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I'm often asked about Casino games, and a common question is "What's the Easiest Casino Game to Play?"
Of course, that's a difficult question to answer, and yet an easy one to answer as well.
Let me explain….
First, “easy” is a relative term. What’s easy for one person may be very difficult for another person. Although I’ve written a book on how to make Craps extremely easy for the beginner as well as for the Professional Gambler, I will usually answer this question by emphatically stating – “Baccarat is the Easiest Game to Play in the whole Casino”.
“But”, they protest, “It looks like the hardest game to play”, or “it looks so intimidating”, or, “isn't that James Bond’s favorite game?”.
Yes, It’s all of the above…. Unless you “just do it”.
So, let’s take a closer look.
On its simplest level, it’s ONLY a matter of making ONE decision: Bank or Player!
That’s it… there is no more…. You can play Baccarat by ONLY deciding whether to bet on the Bank or on the Player.
That’s it – you place your chip(s) in the little box or circle on the table marked “Bank” and you’ve bet that the Bank will win the next hand. If you place your bet in the space marked “Player”, you are betting that the “Player” will win the next hand.
You REALLY don’t need to know (or do) anything else… and you’re playing Baccarat!
There are other things to do if you want. I always insist that my students keep a running score (or record) of the outcomes of each hand in order to use my favorite betting strategies for Baccarat.
But, for those who want more… let’s look at the game’s other nuances and options.
There are two different tables dealing Baccarat: The Pit, and the Mini Tables. The Pit is cordoned off with velvet ropes, manned by tuxedoed dealers, served by specially assigned cocktail waitresses, pit bosses, and Casino Hosts. All of who are there to provide “extra” goodies to the Baccarat players. Usually, there is also a buffet spread there for the Baccarat players in the Pit. Talk about intimidating! What’s more, there’s a $100 MINIMUM bet enforced (except at one Casino on the Las Vegas Strip) on the weekends, and $50 on the weekdays and nights. Are you scared off yet? Don’t be, this can be a “bargain”.
The other way to play Baccarat is at the “Mini Tables”. The game is played the same way, but it’s in the main casino area, a sit-down, half-circle table (it looks like a “Blackjack” table) and there’s only one dealer.
These Mini Tables have similar betting ranges (low minimums) to the Blackjack Tables, depending upon the Casino, the day of the week, the time of the day etc.
The main difference is that the dealer handles all the cards here, whereas the players handle the cards in the pit.
But THAT is a crucial difference…. NOT in the way the game is played (they’re identical) but in the TIME it takes to play a hand. The single dealer at the Mini Tables blasts through the hands, and you must play many, many hands an hour.
But, in the Pit, the players handle the cards, and believe me, it’s an art form, and very interesting to watch how they handle the cards. Nearly ALL of them will bend (and I mean BEND) each of their two cards up to reveal – SLOWLY – the marks, or spots on the side of their card, and then do the same on the end of their card – then do the same ritual to their other card… and then they THROW them down on the table, face up for all to see, OR they rip them into two pieces (Yep, the cards are only used one time in the pit and then discarded by the Casino)… OR they have some similar superstitious ritual they do every time. Because of these rituals that are played out EVERY hand, it can take a long, long time to complete the hand, therefore, your number of hands per hour are way low.
The result of this is amazing: You could spend much more of your betting bankroll on a $5 Mini table per hour than on a $50 Pit Table!
For the purposes of this article, I don’t want to get into how the game is played. For one reason, you DON’T NEED TO KNOW because EVERYTHING is done for you in this game either by the dealer (at the Mini Tables), or you are TOLD what to do by the Dealers in the Pit. For another reason, it is complicated – so, don’t worry about it – Just play the game!
I must tell you however, that there are five bets that you can make during any given hand in Baccarat.
1. Bank (you’re betting that the Bank will win)
2. Player (you’re betting that the Player will win)
3. Tie (you’re betting that the two will tie or push – NO winner)
4. Bank AND Tie (You’re betting that the Bank will win, but hedging your bet with a tie bet in case of a tie)
5. Player AND Tie (You’re betting that the Player will win, but hedging your bet with a tie bet in case of a tie)
Those are the five betting opportunities in Baccarat. That’s ALL you can do – that’s EVERY betting proposition available… there is NO more – that’s it – NADA!
