Baccarat game: complete and free guide to play like a pro in 2021

Along with roulette and blackjack, baccarat is the trio of table games that are a staple in both land-based and virtual casinos. Long considered an elitist casino game, today it is much more accessible to the general public and attracts an ever-increasing number of players. This is easily understandable given its ultra simple rules. You don’t need to be a genius to try your luck, since most of the actions are performed automatically by the croupier. However, if you really want to maximize your chances of winning every game and play baccarat like a true pro, there is no question of falling into the easy way out and relying on mere chance

With this comprehensive manual, you will be able to master the rules and operation of the game and take it to the next level. History, rules, strategies, practical tips, best variations, free online game… we tell you everything you need to know to make you a real pro of the game baccarat game. Just read!

Top 3 Online Casinos to Play Baccarat

Baccarata game with obscure origins

Baccarat (also spelled “baccarat”) belongs to this category of gambling whose origins are difficult to establish clearly. Several theories exist on this subject, and several countries claim authorship of the game. Without bias, and on the basis of our experts’ research, the theory that seems most plausible to us is the one that situates the creation of the game in Italy, in the 15th century. It must be said that in Italian, “baccara” means “null” or “zero”; a reference to the null value of the 10 and the figures in this game. Baccarat would then have been imported into United Kingdom under Charles VIII. Reserved for the nobility, it was offered only in private salons accessible only to the wealthiest.

Starting in the 1950s, gambling gradually took hold in American casinos. However, it still retains its image as a “rich man’s game”. It was not until the development of various variants more accessible to the general public, such as mini-baccarat and Punto Banco, that this image gradually faded. At the same time, thanks to the character of the British spy James Bond, a great baccarat lover, the game is gradually entering popular culture. But it is the advent of online casinos that will definitely democratize it and make it a table game for the general public in its own right.

Be familiar with the baccarat ruleWell, for starters

We can’t say it enough: don’t venture into a game without knowing the rules. The good news is that the baccarat rules is frankly very simple. As a player, you won’t have to do much.

The principle of the game

The baccarat game pits a banker (the dealer) against a ponte (the player). The goal, for you, is to guess each time, which of the two will receive the stronger hand. Thus, unlike most other card games, such as blackjack, you are only a passive player in baccarat. You don’t really get any cards.

The value of the cards

To determine the value of a hand, the value of the cards in the hand must be added together according to the following scale:

– cards 2 to 9 retain their face value;

– the 10’s and tricks (jack, queens and kings) are worth 0 points ;

– aces are worth 1 point.

Once the total is made on this basis, you will only need to keep the units figure to have the final value of the hand in question. If, for example, you have a hand consisting of an 8 and a 6, the final value will not be 14, but 4 points. Therefore, the highest value for a baccarat hand is 9 points.

Note that in an online casino, you will not need to perform this calculation, as the system does it automatically.

Conduct of the games

In land-based casinos, baccarat is played with 2 to 8 decks of 52 cards. The games take place around a table that can accommodate up to 12 players (or decks), and are run by 1 or 3 dealers depending on the establishment in which you play. Remember that here, the players do not play against each other, but are placed, in turn, in front of the dealer.

The game starts with the bets. Each time, you can choose between three betting options:

– betting that the dealer’s hand will win;

– bet that the laying hand will be the winner;

– level the playing field

Once your wager is registered, the cards are dealt. The dealer will deal a hand of two cards face down in the deck space for the deck’s cards, then deal two cards to the “banker”. The cards are then revealed, starting with the laying card. There are three scenarios:

– At least one of the two hands is worth a minimum of 8 points: the hand with the higher value wins. If you bet on the hand with the higher value winning, you will receive a payout of 1:1;

– Both hands have the same value: it’s a tie! If you had bet on this option, you would receive a payout of 8:1. Otherwise, your bet will simply be forfeited

– Neither hand is worth at least 8 points and there is no tie: the dealer continues the game by applying a very precise pattern that governs the actions to be performed according to the different scenarios. Depending on the situation, he will have to award or not award an additional card to the laying hand before proceeding again with a hand evaluation to determine which hand is the winner.

As you can see, as a player, you have virtually no actions to take or even decisions to make, other than placing your bet correctly. In online casinos, the principle and procedure is the same. The system performs all actions automatically, which makes the game even easier.

