is called "Baccara Banque", also known as just "Baccara", and in France it's "Baccara a deux tableaux", which means Baccara with 2 tables. It is not often played in the USA. Richard Seymour published a definitive version in a 1897 "Hoyle".

Most players compete to determine who will provide the bank. The bank is either held for the entire duration of the cards or until the banker gives up (either due to bankruptcy or other reasons). Each deal is played head-tohead, just like other banking games. The banker starts by placing the amount to the table. Each player then has the option to say 'Banco,' and so challenge the banker in order to get all of the money he staked in one play. This will result in the duel taking place immediately.

Normal play is possible if this happens. The non-banking player are divided into two halves. The banker is to the right, and the players to his left. A representative from each side of the banker is selected for each deal. These represent the players on either banker's side. If a player loses the privilege passes on to the next person. The representative duties then return to the banker next to them. The banker will play two head-tohead games against each representative from the half-table for each deal.

The initial stake is set by the banker. Players then take turns to put down a stake until their total table share equals the banker’s. The banker then hands two cards to him and to the other two representatives. If any player or banker has a total of 8-9, it must be shown immediately. The two other cards are then shown and bets made accordingly.

Each of the three players are allowed to choose a third class, starting with the player at the banker's left and ending with them. If one of the players refuses to accept a third-card, then the banker will take a fourth card. Any third card is dealt face down and all hands are then shown and bets placed accordingly.

If a player has a better banker hand, the banker will pay all the bets on that side. If the hand is not as good as the banker's, the banker takes all the bets. If it's not, the banker collects all bets on that side of the table. a brief instruction on playing baccarat