And without going into my strategies…. Let me tell you this:
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER (got it yet?) NEVER bet on a tie! Completely eliminate bets 3, 4, and 5 above, and you are left with ONLY bets 1 and 2…. Bank OR Player.
One thing to note: When you win a “Bank” bet, you must pay a 5% commission. There is NO commission on a winning “Player” bet. That’s just to even the odds because there is a “slight” advantage to the “Bank” bet over the “Player” bet.
See? I told you it was easy…. That’s all you need to know to play Baccarat!
If we put aside the black ties, the velvet curtains and the overall exclusive atmosphere, baccarat is one of the simplest casino games around. In addition, baccarat is a beatable game with a low house edge, which makes it one of the best bets you can make! Here you can read about baccarat history and learn how to play the game.
Both the American and European versions of baccarat and the French Chemin de Fer are late developments of the Italian game called baccara, which means zero in Italian. The origins of baccara go back to an old Etruscan myth. According to the myth, a blonde virgin had to toss a nine sided die to decide on her destiny. If the die landed on eight or nine, she would have to fulfill her destiny and become a priest. If the die landed on six or seven, she would be forbidden to participate in any religious activity. If the die landed on any other number, the virgin had to walk into the sea.
The Italian game baccara was popular among French aristocracy during the end of the 15th century. Baccara had evolved to the European version of baccarat, which is still played in European casinos today as well as the French variation of baccarat known as Chemin de Fer, which is mainly played in casinos in France. The American version of the game was introduced to Nevada casinos in the 1950s by Francis Tommy Renzoni, who imported the game from Havana.
Baccarat still carries an aroma of aristocracy and exclusivity. In American casinos, baccarat is played in a separated area of the casino, hidden behind velvet curtains. Baccarat players are usually dressed up and the betting limits are higher comparing to other table games. In order to attract the medium budget players, a lower limit version of baccarat, called mini baccarat, was invented. Mini baccarat is played on a smaller table, inside the casino gambling area with lower betting limits than baccarat.
How to Play Baccarat
Baccarat is played with 3 dealers and up to 12 or 14 players. Baccarat is usually played with 8 standard card decks. Aces valued as one, face cards and ten cards valued as zero, and the rest of the number cards worth their face value. The suit has no meaning. The object of the game is to get as close to 9 as possible.
The play begins by all players, including the dealer, placing their bets either on the player, the banker, or on a tie. Traditionally, the dealer bets on the banker. The dealer can be the house dealer or one of the players. After everyone has placed their bets, the dealer gives two cards to each player and to the banker.
The score of each hand is calculated as the sum of the two cards minus the left digit. For example, if the sum of the two cards is 15, the score would be 5. The decision whether to deal a third card is determined by a set or rules and it is not up to the player or the dealers decision.
If the score of the players hand is 9 or 8, he wins
If the score of the dealers hand is 9 or 8, it is a tie
If a players score is 7 or 6, he can be dealt a third card
If a players score is 5 or less, he has to receive a third card
If a player gets a third card and the score of the dealers hand is 2, 1 or 0, he must draw a third card
If the score of the dealers hand is 3 and the players third card is any value but 8, he must draw a third card
If the score of the dealers hand is 4 and the players third card value is between 2 and 7, he must draw a third card
If the score of the dealers hand is 5 and the players third card value is between 4 and seven, he must draw a third card
If the score of the dealers hand is 6 and the players third card is 6 or 7, he must draw a third card.
If the score of the dealers hand is 7, he cannot draw a third card.
If ever there was a game that conjures up visions of rich players in rich evening attire gambling for rich bets it is baccarat. There are three common variants of the game but Punto Banco is the most popular variation found in North American casinos. A regular baccarat table is about the size of a craps table, is staffed by three casino dealers and can host about a dozen players.
