Baccarat is also called Punto Banco and is purely a game of chance and the player’s moves are determined by the cards dealt. The game can have only one of three outcomes: Bank, Player and Tie. These do not refer to the player or the dealer, but simply to different bets that may be wagered.
The playing area usually has three dealers and around 12 or 14 players. In this game, all face cards and 10s have no value; aces are worth 1, the other cards are counted at face value and the suits are irrelevant.
Two cards each are dealt to the Player and the Banker and both cards are totaled. If the total reaches a double digit, only the singles digit is taken into consideration. If either of the two achieves a ‘natural’ (total of 8 or 9) no more cards are drawn, otherwise the next move is governed by the cards dealt, and follows some precise rules.
The Player’s game depends only on the Player’s initial hand (if the total is from 0-5, then he draws, otherwise he stands). The Banker’s next move depends on three factors: the Banker’s initial hand, whether the Player drew a card and what card was drawn. The cards are then re-totaled and the croupier announces the winner.
Author: Ava Jackuard