Baccarat is an exciting game that is also easy to play. If you have been to a physical casino, this game is only played by the rich and powerful, with a rope and perhaps hefty muscle-men preventing the general public from joining. Loads of cash are exchanged on the Baccarat table by the players.
However, online Baccarat is different. For one, it can be played on your mobile devices, on an app, or in a web browser. Also, it is available to everyone. Anyone with the right device, regardless of budget, can play this game. However, since many online casinos welcome players, it is important that you choose the right one. We have considered some of the best options on the internet and have listed the best options to play at.
Apart from the list of the best online casinos to play at, we have also provided tips, strategies, and help for anyone looking to have a great time playing Baccarat online.
History of Baccarat
We begin by taking you back to where the Baccarat game started. This game is one of the oldest casino games known to man. It is widely believed to have become mainstream as far back as the 15th Century. It was then called Chemin de Fer and was a pretty popular game among the French nobility. It wasn’t for the common man because of the high cost of printing its cards.
It dipped in popularity in the 1830s due to the ban on playing card games for money. However, this ban did more to increase its popularity over time and down to today. Today, it is one of the more popular games among the rich and powerful.
Baccarat found its way to the Americas via European immigration. Due to factors like a new culture, variations of Baccarat sprung up in the Americas. One of these variations is the popular Punto Banco. Punto Banco is still played in several casinos today. It finally found its way to the casinos of Las Vegas in the 1950s, along with other games like Craps and Blackjack.
Mini-Baccarat was introduced to casinos in the 1980s, with the aim of making it accessible to the general public.
However, true Baccarat still remains out of the reach of regular people due to the higher limits.
Is Online Baccarat Hard To Play?
As we pointed out earlier, Baccarat is a pretty easy game to master and play. It is best for folks that don’t want to play a game that has myriads of rules and instructions to remember. Unlike other games, there aren’t any side bets and hand values that you need to jot down or memorize before you can win.
Therefore, no matter your experience level, you can rest assured that you will have an enjoyable time playing this game. The rules are straightforward and simple, and with Baccarat, most of the occurrences in the game are already pre-determined.
To play Baccarat enjoyably, all you need to have are basic arithmetic skills and be able to count to ten. You will also need to know about the three major bets. With these in mind, you are good to go!
Some Facts about Online Baccarat
Before you get down to playing, there are some things that you should know about this game. These include:
- Baccarat is simple and doesn’t involve making complicated decisions
- The goal of Baccarat is to get as close as you can to nine
- You can choose to bet on a player or banker to win
- It is also played by rich people
The Baccarat Table
The table above is what the physical Baccarat table looks like. There are numbers around the table’s edge, and these tables indicate the number of people playing. The typical Baccarat table comes with 14 numbers marked 1 to 15. Isn’t that 15? Well, Baccarat players are a superstitious lot, which is why the unlucky number 13 is avoided.
As you can see above, there are three boxes marked on the table above each player number. The closes box to the number is the player bet box. The next closest is the banker bet box, and the furthest box is the tie bet box. To play, you have to choose either of these boxes to place your wager.
How is Baccarat Played?
This game is pretty simple.
There are three possible ways that the game ends– the player wins, the banker wins, or neither wins. Therefore, when playing, you can wager on any of the three outcomes. This means you can even bet on yourself losing! Exciting, right? Baccarat relies on chance, but having a strategy can tip the scales in your favor.
So, how is the game played? Let’s see.
Baccarat begins when the dealer gives two face-up cards to each player and the banker. Each card has a tallied number. Therefore, numbered cards are equivalent to the value of the number. 10s and face cards are equal to 0 points.
The lowest scoring card is the Ace (one point), while the highest number is 9. Therefore, if your card has a total value above 9, it will be subtracted by 10. So if you are dealt cards with values of 5 and 7, which is equal to 12, you have to subtract 10. Your final value will therefore be 2.
With this arithmetic in mind, you can draw up your strategy. If your cards have a value of less than 5, you should keep drawing cards until it is as close to 9 as is safe. If your cards have values of 6 or 7, you ‘stand,’ and this will leave the side with the highest number as the winner.
You could be fortunate when your initial hand is an exact nine or even 8. This would qualify you for a straight win.
Card Values
Baccarat cards have different values. Generally, the cards are worth face value apart from aces and picture cards which are worth one and zero, respectively.
After counting the cards you have been dealt, you get only single digits. Therefore, if you have a value of two and you are dealt a 9, you will have a total of 1.
To simplify the above, you just subtract ten from any two-digit number.
In summary:
- Aces are equal to one
- Numbered cards are equal to face value
- Suits are not counted when determining card values
- Face cards like the King, Queen, Joker, as well as the tens, have a value of zero.
How Do You Win in Baccarat?
How do you know when you have won? It’s simple. Let’s consider an example.
If a player is dealt 8 or 9, they have automatically won. The only scenario where they don’t win is if the dealer has 8 or 9 as well.
Depending on the total of his hand, the dealer might not give him another card. When will a player receive the third card?
A player gets the third card if the two cards that he has are equal in value or less than five. If this is the hand that you are dealt, you will automatically receive the third card, whether you want it or not.
As for the banker, he will also have to draw a third card if the requirements on the Baccarat rules page are met.
Overall, though, the winner of the game is the person that has the highest point total.
Betting in Baccarat
As we said earlier, Baccarat allows you to bet on the player, the banker, or on a tie. This betting is possible in online Baccarat.
Out of the three outcomes (player wins, the house wins, or a tie), the tie offers the worse odds. Therefore, it is not advisable to bet on that.
