What are the best and worst Baccarat (Punto Banco) strategies? Baccarat (or Punto Banco) is a top-rated game and is gaining a lot of ground, and for a reason. It’s captivating and exciting. Also important, it’s easy to play. All you need to do is place a bet on the Player or the Banker.
This article is about the Baccarat variation Punto Banco.
Punto Banco (North American Baccarat) is a variation of baccarat played in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Baccarat is called Punto Banco in many casinos in South America and Europe. 'Punto' means 'Player', while 'Banco' means 'Bank', in reference to the two principal bets of the game. The object of the game is to bet on the hand (either 'Punto' or 'Banco') that you think will have a total of, or closest to, 9. Online baccarat (or punto banco) is one of the simplest, but most exciting online card games you can play. One of the most popular table games, baccarat is played around the world and is enjoyed by people who like fixed-odds games where the dealer does most of the work. Despite being easy to play and offering fantastic odds, many casino players are needlessly intimidated by baccarat. Perhaps it's the stakes, peculiar looking paddle, or the fact that punto banco baccarat tables are often separated from the main casino floor. Either way none of these things matter in the world of online gambling. Punto Banco (North American Baccarat) is a variation of baccarat played in the United States, Australia and Canada. In this version of baccarat the casino banks the game at all times. Players may bet on either the player or the banker, which are merely designations for the two hands dealt in each game.
In this version of baccarat the casino banks the game at all times. Players may bet on either the player or the banker, which are merely designations for the two hands dealt in each game. The cards are dealt, one to the ‘Player’ first then to the ‘Banker’, ‘Player’ then ‘Banker’ again. Each has two cards. This is the initial deal. Both cards in each hand are added together and the croupier calls the total. (e.g. five to the ‘Player’, three to the ‘Banker’) From this position the ‘Tableau’ or table of play is used to determine if further cards need to be drawn. A maximum of three cards per hand may be drawn to achieve a winning hand. Therefore the object of the game is to bet on the hand with the highest total.
The Tableau in Punto Banco
- Pictures and 10s count as 0. If the initial deal has a hand totalling 8 or 9 no further cards are drawn.
- If the ‘Player’ has an initial total of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, the ‘Player’ draws another card.
- If the ‘Player’ has an initial total of 6 or 7, the ‘Player’ stands and draws no further card.
- If the ‘Player’ has an initial total of 8 or 9, this is a natural and neither the ‘Player’ nor the ‘Banker’ draw further cards.
- If the ‘Banker’ has an initial total of 0, 1 or 2, the ‘Banker’ draws another card.
- If the ‘Banker’ has an initial total of 3, the ‘Banker’ draws another card when the ‘Player’s’ third card is anything but an 8.
- If the ‘Banker’ has an initial total of 4, the ‘Banker’ draws another card when the ‘Player’s’ third card is a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7.
- If the ‘Banker’ has an initial total of 5, the ‘Banker’ draws another card when the ‘Player’s’ third card is a 4, 5, 6, or 7.
- If the ‘Banker’ has an initial total of 6, the ‘Banker’ draws another card when the ‘Player’s’ third card is a 6 or 7.
- If the ‘Banker’ has an initial total of 7, the ‘Banker’ stands and draws no further cards.
- If the ‘Banker’ has an initial total of 8 or 9, this is a natural and neither the ‘Player’ nor the ‘Banker’ draw further cards.
- If the ‘Banker’ has an initial total of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and the ‘Player’ has an initial total of 6 or 7 and stands, the ‘Banker’ draws another card.
- The ‘Banker’ must stand on 6 when the ‘Player’ has a 6 or 7 on the initial deal.
The croupier will deal the cards according to the tableau and the croupier will announce the winning hand – either ‘Player’ or ‘Banker’. Losing bets will be collected and the winning bets will be paid according to the rules of the house. Usually even money or 1-1 will be paid to the player and 95% to the ‘Banker’, 5% commission to the house. (Commission Baccarat) Some casinos pay even money or 1-1 to both ‘Player’ and ‘Banker’ except when the ‘Banker’ wins with a total of 6. Then the ‘Banker’ will be paid 50% or half the original bet.
Should both the ‘Banker’s’ hand and the ‘Player’s’ hand have the same value at the end of the deal the croupier shall announce “Egalite – tie bets win.” All tie bets will be paid at the odds of 8-1 and the croupier shall not touch the bets on either ‘Player’ or ‘Banker’.
Traditional Punto Banco
The traditional form of punto banco baccarat is played at an oval table, similar to the chemin de fer version. The table is staffed by a croupier, who directs the play of the game, and two dealers who collect and pay bets as well as tallying commissions due. Six or eight decks of cards are used, normally shuffled only by the croupier and dealers. Like chemin de fer, the shoe is passed around from player to player, who acts as the dealer of the cards and as “banker,” but he or she does not actually bank the game. Indeed, the “banker” may bet on the player hand if he or she wishes, or may pass the shoe along to another player — the role of the “banker” is merely ceremonial. The person who bet the highest amount on the player hand is given the player-hand cards, though he or she simply turns the cards over, annoucing their total. The croupier instructs the “banker” on if or when to deal third cards, and then announces the winning hand.
In casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, this version of baccarat is usually played in special rooms separated from the main gaming floor, ostensibly to provide an extra measure of privacy and security because of the high stakes often involved. The game is frequented by the highest of high rollers, who may wager tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars on a single hand. Australian tycoon Kerry Packer was particularly fond of the game, having won and lost large sums over the years. Minimum bets are relatively high, often starting at 25 USD and going as high as 500 USD. Posted maximum bets are often arranged to suit a player, but maximums of 10,000 USD per hand are common
Despite its simplicity (or perhaps because of it), the punto banco version of baccarat offers some of the lowest house advantage available in a casino. The player bet has a house advantage of 1.24%, and the banker bet (despite the 5% commission) has an advantage of 1.06%. The tie bet has a much higher house advantage of 14.44%, based on six decks in play. 1
Because of its attraction for wealthy players, a casino may win or lose millions of dollars a night on the game, and the house’s fortunes may even affect the bottom line of a corporation’s quarterly profit and loss — notations of the effects of major baccarat wins and losses are frequent in the quarterly reports of publicly-traded gaming companies.
Mini-baccarat is essentially the same game, but played at a smaller table very similar to a blackjack table. A single dealer handles the entire game, including dealing the cards. The pace is usually much faster than the “big baccarat” version. Betting minimums and maximums are usually lower. In casinos outside of Las Vegas and Atlantic City, this is frequently the only version of baccarat that is offered.
How to play baccarat
Baccarat, also known as Punto Banco, is a casino game played between 12 to 14 players on the dice table with three casino dealers. The rules of baccarat game are strict and do not allow players to choose much options. Baccarat depends upon two principal bets: banker or player - Banco plus Standoff. Baccarat is a simple game, here one can place bets on three single types of bets:
- Banker bet
- Player bet
- Tie (standoff)
In this community game all players play with the same hand. The baccarat rules also offer to deal a second hand. But that majority of baccarat games make use of only one hand which narrows down the betting options for players.
The game is played around a table with a distinctive baccarat layout; the size of the table is similar to the craps table. About 12-14 players can be seated around the baccarat table and three dealers manage these tables. Two dealers handle gamblers at each side of the table and the third manages the game itself.
A player may place his bet on the player's hand or the banker's hand. These pay even money but a winning banker bet you would be paid 5% commission. A tie bet pays having ratio of 8:1.
When all bets are made after that the dealer deals two cards to himself and one for the player who is playing the hand. The dealer announces two statements: one is “card for the player” which means the player must draw a card, and second one is “card for the banker” means the same for the banker.
A third card is dealt in certain cases. The winning hand has the higher point total. When the player get a point total of 9 or 8 which is known as 'natural' he wins, unless the banker have the same hand value.
The Rules:
Baccarat is played with a six-deck or an eight-deck shoe. There is no value for all face cards and 10s. Cards which are less than 10s counted at face value, Aces has worth 1. Single digit values are more valid. Any count that approaches a double digit drops the left digit. 15 is numbered as 5 and 25 is numbered as 5.
To start, the players bet either on Banco or Punto or Standoff. The card dealer provides two cards each; first to the player and then the banker. The object of the game is to bet on the hand that you think will have the highest total value.
Rules for the player hand:
If the first two cards having total of 6 or more, then the player does not draw any card. If the total of player's first two cards is 5 or less, the player has permission to draw additional card.
Rules for the banker hand:
If the total of banker's first two cards is 7 or more, then the banker does not draw any card. If the total of these two cards of banker is 0, 1, or 2, then the banker draw only one card. If the banker's first two cards have a total of 3 to 6, then either the player draws or the banker draws the card.
A third card may be dealt to the player (Punto) and the bank (Banco) based on the three-card-rules. These rules are not necessarily to learn to play, they are generally automatic compulsory decisions.
Player's third-card-rule:
If the player or the bank have a total of 8 or 9 on the first two cards, then no further cards are drawn. The resulting hand is known as natural after that hand is over.
When the total of player's card is less than or equal to 5 the player's hand must draws a third card.
If the player does not draw a third card, then the bank's hand takes 6 or more and stands a third card on the total of 5 or less.
Bank's third-card-rule:
When the bank's total is 2 or less than 2 then bank has permission to draw a card.
When the bank's total is equal to 3 then the bank draws a third card regardless the players having third card with total of 8.
When the banks total is equal to 4 then the bank must draws a third card and the player's third card should be 0, 1, 8, or 9.
When the bank's total is equal to 5 then the bank draws a third card unless player's third card has 4, 5, 6, or 7.
When the bank's total is 6 then the bank must draw a third card and players third card has 6 or 7.
If the bank's total is equal to 7 then the bank stands.
Object
Before marching for the baccarat table, there are numerous issues that should be learned by baccarat players. These issues include money management, baccarat odds. Players would need to get the suitable baccarat strategy for them and learning baccarat terminology properly, which is a wide part of learning skills related to play baccarat.
Even if you don't fully understand the rules on how to play baccarat, try it anyway by playing it online for free (check our free table games here). In each phase you will be guided from the dealer. The dealer would tell you when to draw a third card, or how many cards to cut from the deck at the start of the game ..and so on. You can start practicing with the free demo below.
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