Learning to play online Baccarat
Baccarat is one of those games that you just can’t get enough of. Whether you’re a new online casino player or a seasoned expert, chances are there will come a time when you want to switch up your online casino play and try something different. Something you’ve never tried before. And if that’s the space you’re in right now. Allow us to make a recommendation for you. Online Baccarat.
Baccarat? Yes! You might think it’s an overly sophisticated game that’s only for VIPs and high rollers. In fact it’s a wonderfully simple game to learn. And while there are many high-limit Baccarat games, there are just as many that are affordable enough for everyone to play. So why don’t you try something different the next time you log onto your online casino? Why don’t you try Baccarat?
The history of Baccarat
To familiarize you with the game, it might be worth taking you through a brief history of Baccarat first. Originating in the Middle Ages in the 1200s, Baccarat is of Italian origin. With its name meaning ‘zero’. Its popularity grew from its humble beginnings, becoming a favourite of European royalty and the famed tables of Monte Carlo. From the Riviera it made its way across the Atlantic to the USA. Where it became synonymous with VIPs and big spenders, and today is known as one of the casino greats.
While the game has a reputation of being reserved for the rich and famous and even James Bond itself, its evolution into online Baccarat has made it far more accessible. Opening it up to a new generation of players. Today there’s no need to place huge, overly expensive bets. Instead everyone and every bankroll can afford to play it. It’s the 21st century, and Baccarat is for everyone!
Understanding online Baccarat
By far one of the biggest positives of playing online Baccarat is how wonderfully simple it is to learn. There are no complicated strategies or rules to learn and wrap your head around. You simply sit, place your bet, and then allow the game to unfold in front of you.
Much like Roulette, online Baccarat is a game of predicting outcomes. Although in this case there are only three outcomes to choose from. Place a bet in Baccarat and you’ll be betting on whether either the Player or the Banker hand will win. Or whether there will be a Tie between them. That’s literally all there is to betting at Baccarat. And once you’re done, the house will take over and continue the play for you.
In order to understand the outcome of a game, there is one thing you’ll need to familiarize yourself with. And that’s the Baccarat card hand value system. One that’s different from the more common Blackjack system that you may already know:
Aces – worth 1
10s and face cards – worth 0
Cards between 2 and 9 – worth their face value
It doesn’t quite stop there though. If a hand of cards adds up to double digits, e.g. 12, the first digit will be taken away, leaving only the second – in this example, the 2. This is now the ultimate value of your hand.
According to the rules of Baccarat, the winner is the hand with a card value as close to 9 as possible
Which makes the 2 from our example quite a low hand. If a hand has a value of 8 or 9, it’s known as a ‘natural’ win. And the hand will end automatically. If the Player’s hand is a 6 or 7 it will stand, but if it totals 5 or lower, one further card will be dealt to it. If the Banker’s hand is worth 0, 1 or 2, a further card will be dealt as well. However if the Banker’s card hand value is between 3 and 7. Another card will only be dealt based on whether a card was dealt to the Player hand, and the subsequent value of the new hand.
So ok, that was a little confusing – but don’t worry, there’s no need for you to memorize that. As the house will take care of all additional deals for you. Literally all you’ll need to do is place your bet based on which outcome you think is most likely, then sit back and enjoy the game taking place in front of you. Once the cards are dealt, the closest hand to 9 is the winner – or if they’re identical, a Tie will be declared. And that’s as complicated as it gets!
The best online tips
Before you rush off to a hand of Baccarat (which we thoroughly recommend you try at least once), you might find it helpful to bear these tips in mind:
It’s all about the house edge. Believe it or not, the house edge in Baccarat is relatively low. With a house edge of 1.24% on the Player hand, and 1.06% on the Banker hand. The only hand that’s expensive is the Tie, with a huge house edge of 14.4%. With this in mind, avoid betting on the Tie – go for the Player or Banker instead, and protect your bankroll.
Hit the deck. Online Baccarat games deal from a number of different decks. And the games with the least number of decks are those that can help boost your winning potential.
Think about your bankroll. This is always a good idea, no matter what your skill level. If you’ve never played Baccarat before, rather stick to low limit games that you can afford to play, and make sure you manage your funds responsibly. Once you’re sure of your Baccarat skills, then you can start increasing your level of risk, and hopefully seeing rewards at the same time.
Convinced yet? Even if you’re not quite sold on the idea of Baccarat yet, try it for free first and see what you think. It could soon open up a whole new world of gaming for you – and a whole new world of winnings too!