Play revolves around to hands dealt for the 'Banker' and the 'Player'. These names are titles for the dealt hands only and there is no real banker or specific player. Players place their bets on which hand they think will win. Hand scores are calculated by taking the face value for all cards worth less than ten, one for an ace and zero for tens and face cards. The value of hand is the total of the cards value but if it comes to more than ten you drop the first digit. For example, 8-ace-jack is worth 8 plus 1 plus zero = 9. But 9-5-5 is also worth 9 (9+5+5 = 19, drop the first digit = 9). The card suit makes no difference to value of the cards.
Players take it in turn to act as 'dealer' although this only involves turning over the cards. A player usually continues to act as dealer as long as the 'banker' keeps winning. The dealer starts by dealing two cards face down for the 'banker' and another two cards for the 'player'. Depending on the totals the casino dealers may instruct the 'dealer' to deal another card. With all cards dealt winning wagers are paid out or losses collected.
A third card may be dealt to either the 'player' or the 'banker' depending on the following rules.
If either the Player or the Banker has 8 or 9 no further cards are drawn. If the Player has a total of 0-5, the Player hits a single card but stands on 6-7.If the Player did not hit, the Banker hits if he has 0-5, and stands on 6-7.If the Player drew a 2 or 3, the Banker hits if he has 0-4, and stands on 5-7.If the Player drew a 4 or 5, the Banker hits if he has 0-5, and stands on 6-7.If the Player drew a 6 or 7, the Banker hits if he has 0-6, and stands on 7.If the Player drew an 8, the Banker hits if he has 0-2, and stands on 3-7.If the Player drew an ace, 9, 10, or face-card, the Banker hits if he has 0-3, and stands on 4-7.
Essentially a game of chance, what it lacks in skill it makes up for in the size of the bets involved. In many casinos the minimum bet can start at $25 and dedicated players often wager hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a single game that gives baccarat betting its exotic atmosphere.
Baccarat is based on the simple premise of assembling a hand of two or three cards with a point value as close as possible to nine. Although baccarat betting may seem intimidating to those unfamiliar with the rules, it is, in fact, one of the easiest games to play. There is only one decision you have to make for each hand, the dealers handle the rest, playing out the hands according to strict, predetermined rules. Baccarat is also seen as a glamorous game, often played in a roped off room in many casinos.
The perfect hand consists of two cards that total nine, with the second-best hand being two cards that have a total point value of eight. These are the two “natural” hands in the game of Baccarat. If any player in the current game has a two card hand equaling a natural eight or nine then the other players may not draw a third card. The hand closest to nine always wins. When neither hand has a natural, there is no automatic winner, and additional cards are drawn to determine the outcome of the hand. The only hand that beats the natural eight is the natural nine. If there is a tie, all bests are called off.
Aces have a value of one, picture cards (Kings, Queens, Jacks) have a value of 10 and the remaining cards keep their face value. If your hand total is in double figures, then the first figure is ignored, meaning a hand totaling 18 would count as eight. Drawing two picture cards or two tens would give you a value of zero. A draw of a picture card or a ten and an eight or nine gives you the natural hands and no further cards would be drawn in this case with the natural hand being declared the winner.
The banker deals three hands of two cards each, face down. These hands are for two players, one to the right and one the left of the banker, plus his own hand. Other players at the table may bet on either hand or both to beat the banker's hand. If a player declares "banco", it means they are betting the total value of the bank's funds and all other bets are withdrawn.
If either player has a count less than eight or nine, he may stand or get one more card face up. The player must stand on six or seven and must draw on four or less.
Baccarat is sometimes known as the cousin of blackjack. The reason for the comparison is due to the basic game rules. In blackjack, you need to achieve a hand closer to 21 than the dealer’s. In baccarat, the hand closer to 9 is the winner. Baccarat is also known as the king of casino games and is one of the oldest card games still played at casinos today.
Unlike blackjack, in baccarat a player can bet on whether his/her hand or the dealer’s will win. The three betting options in baccarat are player, banker, or tie. Betting on the player will play even money. Wagering on the banker is the most popular bet but it is important to know that casinos charge a 5 percent commission when the player bets for the house. Players shouldn’t let this discourage them, though, the reason the house charges this fee is due to the fact that the banker wins, statistically, more times than the player.
