The Secret of How to Play Baccarat

Casinos have a multitude of games to choose from. No matter what you love to play or what your skill set is, you’re always going to find something fun to choose from.

Since moving online, casino gaming has only gained more players. It’s so popular because it’s so much easier to play from an online casino site or a mobile app.

One of the games that runs a little under the radar is Baccarat – but once you get to know the game, we’re sure you’ll be a fan. We’ll be taking you through the history of the game as well as how to play!

History of Baccarat

As a lot of casino games have been around for so long, it’s difficult to pinpoint when they were first invented. The same can be said for Baccarat as there are conflicting opinions about its origins.

However, the general consensus is that it first started in Rome in around the 16th century. Historians have pinpointed that the game could have been invented by a man named Felix Falguiere.

Rumour has it that Falguiere took the name of the game from the word ‘baccara,’ which means ‘zero’ in Italian. The name comes from the value of the cards you use to play within the game of Baccarat. All of the cards that fall under the tens, jacks, queens, and kings are worth zero throughout the game.

As the game travelled across the continent all the way to France, the name changed its pronunciation to ‘baccarat” as this is how the French decided to pronounce it. For one reason or another, this is the pronunciation that stuck and stayed with the game all the way throughout history to now.

The most prevalent player of the game when it came to France was none other than the king himself, King Charles VIII. All nobility are fond of card games, but none so much as King Charles VII. As it was so popular with royalty, the popularity of Baccarat spread throughout the country and beyond.

During these times, only rich people were able to play. They were the only ones who had access to spare money that they could play with. It was also due to the fact that the common people would have had no way of finding out about the game as they weren’t invited into these circles.

Another version of Baccarat was invented in the 19th century, called chemin de fer, but this didn’t gain as much popularity as the original. It was and remains popular in France. However, the most prevalent version of the game is still the original in the rest of the world.

In more recent years, Baccarat has been one of the most popular games at casinos, both online and in person. It might not be as well known as the likes of poker or slot games, but it’s still typically found in every casino you visit.

Now we know all about where the game came from, it’s time to learn how to play – just in case you don’t know already.

How to play Baccarat

First of all, we need to know what the cards are worth in the game. Cards from 2 to 9 are worth their face value, and 10s, kings, queens, and jacks are worth 0. The ace is worth 1.

1. Before the cards are dealt out, you have to place a bet on one of three winning outcomes to start the game. The options are: if the banker’s bet will win, the player’s bet will win, or there will be a tie between everyone in the game.
2. Once the bet has been placed, the dealer has to turn over four cards. Two of the cards are for the player, and two go straight to the banker. It’s worth remembering that none of the cards can be swapped once they’re dealt; these are the cards you have to play with.
3. Once the cards have been dealt, the dealer adds up the totals of all the cards that have been given out in order to determine who the winner is. Whoever has cards that add up closest to 9, without going over 9, is the one who wins.
4. In the unusual situation where there is a tie, but you haven’t bet on it, your original bet will be returned to you and you can play again. If you did bet on the tie, and it comes through, the bet is usually paid out at the odds of 8:1, but this will vary depending on where you’re playing.

In order to win, it’s mostly a case of luck – as with most casino games. However, if in doubt, it’s always best to bet on the banker. This is because the house edge is always less on the banker and more on the player, so you’re more likely to win this way. Now, all that’s left to do is play!