Baccarat is a popular card game that has somewhat lived in the shadow of the card game Blackjack for many years. However, with the increased availability and potential of online casinos, players from around the world have been able to discover online baccarat and fall head over heels for this simple guessing game. In today’s article, we’ll be providing you with an extensive guide that covers everything you need to know about playing online baccarat, and most importantly, how to get started.
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What is Online Baccarat?
The card game baccarat is played with six, seven, or eight conventional 52-card decks. Predicting accurately which of the two hands will win the round or if it will be a tie is the aim of the game.
The total of the hand's cards determines its worth, although only the rightmost digit is considered. Thus, a hand consisting of 10 and 6 is only worth 6 points, but the stronger hand is the one with 2 and 7 in it, which is worth 9 points. Cards with a value between two and nine are awarded face value. The Ace is worth one point, while the 10, Jack, Queen, and King are worth zero points.
There are a variety of dealing rules to take into account, which we’ll cover later, but essentially baccarat is a guessing game with three outcomes, a player win, a banker win, or a tie. Online baccarat mimics classic baccarat gameplay but uses an entirely virtual interface. Outcomes of the game are formulated using random number generation (RNG), to ensure truly random results, and all online baccarat games are third-party tested to ensure fairness.
Baccarat vs Online Baccarat: How Does the Experience Compare?
The first important note to make is that Online Baccarat and Live Baccarat are not the same thing. Live baccarat games are played in real-time and live-streamed to players with a real host, meaning that they’re more akin to real-world baccarat experiences. Online baccarat is played virtually, with the host/dealer being an RNG computer program.
It goes without saying that real-world baccarat is as immersive as the game gets, you’re playing against real people in a dedicated setting. However, in the 21st century, this isn’t without its drawbacks. First of all, if the casino specialises in a range of casino games, there may only be the most popular variant(s) to play. Also, tables might be full, meaning that players will have to wait their turn. There also aren’t as many real-world casinos as there were 5 or 10 years ago, meaning you might need to drive to your nearest city to attend which adds fuel costs or travel costs to your overall trip.
Alternatively, online baccarat games can be played instantly whenever and wherever the player likes. Gameplay is available on all devices including smartphones, and, as the player is gaming against a computer program they are in complete control of the pace of play. While online baccarat is devoid of the social energy that real-world gameplay exudes, players gain the most important element of most parts of modern life; convenience. With online baccarat all players need to do is sign up, deposit funds, and then they have their pick of an extensive range of online baccarat games including both popular and niche variants.
The Rules of Online Baccarat Rules
Most of the online baccarat rules revolve around the way in which cards are dealt, however, there are a few general rules to consider:
- To ‘hit’ means to receive another card and to ‘stand’ means to receive no more cards.
- The dealer has specific rules they must follow, such as when they must hit or stand. It's important to be aware of these before committing to play.
- Unlike in other games like blackjack, Aces are low in baccarat and are valued as 1.
- 10, Jack, Queen, and King are worth zero points.
- All other cards are worth their face value.
- The term ‘naturals’ refers to a two-card player hand that totals 8 or 9 and is deemed a winning hand.
Online Baccarat Dealing Rules
The most complicated part of baccarat is the dealing rules. These can vary between games, so it's always worth checking the game information of your chosen online baccarat game. In general, though, the dealing rules for online baccarat are as follows:
- The dealer adds a third card to the hand if the player's total is five or fewer.
- In the event that the player total is six or seven, no more cards are needed.
- The banker receives another card on a 5 or less when the player stands, and on a 6 or 7, when the player stands.
- The dealer adds a third card to the hand regardless of the player's hand if the banker total is 2, 1, or 0 from the first two cards.
- The banker gets dealt another card if the player's third card is not an 8 and the banker's total is 3.
- The hand is dealt another card when the banker total is 4 and the player's third card is 2–7.
- Another card is drawn when the player's third card is 4–7 and the banker's total is 5.
- An additional card is added to the banker's hand if the banker's total is six and the player's third card is either six or seven.
- The hand remains the same if the banker total from the first two cards is 7.
Exploring Online Baccarat Odds
In baccarat, the number of decks utilised and the available bets determine the house edge. The house edge on the "Player" bet when eight decks are used is 1.24%. Despite a 5% charge on wins, the "Banker" bet offers superior baccarat odds with a lower house edge of 1.06%.
In baccarat, the third betting choice is for a "Tie," which offers the house a 14.4% advantage when it pays out at an 8:1 ratio and 4.85% when it pays out at a 9:1 ratio. In the event of a tie, bets on the player or banker will be pushed, and clients will get their wagers back.
In general, the player hand wins 44.6% of the time and the banker hand wins about 45.8% of the rounds. In 9.6% of rounds, ties occur.
