Baccarat Basics

Baccarat name

The Italian word "baccarat" means "zero" in English. Since the French "baccarat" means the same, even today there are many debates pertaining to the origin of the game and each country wants to claim it as theirs.

Origin of baccarat game

And here is one of these versions: the game was first invented by an Italian gambler Felix Falguierein in the middle ages and first was played with a deck of Tarot cards.

They say that the game " ...was based on an old Etruscan ritual of the nine gods, who prayed to a blonde virgin on their tiptoes waiting for her to throw a nine-sided die. The result of the die decided her fate. If an eight or a nine was thrown, she would become the priestess; if she threw a six or seven, she would be banned from any further religious activities; if she threw any number less than six, she would walk into the sea."

I just wonder, if there were any commission?

Later, the baccarat was introduced in France around 1490 A.D. and remained an exclusive game to the French nobility for some time before becoming a casino game.

Baccarat Basics - How to Play

The player's objective is to get a hand that is closer to 9 in value than the banker's. The game is played modulo 10, that is if the total of the hand is greater than 10, then 10 is subtracted from the total. (Thus the value of a hand is always between 0 through 9)
For example, if the players cards total 15, 10 is subtracted and the value of the hand becomes 5. An ace counts as 1, two counts as 2, etc. , up through nine counts as 9, but tens (also jacks, queens and kings) count as 0.

Playing The Game

To start a hand both player and banker are dealt two cards face down and the next move depends on the cards in the hands.

If the player or banker has a two card total of 8 or 9, he/she turns the cards over immediately. The other must do so also. (In online baccarat cards are always face up) A 9 value wins over any lesser total, and if neither player has a 9 then 8 wins over any lesser total. Tied 9s or tied 8s are a stand off; no money changes hands. (unless ties can be bet on)

If neither the player or the banker has a natural (a total of 8 or 9) then play goes to the player. The player stands on a total of 6 or 7, but if the player has a total of 5 or less he/she must draw one card (face up).

Now it is the bankers turn. With a total of 7, he stands. With a total of 6 or less, his selection depends on the value of his two card total and the value of the card that the player drew. The rules are as follows:

Baccarat Rules
The game must be played by the rules, there are no options for either the player or the dealer. (Just bet and relax! :)