Baccarat strategy2 techniques to optimize your profits

At baccarat gameLuck, luck and strategy must go hand in hand if you hope to win more and more often. If you want to play like a pro, you will need to learn a baccarat strategy and apply it well. We propose 3 of them to you which are considered the most effective.

La Martingale

If you’re a roulette fan, you’ve probably already heard of the Martingale. Widely used in gambling games, this betting strategy is designed to maximize profits on each winning bet. To do this, it recommends doubling your bet on the same type of bet each time it loses and changing your option after each winning bet.

Small practical example: You start the game by betting €10 on a win in the dealer’s hand. If your prediction is good, you win the game. For the next round, you will have to bet €10 again, but on the dealer’s hand this time. If you lose, however, you will have to bet again on a win at the dealer’s hand, but double your original bet; €20. Then repeat this process throughout your game session.

Although considered by many players to be a very effective strategy, the Martingale can cause heavy losses that can only be covered if you have a large bankroll to keep betting until you make a substantial win. This can be even more complicated due to the betting limits allowed at online casino tables.

The Counter-Alembert strategy

Also used in roulette, Alembert’s technique works a little differently from the Martingale. It consists of reducing the bet after each winning game and increasing it after each winning game. In baccarat, it is its reverse variation, the counter-Alembert, that is recommended. In practice, you must increase your bet by one unit each time you win and reduce it by one unit after each losing bet. Basically, if you start with a winning bet of €10, you will have to bet €11 on the same bet in the next round. Conversely, if you lose, you’ll have to bet €9 on the next round. By applying this strategy, you will be able to keep your average betting level fairly stable, while improving your chances of winning.

Card counting

When it comes to card counting, most players think primarily of blackjack. But this technique can also be used in baccarat. Here, too, it can significantly reduce the casino advantage. In practice, the principle is the same: follow the card draws in order to anticipate the nature of the cards remaining in the shoe. To do this, you must assign a value to each card that comes out:

– 1 point for aces, twos and threes;

– 2 points for the 4 ;

– (-1) point for the 5, 7 and 8 ;

– (-2) points for the 6

– 0 point for 9, 10 and figures

Add up the numbers as the cards are drawn. At the end of the draw, the total obtained will help guide your decision making. The higher the total, the greater the likelihood that the laying hand will win. If this total is at least 16, then you have a good chance of winning with that bet. Below this threshold, a bet on the dealer’s hand is more recommended.

5 baccarat tricks to put all the odds in your favor

In addition to these gambling strategies, there are a number of practical tips that you would gain a lot from putting into practice in each of your sessions. If you want to take your game to the next level, keep these 5 baccarat tricks :

1- Take the time to master the rules of the game

It’s a reminder that may seem superfluous, but is very important if you really want to improve your chances of winning at baccarat. Indeed, even if you don’t have much to do during the games, you need to be able to understand what’s going on in order to make the right decisions and apply any of the strategies developed above.

2- Choose the right variant

Baccarat is nowadays available in several variants, which we will come back to in detail below. Each of these variants has specific rules, some of which have a significant impact on the probability of winning and the house advantage. Take these parameters into account in order to choose the variant that is most advantageous for you.

3- Most of your bets are on the banker’s hand

In Baccarat, the bet on the banker’s hand is the one that offers the biggest statistical advantage (45.85% chance). Therefore, choose this option as often as possible. However, in almost all variations of the game, a 5% commission is charged on the winnings from each bet of this type.

4- Avoid a tie bet

In contrast to bets on the banker’s hand, bets on a tie have the lowest probability (only 3.3%). When you know that the house advantage on such a bet is 14.3%, it is best to avoid it as much as possible, despite the very attractive 8:1 payout offered in the event of a win.

5- Manage your budget as well as possible and stay Zen

As in all gambling games, the management of your bankroll plays an essential role in your baccarat success. In short, it’s all about setting limits before you start playing and sticking to them. It is also important to stay calm in the event of repeated losses and above all not to try to cover your losses. You will only make things worse.77

The main baccarat variants

Several baccarat variants are now offered in land-based casinos, as well as on online gaming platforms. The best known are :

Punto Banco

This is the most popular variant of baccarat in casinos. As the name suggests, its games are played between the dealer (player) and the banker (whose role here is played by the dealer). The rules that are applied are the same as those described above, with short, fast games in which the players’ actions are reduced.