Playing Online Baccarat: A Step-by-Step Guide
Online baccarat can be played using the following steps:
- Log in to your preferred online casino, search for online baccarat games, and pick your favourite. Punto Banco, another name for Baccarat, is the game's most widely played variation, but you’ll find a broad range of variants to play.
- After loading the game on your chosen device select the size for the casino chips, and set them on the appropriate wager that you want to make. You can take all the time you desire to set the bets and deal the cards when learning how to play online baccarat because you are in control of the pace of play.
- The dealer will deal the cards in accordance with the rules of play after the bet has been placed. To begin, players must press the "Deal" button.
- Any prizes are distributed when the values of the hands are revealed and then another round can start at the player's convenience.
Popular Strategies Used By Online Baccarat Players
Many online baccarat players like to use betting strategies. These can be helpful for factors such as bankroll management, minimising the impact of losses, capitalising on winning streaks, and making statistically optimal choices. It is important to emphasise that these systems and strategies cannot guarantee or predict wins, and do nothing to change the house edge or RTP statistics.
Martingale
One of the most widely used betting strategies is the martingale. All you have to do to use this approach is to simply double your bet after a loss and return to your original investment after a victory. You'll need a sizable bankroll to use this strategy, which is its largest drawback.
D’Alembert
In order to utilise the D'Alembert method in casino baccarat, you must first decide on a betting unit. This amount should be equivalent to 1% of your total bankroll. Five betting units make up the initial wager, which is increased by one unit for each loss and decreased by one unit for a win.
Paroli
The Paroli betting system is sometimes referred to as the 'Reverse Martingale'. In this case, a win doubles your stake, and a loss resets it.
Popular Online Baccarat Variations
One of the most exciting things about casino games is their rich history. Very few of the games we know and love have defined origins, and instead, games are typically a fusion of historical origins which is added to or refined over decades, with clear-cut variants branching off from the traditional form. In baccarat, there is a wide variety of variants, and with online baccarat, you get the pick of the best. Listed below are the most common baccarat variants.
Punto Banco
The most played variation of casino baccarat is called Punto Banco. Baccarat games use the Punto Banco version unless otherwise noted. Bettors have the option to wager on a tie, Punto (the player), or Banco (the banker). Due to a 5% charge that is disclosed in the online baccarat tutorial information, winning Banco bets pay 95%.
Super 6
This variation, also called Mini Baccarat, has more seating for players. The payout for banker bets is the primary distinction between Super 6 and Punto Banco. The participants only get paid 50% of the stake if the banker wins with a 6, even though they no longer charge a 5% commission.
EZ Baccarat
Like Super 6, EZ Baccarat offers even money on player and banker bets without requiring a commission. The lone exclusion is that all banker bets are pushed if the banker wins with a hand worth seven points from three cards. Among the other varieties is Dragon 7, which instead of pushing on the banker winning with a 7, adds an additional side bet that pays 40:1.
Chemin de Fer
Chemin de fer is a six-deck variant of baccarat that gained popularity in France in the late 1800s. As the banker or dealer, the first player in the game establishes the starting bet amount. The other players then declare whether they wish to "go bank" and compete against the banker's sum in a clockwise manner. The other players may place further bets when a player ‘goes bank’ provided that the total doesn't go over the banker's initial wager.
The banker deals two cards for himself and two cards for the bettors when all necessary bets have been placed. The hands are immediately compared to determine the winner if any of the two hands are worth eight or nine points. If not, players can decide whether to accept or reject a third card. The banker then has to make the same choice.
Accepted Bet Types in Online Baccarat
Compared to other casino table games such as roulette, online baccarat has very simple wagering options. The bets used in the game can be categorised as main bets and side bets.
Main Bets
In baccarat, the two primary bet possibilities are on which hand will win the round or if there will be a tie. Since they are the largest wagers on the table, it is simple to identify the Player and Banker bets. To place the wager, simply place your chips in the appropriate box.
Given the potential payout of 8:1 or 9:1, the tie bet seems more exciting. However, when wagering on a tie, the house edge is far bigger with the likelihood of a tie being around 9%, meaning this is a stake that should be used sparingly.
Side Bets
The table and baccarat version will determine which side bets are permitted. This is why, when playing online baccarat it is important to check out the game page to make sure that your favourite side bets are featured. The Banker Pair and Player Pair, commonly referred to as B-Pair and P-Pair, are the most frequently selected options in this category. For instance, a Banker Pair wager wins if the banker's hand consists of two identically valued cards, irrespective of suit. In certain variants, such as Banker Pair 7, players can even wager on which pair of cards will be in their hand.
The tie's value may be the subject of additional baccarat side bets. You may wager on 3 Tie, for instance, which pays 200:1. For this wager to be valid, both of the hands must be worth three points.
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