Baccarat Basics
By: RANTY PAUL

Baccarat is a game with only two bets, banker and player. The odds are very nearly 50-50 for each and, as in most casino jeux games, the deciding factor is most often nothing more than pure luck. The baccarat table is oblong with seven numbered positions on each side of the table. Just like in hotels, the number 13 is skipped, so the numbers reach 15 at most games.

At each position there are three bets. The “Banker,” the “Player” and the Tie. B-A-N-K-E-R and P-L-A-Y-E-R are pelled out on each side of the table in the corresponding areas. The position for the Tie bet is generally above the banker and Player bets.

dealers work the games at all times and perform iiilar functions as the dealers at the craps table. Two alers sit or stand behind the chip rack and pay or take the ayers’ bets on each side of the table, depending upon the Icome of the hand.

croupier, sometimes referred to as the “caller”, stands in e middle of the table and makes the calls on the hands, cting the players on the procedures of the game. carat is the only game where the players deal the cards.

Before starting the game, the dealers shuffle eight decks of cards together and place them in a covered shoe. Even the shuffling procedure is elegant. The croupier takes two decks off the top of the deck and “laces”—intersperses---—them throughout the remaining cards. Player number one is offered the opportunity to be the “banker”. As Banker, the player deals two cards for each hand. The first card is the first Player card, and goes to the croupier. The second card, the first Banker card, goes under the corner of the shoe. The third card, the second Player card, goes to the croupier, and the initial deal is complete with the fourth card, the second Banker card, which joins the first under the corner of the shoe. The croupier then passes the Player’s cards to the player at the table with the highest bet on the Player’s side. If no one is betting on the Player side, the croupier exposes the cards.

Players need not accept the shoe to act as the banker. It is not considered incorrect to pass the shoe, particularly if you plan to make a Player’s bet. But you may take the shoe and bet the Player’s side. Other players may comment that you’re betting against yourself, but, once again, the rules are predetermined and the cards are already in the shoe, so it doesn’t really make any difference what side you bet when you deal the cards.

The rules of the game determine whether a third card can be taken, but in the end, the winner is the hand with a total closest to nine. Face cards and Tens have no value and when the total of the cards is more than nine, the left hand digit is dropped. For instance, in baccarat, Eight and Seven equals Five, because you drop the ten-count of the true total of 15.

The only other bet that a player can make in baccarat is the Tie bet. It is a side wager that is usually placed along with a Banker or a Player bet. When a tie occurs, the two hands end up with the same total. Neither the Banker nor the Player loses and the casino pays the bets that were placed on the tie for that hand only. Ties pay 8 to 1, but the odds favor the house to such an extent, the tie wager is considered a bad bet.

Because the Banker bet has a slight advantage—the casino jeux edge on the Banker bet is 1.06 percent versus 1.23 percent for the Player’s bet—a winning wager on the Banker option owes the house a five percent commission. The commission raises the house edge to 1.17 percent. The dealer keeps track of your commission in a box in front of the chip rack by using plastic lammers designating the amount owed. You may pay this commission at any time, but it must be collected aft& the shoe is completed. Player bets are paid even money. The Tie bet is paid eight-to-one, but the true odds are more like nine-to-one, making the Tie bet the worst at the baccarat table.

After placing his bet, the Player has no more decisions to make. There are no double downs, splits, or free odds. The game proceeds according to a set of complicated rules that need not concern the casual player. With simple choices and clear cut decisions, the game is a real favorite with those gamblers who really like to rely on systems.

RULES OF THE ROAD

For those who want to understand the rules, baccarat is I really rather simple. Since the object is to get the closest nine, the perfect hand is one that totals nine in the first io cards. A face card and a Nine, a Seven and a Deuce, a Five and a Four.. .it doesn’t matter, If it adds up to nine, yoa’ve got an unbeatable hand.

Eight is the second-best hand and, along with the nine, constitutes the two “natural” hands. They are each non drawing hands—requiring no third cards. The only hand that will beat a natural eight is a natural nine. Each hand can, of course, be tied by one of the same value in the first two cards. If either the Player hand or the Banker hand has a natural eight or nine, the opposite hand cannot draw a third card, no matter what the value.

Each hand stands on seven, and the Player hand never draws on six. The Player always draws when they has five or less (so long as the Banker does not have a natural eight or nine), and the Banker hand may draw on all hands from three through six, depending upon what the Player draws. Each hand always draws a third card when having two or less (three or less for the Player), so long as the opposing hand is not a natural.

This is where the rules get confusing. The Banker hand will draw on a six, when the Player hand draws a Six or a Seven. For example, let’s say the Player hand totals three, and the Banker hand totals six. The Player draws first and if it draws a Six or Seven, the Banker hand must dras a third card. Even though a Seven would reduce the Player’s hand to zero, the Banker is still required to draw, according to the rules.

The accompanying list, below, will explain the “third card rules” but, once again, it is not necessary to memorize these rules. The croupier will announce the results and rarely make mistakes.

if he does, there are at least six other people and surveillance employees observing the game. Don’t worry you aren’t going to get cheated.

The following are the third card rules for the Player’s hand. • The Player hand always draws on zero through five. • The Player hand stands on six and seven.

The following are the third card rules for the Banker’s hand. The Banker will draw if it totals: • three, and the Player’s hand stands on six or seven, or draws Ace, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Nine, or Ten. • four, and the Player’s hand stands on six or seven, or draws Two, Three, Four, Five, Six or Seven. • five, and the Player’s hand stands on six or seven, or draws Four. Five, Six or Seven. • six, and the Player draws a Six or Seven. The Banker always stands if the Player stands on six or seven.

The difference between baccarat and chemin de fer occurs when the Banker has a five. In baccarat, the Banker is required to take another card under certain rules, but in chemin de fer, the Banker can decide not to take a third card under those situations.

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