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Baccarat Online - The
Baccarat Game
Baccarat is a
popular, uncomplicated and entertaining card game traditionally
played in elegant, dressed-up surroundings, on a simply laid out
Casino table. Modern technology, of course, also provides a version
of the game online. Nowadays, you may even download a version that
is playable on your personal computer. Many online Casinos offer
players the option of getting right into the real stakes game, or
playing (practicing) just for fun, at no cost.
The
objective of Baccarat is to place one or more bets that a
player's hand will either win, or lose, or tie the croupier's
(banker) hand. That is, you may bet that the player's hand will win,
you may bet on the banker hand, or you may wager that the player's
hand will tie the banker hand. It's as simple as that.
While
the imposing atmosphere around the table may attract the
well-dressed high roller, Baccarat
is a simple game of chance that involves no degree of skill on the
part of the player or dealer. Players may sit in any of the 14 open
seats at the table, as seating position does not affect the play in
any way. Each seat corresponds to a number on the layout, one
through 15. In most Casinos the number 13 is deliberately excluded
to comfort the superstitious.
Three
dealers service each table. The dealer standing in the middle is
known as the croupier, or the caller, dealer or banker. The croupier
makes the calls on each hand as they are dealt, and directs the
players on the rules and procedures of the game. The other two
dealers are responsible for handling the payoffs.
The
popularity of Baccarat
among
international high rollers is consistent with its image as the most
glamorous of Casino games. In spite of its sophisticated image, it
is one of the easiest casino games to play. The player makes only
one basic decision during each hand. The croupier handles the rest,
playing out the hands according to strict, well-established house
rules.
You
begin each hand by placing your chips on one or more of the three
betting choices displayed on the Baccarat table layout, i.e.,
player, banker or tie. Two cards are then dealt face-up to the
player and the banker. The hands are then evaluated to determine if
either has a two-card total of eight or nine, also called a natural.
To
evaluate a hand, the total is first determined by adding the
numerical value of the cards held. In addition to the two naturals,
eight and nine, the numbered cards, from seven through two, are
taken at their normal numerical value. The ace is always played as
one, and the kings, queens, jacks and tens are worth zero. The only
exception to this is that some casinos may assign the ten a value of
ten.
If
a hand total is in double figures, then the first digit of the sum
is always ignored. For example, a hand totalling 15 would count as
five, or a jack, three would be worth three.
The
perfect or natural hand is one that totals nine in the first two
cards. Eight, which is also referred to as a natural, is the
second-best hand. The only hand that will beat a natural eight is a
natural nine. If there is a natural in a dealt hand, play stops and
the hand with the natural wins. If both hands contain a natural, the
higher natural wins. Two equal naturals result in a tie. If there is
no natural, a third dealt card may be introduced into the play.
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