Mini Baccarat

The mini baccarat is a variant that was invented to make the game more accessible to the general public. On these tables, the permitted betting levels are much lower than on regular baccarat tables. Today it is found in many hardcore casinos, as well as most online casinos.

The Super Pan Nine

In this variant of baccarat, there are no 7, 8, 9 or 10. The game is therefore played with 36 cards. Another special feature of this variant is that the dealer and the player receive a starting hand of three cards face down, with the possibility of drawing a fourth card as the game progresses. All of these elements make the game a little more exciting than on a traditional baccarat table.

The Maccara or Mackarrat

This variant, whose name is a neologism between “Macau” and “Baccarat”, was specially developed for the casinos of the famous Chinese autonomous territory that has become, in recent 2021s, the New Mecca of casinos. It must be said that Chinese players, the main big customers of Macau’s establishments, are very fond of baccarat and have their own little rituals. One of the most popular is the last card squeeze, which brings a little extra suspense to every game.

5 advantages of playing online baccarat

Introduced at the same time as other online casino games, baccarat tables.. online baccarat have contributed greatly to the democratization of the game. They have several obvious advantages over traditional baccarat tables. Here are five of them:

1- Tables accessible 24/7

The first advantage of online baccarat tables is their great accessibility. You can play at any time of the day, unlike land-based casinos where they are usually open only a few hours a day in the evenings.

2- Play anywhere

Online gaming means remote gaming from a computer or even from a mobile device. So, in addition to very flexible hours, you can enjoy yourself from home, the office, on the road or anywhere else. You don’t have to travel miles for that. All you need is an internet connection.

3- Bonuses for more fun

Among the things available at online casinos that you won’t find in a land-based casino are bonuses. Take advantage of the free money offered by online establishments to play longer and increase your potential winnings.

4- Vary the tastes

As mentioned above, there are several variations of baccarat. In online casinos, you can enjoy even more diversity thanks to the different versions created by the publishers. For the same variant, you will have the choice between several tables in different environments, often with interesting subtleties.

5- Live baccarat for a unique playing experience

In addition to the standard online baccarat tables with RNG, today you can enjoy an ultra-immersive gaming experience by playing at baccarat tables with live dealers. Many exclusive variations of this form of play are available.

Online Baccarat free, fun without spending

Did you know that you can play baccarat online for free? This is indeed another advantage specific to iGaming that can be very useful.

Free baccarat game the objectives

Why offer free baccarat game ? Quite simply to offer a maximum number of people the opportunity to access the game. The fact of proposing free tables indeed makes it possible to convince amateurs and curious people who might be reluctant to bet real money on a game they do not necessarily master.

The advantages of playing online baccarat free of charge

Playing on a table of baccarat online free of charge, is probably the best way to become familiar with the rules of the game and how the games are played. You play under the same conditions as at the real money tables, the only difference being that you bet free chips. This means that you take no risks while you learn. If you want to test the effectiveness of your playing strategies, this is also the ideal option.

Where to find tables of baccarat free of charge?

Simply visit the RNG toy libraries of online casinos. In most of them, you will find several tables of baccarat in Demo mode, accessible full time.

Baccarat Game Free DownloadWhat you should keep in mind

If you read this guide to the end, well done! Now you know everything you need to know about this card game to excel in your next games. Before letting you go and apply everything you’ve learned, remember that knowing the rules of the game is essential. Take as much time as you need to do this. Finally, don’t hesitate to play as long as you need to on the tables at baccarat game free before you start betting your first real euros.

Baccarat FAQ Game :

✅ How do you play baccarat?

To play baccarat, you must first learn and be familiar with the rules of the game, as well as the value of the cards. All this is quite simple, as you will discover on our site.

✅ How much is a tenner worth in baccarat?

In baccarat, all tens and figures count as 0 points. For more details on card values in baccarat, visit our site.

✅ Where to play baccarat in United Kingdom?

There are not many French casinos that offer baccarat tables. If you are in United Kingdom, then the best thing to do is to play online baccarat at one of the best online casinos that accept French players, such as :

• Cresus Casino
• Lucky8 Casino
• Lucky31 Casino

Several other reliable online casinos are also to be discovered on our site.

✅ How do you win at baccarat?

To win at baccarat, use the game strategies and apply the pro tips we provide on our site.

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