If you want to bet, you place the wager in the appropriate betting box on the table before the cards are dealt. Therefore, you have to make a choice on who to bet on before the cards are dealt. You can only place three wagers in a game.
You get the following payouts for these bets:
- Player wagers are 1-1
- Banker wagers are paid 1-1; however, the house takes a 5%cut.
- Ties are paid at 8-1
Types of Online Baccarat
There is one main deviation from the traditional Baccarat game. This is known as Mini Baccarat. This type of game can be played in online and live casinos.
The major difference between this type of Baccarat and the traditional Baccarat game is that it has lower minimum bets. A similarity is that it has similar house edges.
Mini Baccarat is best for people that have smaller bankrolls. There are other differences apart from the smaller bankroll and lower minimum bets. These include:
- Mini Baccarat has a croupier instead of three found in the traditional casino
- The table is half the size of the normal Baccarat table. It only seats seven players
- All cards are dealt face-up
Best Strategies for Baccarat
While Baccarat is largely a game of chance, the right strategy can help you make more money than losses, which certainly helps you to enjoy the game better. Some things that you should keep in mind when deciding on your strategy include:
- Knowing the odds
- Knowing what the house edge is on different bets
- Insider tips
These can assist you in playing the game and maximize your winnings. Some popular methods are the Baccarat card counting method and the detailed wager system.
Online Baccarat Money Management
It goes without saying that you need to know how to manage your money if you want to walk away with a smile on your face. After all, the goal of the game is to end up with more money than you began with.
You also need to know the strategies that you can use in this game, depending on your playing method. Before you decide on the wager system to use, read up on each strategy to know the best one for your needs.
Money Management Tips
Here are some of the tips that can assist you in managing your bankroll.
● Separate Your Bankroll
The first and arguably the most important thing that you must do is to separate your Baccarat bankroll from the funds you have to spend in your real life. If you will play, ensure that you aren’t playing with more money than you are willing to lose. You don’t want to play to the detriment of the needs of your family or yourself.
● Use a Baccarat Card Counting Method
After you have ensured that you have your needs covered, you can then start playing. One excellent strategy is the card counting method. You should start at a table with a fresh shoe of eight or six decks. With such a shoe, you can reduce the house edge and win as much as is possible.
● Paroli Betting System
Another method that you can use is the Paroli betting system. In this system, you double your ante when you win a wager. And when you lose a wager, you simply revert to the original wager and begin again. This system will help to reduce your losses.
● 1-3-2-6 Betting System
This is another strategy recommended by several experts. To use this method, you first bet one unit on your first hand, three units on the second hand, two units on the third, and six on the fourth. The reason why this is generally effective is that it allows you to recoup money from your short winning streaks instead of just losing continually.
● Parlay Betting System
This straightforward strategy is similar to the Paroli strategy we reviewed earlier. Here, as with the mentioned strategy, you increase your bets as you play. When you have a wager, you add winnings to the initial bet for your second hand. If you win the second hand, you place the same amount of money as your original wager and winnings.
Free Online Baccarat
Since money is involved in playing, some wonder if it is possible to play Baccarat without spending. Well, it is possible to play Baccarat online without paying. There are three versions of free Baccarat you can choose from.
These are:
- North American
- Chemmy Baccarat
- Baccarat Banque
You can check out any of these three versions from any HTML5 enabled platform and any device.
The advantage of the free Baccarat is that you can play it for free. Online Baccarat is very exciting to play. And if you would want to get acquainted with the rules of the game or you want to try out strategies, then these online free Baccarat games are best for you.
Press the ‘Play Now’ Button above to get started.
Playing Baccarat on PC and Mobile
You can play Baccarat on your mobile device or your PC. For mobile phones, you can play on Mobile Casino apps for Android and IOS. You can also play it on your web browser found on your PC. As we pointed out, Baccarat can be played on any HTML5 enabled platform. Therefore, it is compatible with almost all the devices found out there.
As long as you have your device and an internet connection, you can play Baccarat from wherever and whenever you want.
Online Baccarat FAQs
1. How Can I Play Baccarat Online?
This simple game can be played online. You need to make a wager on one of three outcomes (player wins, banker wins, or tie). The card values are calculated, and the person with the highest number, close to 9, wins.
2. Where Can I Play Baccarat Online for Free?
You can start playing Baccarat here for free. Click on ‘Play Now’ at the top of this page to join our exclusive club of Baccarat players from all around the world. You don’t need a special device or access before you can join our games. There are different variants of Baccarat, and you can choose the type you want to play. The best Baccarat casinos online allow you to play without spending money. If you enjoy the game, you can then choose to play for actual money?
3. What Baccarat Versions Can I Play
There are several versions depending on the casino that you choose. Generally, the popular versions include Punto Banco, Chemin de Fer, and Mini Baccarat. You can also decide to play live games. There are tons of exciting live games you can play as well.
4. What are the Odds?
Odds in Baccarat refer to the chances of a win, loss, or tie. Baccarat has three possible outcomes. 45% chance of the player winning, 46% chance of the player losing, and 9.5% chance of a tie. The banker has a 51% chance of winning.
5. Are there Strategies in Baccarat?
Yes, although this is mostly a game of chance. There are systems that you can use to increase your chances of winning a wager. Placing a bet on a tie is the least popular option, while it is recommended to mostly bet on the banker.
6. Who Should I Bet On in Baccarat?
The banker has the highest chance of winning, so placing a wager on him will give you the best odds.
