An exciting but simple game of chance, Baccarat is often the casino game of choice for fictional spies (James Bond), dastardly villains, and your typical high rollers throwing money around in movies. Thoughts of Baccarat usually evoke images of men and women dressed to the nines, placing stacks of high-valued chips on the tables as if they were loose change.
Funnily enough, while the game looks complex, it’s actually one of the easiest games to play at the casinos. Even if you’re new to casino gaming, Baccarat is a game you can pick up and learn within minutes.
The good news is Baccarat is another casino game that has made the transition to online and crypto casinos. You will find many variations of this classic, ranging from the standard version to titles offering random multipliers. Before you go to find some, make sure you continue reading so you understand how to play, the odds, and what bets you can place.
How Does Crypto Baccarat Work?
Baccarat plays the same at a cryptocurrency casino as at brick-and-mortar venues. The core rules are the same, with the only difference being you’re playing the game virtually rather than physically.
Below are the key elements of Baccarat:
1. The Dealer
Whether a virtual dealer or an actual dealer on a live casino Baccarat table, this is the person that deals the cards of the game. The dealer does not participate in the game (like he/she might in Blackjack). Instead, the dealer deals the cards each round. Initially, these are two face-up cards in each of the gaming spots (Banker and Player).
2. The Banker
The first thing to realise about Baccarat is you’re not playing the hands and have no decisions (other than the bets you place before the start of the round) to make. The Banker is just a betting position.
3. The Player
The above is also true of the ‘Player’ position on the table. You’re not the player, it is just a betting position. Like the ‘Banker’, the player is dealt two face-up cards.
4. Players
The final element of baccarat, is you, the players. All you have to do, is bet on which position you think will win the hand. You will have a betting overlay that lets you place your bets before the start of a new round.
What are the Baccarat Crypto Rules?
At heart, the game of Baccarat is a simple one. Your main objective, is to guess whether the ‘Banker’ or ‘Player’ will have the winning hand or if they will tie. The position that gets the closest to a hand value of nine will win. While Baccarat, like other casino table games, is a game of chance, many players use a baccarat strategy designed to maximise wins and minimise losses.
Baccarat Card/Hand Values
If you think Baccarat uses the same card values as those in popular poker variants, think again. Baccarat uses a different scoring system as described below:
- Ace: This has a value of 1
- 2-9: Numbered cards have their face value
- 10, Jack, Queen, and King: All have a value of 0.
Now comes what we would consider one of the most confusing aspects of Baccarat. How the hands are scored. However, learning the baccarat scoring system is like riding a bike. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll never forget.
Once the cards are dealt, the hand values are added up. However, any hand with a combined value of 10 or more has 10 points subtracted. For example, the Banker is dealt a 9 and an 8, giving a combined score of 17. 10 is subtracted to give an actual score of 7.
If either position has a score of 8 or 9 from the first two cards, it is a natural win. Obviously, if one position has 8 and the other 9, the latter wins. If both positions have the same score (6, 7, 8, or 9), the round ends in a tie.
The Third Card Rule
Assuming neither position results in a natural win, any hand holding a 6 or 7 must stand on that value. However, the third card rule comes into play if there is no clear winner or no tie settled after the first two cards in each position.
If the ‘Player’ (who always goes first) has a hand value of 0-5, that position receives a new card. The ‘Banker’ will receive a third card if the ‘Player’ has stood on 6 or 7 and holds a hand value of 0-5.
However, if the ‘Player’ takes a third card, the value of that card will determine if the ‘Banker’ takes a third card. The following table details whether the ‘Banker’ takes a third card or stands depending on the value of the third card dealt to the ‘Player’.
PLAYER’s THIRD CARD VALUE
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 9 | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand |
| 8 | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand |
| 7 | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand |
| 6 | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Draw | Draw | Stand | Stand |
| 5 | Stand | Stand | Stand | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Stand | Stand |
| 4 | Stand | Stand | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Stand | Stand |
| 3 | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Stand | Draw |
| 2 | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw |
| 1 | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw |
| 0 | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw | Draw |
After the third card, no more cards are drawn and the position with the value closest to 9 wins unless it is a tie.
Payouts on Crypto Baccarat
As mentioned previously, in the main game there of baccarat, there are just three betting options. Winning the ‘Player’ bet pays 1:1, while winning the ‘Banker’ bet pays 0.95:1. The latter is due to a 5% commission the casino takes from winning Banker bets.
Betting on the Player and the Banker both pay 1:1 (although there is a 5% commission taken from winning Banker bets). That commission is where the casino gets its house edge from the game.
All bets placed on ‘Player’ or ‘Banker’ are pushed in the event of a tie. However, if you bet on ‘Tie’ and the round ends as a tie, you win 8:1.
Common Baccarat Side Bets
Aside from the main bets, many variations of Baccarat will also give you the option of placing side bets. These work independently of the main game, so whether you win or lose, your side bets always pay when they come in.
Below are the most common baccarat side bets and their payouts:
- Player Pair (11:1): You win if the first two cards dealt to the Player position are a pair.
- Banker Pair (11:1): You win if the first two cards dealt to the Banker position are a pair.
- Either Pair (5:1): You win if the first two cards dealt to either the Player or Banker positions are a pair.
- Perfect Pair (25:1): You win if the first two cards dealt to either the Player or Banker positions are a perfect pair (same value and same suit).
- Player Bonus (Push or up to 30:1): You win if the Player position wins with a Natural or by at least four points. The more the position wins, the bigger the payout. A win by 9 points pays 30:1. A Tie results in a Push.
- Banker Bonus (Push or up to 30:1): You win if the Banker position wins with a Natural or by at least four points. The more the position wins, the bigger the payout. A win by 9 points pays 30:1. A Tie results in a Push.
How to Win Baccarat – Tips and Strategies
Now that you know more about this exciting casino table game, you’re probably thinking about checking it out for yourself. Well, before you take your seat at the most popular tables here at mBitcasino, you should take heed of some of thebest baccarat strategies and tips.
Well, in terms of the strategies you can use, we have covered the most popular on our blog. Below, you will find two of the best baccarat crypto strategies:
As for some tips, check out the sort of advice you can use to ensure you stand a better chance of success at the Baccarat tables:
- Stick to the ‘Banker Bet’: The Banker bet has a lower house edge (1.06%) on 8-deck tables than the Player bet (1.14%). For that reason, stick to this bet mostly unless the Banker has won several times in a row.
- Avoid the ‘Tie’ bet: Although it pays 8:1, the ‘Tie’ bet is the worst of the three with a house edge of 14.36% (on an 8-deck table). Only consider the Tie once it has not been paid for a long time. This bet usually comes in once every ten hands-on average.
- Consider using betting strategies/systems: While strategies such as those mentioned earlier, are not guaranteed to bring success, they can add structure to your gameplay. Most have a betting pattern to follow which ensures you’re not just blindly placing random bets.
- Avoid Side Bets: If you’re a player that likes to play the percentages, avoid using the side bets. These have good payouts but rarely come in and have a higher house edge. Placing a side bet (strategically) every now and again is about the most you should do.
- Employ Solid Bankroll Management: Our top tip for any form of casino game is to play using a responsible bankroll management plan. Only bet with money you can afford and only bet a percentage of your bankroll on each bet. Always stick to your bankroll management strategy and your bankroll will stretch further.
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