The least common of the wagers is the tie, which pays eight to one. This is one of the least-profitable wagers a person can place at a casino, the house edge is extremely high.
The card values are easy to remember, face cards and ten are worth zero, ace cards are worth one and number cards are face value. A player receives two cards and can only receive one more hand during the game play.
Similar to blackjack, baccarat betting is a game where a single player faces off against the dealer. Baccarat, even with its glamorous image, is primarily a game of chance. Also unlike blackjack, a solid strategy still does not make this a ‘beatable’ game.
Baccarat is considered one of the most glamorous of the casino games. Due, in part, to the fact that for centuries this was a game played by the French royalty and to the fact that it was featured prominently in many of the 007 films as James Bond’s game of choice.
Even though the game is fairly simple to learn and master, it is one of the more popular choices for high-rolling, VIP players. Online casinos offer an array of baccarat betting limits but many land-based casinos only offer baccarat in high-minimum limits and, oftentimes, in a separated area from the main casino to offer the VIP players privacy.
There is an array of online tutorials available for beginning baccarat players. Keep looking around our site.
There are games online that need to be downloaded or you need to get the software from their website so you could play. But of course, this may take space in your hard disk and your computer may not be able to support the program. This will eventually mean you won’t be able to play the game you’re dying to play!Fret not, for there are games that do not need downloading just like the online casino games in Sportsbook.com! These games are called Flash games where you can simply enjoy them through your browser without the need to download any software.You can also play with real money or just enjoy the Flash games for free since playing with real money would require you to sign up and register. Most Flash games don’t require signing up if you just want to try the game out.Even this side of gaming has jackpots that can match their software counterparts, and most jackpots go over one million dollars! Playing slots, poker, roulette and more can be done without downloading anything at all!The quality of Flash games against the downloadable software version can be quite different. Most software that needs to be downloaded offer better quality of sounds and graphics, but Flash games on your browser nowadays also have great graphics, making them decent enough to play with. Either way, you won’t be missing anything that the software has since these two types of gaming platforms basically have everything that the player needs to play the game properly. Flash games may not have the same amount of games that the software version has, but pretty much all your favorite online casino games will have a Flash version that you can enjoy.Most casino sites have sign up bonuses so it’s also a good thing to sign up and register if you want to win real money. They also give high roller bonuses, and some casinos have higher table limits than other casinos over the Internet.You can also play at tournaments with the Flash version unless otherwise indicated by the tournament. Enjoy playing through Flash games and play for real money too!
It’s amazing what technology can really do. Before, if you want to play casino games, you’d really have to go to a casino, bring money with you and play blackjack, roulette and the like.Back in the day, people go to bingo social halls to play bingo and be part of the noisy, rowdy group hollering, shouting and most often jumping up and down to shout “BINGO!“ People go to race tracks to bet on horses or dogs to simply wager and be able to experience the first hand outcome of the race.Now, because of the amazing technology we posses, gambling has invaded our very homes!The proliferation of online gaming systems has compelled people to be connected to the World Wide Web, and be able to play online casino games such as roulette, craps, poker and more! Even bingo has been turned into a virtual game.In some states, online betting, like the ones they have in Sportsbook.com, has invaded their homes so they don’t really need to go to the race track in order to place a wager.Today, it is no longer necessary to leave the house in order to experience an adrenalin rush from the excitement of winning and the tragedy of losing. Choosing your online gambling games is solely your personal choice. Some people have an affinity that comes naturally towards horses and dogs, thus they tend to play race track betting games either online or offline. Some prefer the thrill of waiting for the next ball to be announced and be ready to jump and shout BINGO!!!There are others who prefer the anonymity of playing casino games in the privacy of their homes just so when they lose, no one is the wiser or if they ever win big, and no one would also be in the know.Feeling the cards in your fingertips and staying in a casino nearby to play not only card games, but also the psychological game that comes with it, including playing with the dealer are preferred by others.What makes a gambling game the best is your connection with it and your affinity to it. So, choose the game that suits your style best, and make sure it is one that you will certainly enjoy!
I'm often asked about Casino games, and a common question is "What's the Easiest Casino Game to Play?"
