If you have not played baccarat you are in for a real treat. This casino card game has an exciting pace and elements that are unique. Baccarat has been a game in existence since the late 1400s and requires no skill. It was the favorite of French kings and James Bond, so let’s discover what makes baccarat so great.

This card game is played at a long oval table. There is a dealer and many players can play. The object of the game is to have a “natural”, or 8 or 9. The funny thing to remember in baccarat is that the “tens” digit is dropped. For example: 8 + 7 = 15 = 5 points in baccarat.

There are a few varieties of baccarat including “Punto Banco” or North American baccarat, Chemin de Fer, and Baccarat Banque. Punto Banco requires no skill whatsoever and is super easy to play. The players at the table and the dealer are dealt two cards each. The total of the player’s cards depends if they will take a third card. If the player’s total is 0-5, draw a third card. If the first two cards total 6 or 7, the player stands. Draw an 8 or 9 “natural” on the initial cards, and you are a winner.

Baccarat is a game of role-play. There is a banker and a player. In the Punto Banco version, the dealer acts as the banker and the house banks the game. That is what makes it so simple. However, there are some elements to the game that are lost. In contrast, Chemin de Fer has the original elements of baccarat. Chemin de Fer means “railway” and could refer to the fast moving baccarat pallet that travels around the table to change the role of the banker. In this version, the role of the banker is rotated around counterclockwise. The banker in each play decides how much money they would like to put up for play. They are actually banking the game and the dealer is only there to offer service to the game and not any money from the house. The banker retains his role until he loses and then passes the role counterclockwise.

Baccarat Banque is another version like Chemin de Fer where the role of the banker rotates. However, in Baccarat Banque, the role of banker is auctioned at the beginning of the game. The player that is able to stake the largest bankroll up for a bank is the banker. The rules of play, otherwise, remain the same.

An interesting “system” in baccarat is following trends. Since this game requires very little skill, there is very little that you can do to alter the outcome of baccarat. Funnily enough, the casinos are happy to provide you with a special paper and pen. This shows their faith in trend-following’s fallacy. If you enjoy being an active participant in the game, then keep track of the cards played. Otherwise you will have to just guess if you should bet in that hand or not.

Baccarat is an exciting game that has many faces. When you decide you are ready to try out a version, you should check out the house rules of where you are playing. There are many little rules that are unique to individual casinos.