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A Beginner’s Guide to Baccarat

Baccarat is a card game with an enduringly rich history. It was once the pastime of Europe’s elite, before spreading across Asia and finally gaining prominence in the United States. Its simplicity and quick resolution of hands attract high rollers. Bets of $100,000 per hand are not uncommon.

Players sit around a table and, depending on the rules of the casino, one or two of them serve as banker. Six decks are shuffled together and then dealt out to the players in a counterclockwise fashion. The player’s and the banker’s hands are compared; the hand that is closest to nine wins. There is a third bet, called the tie, that pays off eight to one if both sides equal the same number, but it has a higher house edge than player and banker bets.

Unlike other card games, in which players place bets against each other, baccarat is played against the dealer alone. That makes the player’s choice of wager a more strategic decision than it might seem at first glance. Players can make bets on the player, the banker or a tie, and they must decide how much to stake on each bet. The player must choose the best option to maximize their profits.

Baccarat has a long, fascinating history that starts with its origins in Italy. Then, it moved to France (where it’s sometimes referred to as “Chemin de Fer” or “chemmy”) where it became the favorite game of the royal family and the noblemen who surrounded them.

In the 1950s, the game migrated to the United States and became the favorite of celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando. Today, it’s a beloved game in many casinos and has spawned numerous variants. For instance, Mini Baccarat follows the same rules as traditional baccarat but offers better payouts for the Banker bet and adds a side bet called Super 6.

Regardless of how you choose to play, it’s important to know the basics of baccarat before you start betting. To help you do that, we’ve compiled a complete guide to the game. It covers everything from the basic rules to effective baccarat strategies that can help you win big.

Bill Zender, a former Nevada Gaming Control agent and casino executive who literally wrote the book on managing casino games, says that Asian high rollers have made baccarat their game of choice for several reasons. For one thing, it’s uniquely suited to their cultural preferences. In addition, the game has a very low hold percentage for banker and player bets—only 1.2 percent, on average. That’s far lower than the house advantage for other casino games. Plus, the game has an elegant, sophisticated feel that appeals to those who prefer a high-class environment.