KNOW THE BASICS OF THIS CLASSIC

 GAME

Amateur Baccarat (also known as punto banco in some countries) is one of the oldest casino games and can make for a fun time gambling online or at the tables. While many may think it looks difficult, the card game is actually fairly easy to play. Baccarat can be found in casinos around the world, and it is the gambling game of choice for superspy character James Bond. The game is seen as elegant, and many high rollers enjoy the action, which sometimes scares off amateur gamblers.

However, it doesn’t have to be just for high rollers and VIPs: online and live casinos also offer lower-stakes versions of the game. Players who do step up to the baccarat or minibaccarat tables will be rewarded with a game that has only a small house edge and is simple to play. Here's our casino guide to baccarat.

Baccarat Basics

Before getting to gameplay, here are some things to know about baccarat.

• Hand values: Each card retains its numerical value in baccarat. Kings, queens, jacks, and 10s have a value of 0. Aces have a value of 1.

• Table talk: Baccarat tables can be a bit different depending on the casino. Larger casinos such as Caesars may offer larger tables (like those in the Bond films) that can seat up to 14 players. Other properties may offer minibaccarat, which seats about eight players and usually has lower limits. There is also a small difference in gameplay. In the mini version, all cards are dealt face up and the players never touch the cards.

• Player: A hand dealt for the player.

• Banker: A hand dealt to the house.

• Tie: A betting option to bet that the player and banker hands will be the same.