Baccarat has a mystique that conjures up images of high rollers in opulent casinos. However, this thrilling game of chance is surprisingly easy to learn and enjoyable to play. Its sophistication is more a function of style than complexity. In fact, you can get started in just minutes by placing wagers at a reputable online casino.
You can bet on either the Player or Banker hand to win, or you can place a bet on a tie. The rules of baccarat are simple: Players place their chips on a Participant space before the dealer hands out two cards to both sides. The goal is to make a hand that totals nine points or closer. Aces count as 1, and tens, jacks, and queens are worth zero. The croupier (casino staff) announces the results of each round, and winning bets are paid out according to their odds. Losing bets are collected by the croupier.
The name of the game may derive from the French word for ‘coin’, but its history is more complex than that. The game originated in Italy, where it was known as Baccarat or Chemin de Fer. It eventually made its way to France, where it became a favorite among the country’s elite gamblers. From there, it moved to England and then to North America, where it was further simplified to Punto Banco.
During the 19th Century, Baccarat won many medals at the Great Exhibitions of the period. One of the most famous pieces was the 1867 ‘Jusivy’ table service, which later went to the Dolmbahce Palace in Istanbul. Baccarat also designed one of the most prized wine glasses of that time, the short-stemmed Harcourt glass, first commissioned by King Louis-Philippe of France in 1841.
Bill Zender, a former Nevada Gaming Control Agent and casino executive who literally wrote the book on managing casino games, says that he’s seen the popularity of baccarat rise over the past twenty years. He believes that it’s mainly due to the fact that Asian high rollers have almost universally made it their game of choice.
Nevertheless, he doesn’t think the game will dominate the global gambling scene. In his opinion, the game’s popularity will be limited by the fact that the majority of casinos offer only a small selection of baccarat tables and are not located in regions with strong cultural ties to the card game. Furthermore, he thinks that the game’s slow pace makes it unpopular in countries with fast-paced lifestyles.
