How to Play Baccarat in America
Baccarat, once relegated to the sticky-floor card rooms of California and the tuxedo-laden casinos of Monaco, is now more popular than ever in America. And with good reason. It’s one of the easiest casino games to play and has one of the lowest house edges – meaning you’re far more likely to make money than at a slot machine or roulette table.
The game has gained a reputation for being difficult to understand, but it’s actually quite simple. Unlike other casino games where players have a hand in deciding the outcome of a hand, the player (punto) and banker hands in baccarat are dealt according to fixed rules. That means you can bet on either hand and sit back while the dealer does the rest, hoping to get a “couple” – a Player and Banker combination with a total closer to nine than the opposite one.
In the United States, baccarat is usually played with a minimum bet of $20-$25 per game. But many players, especially those from Asia who have long played the game, bet much higher. In fact, the game has a storied history of high-rollers and is often referred to as a “high roller” casino game.
It’s also an incredibly easy casino game to win, and it makes sense that so many wealthy Asians would want to play it. It’s important to keep in mind that baccarat, like all other casino games, comes with a certain amount of risk. The more you bet, the more you could lose, so be careful.
When you’re ready to start playing, you’ll find a baccarat table with from seven to 14 seats and a banker and player betting area. You can choose to bet on either the Player, Banker, or Tie bets. The cards are ranked from 9 to 0. Picture or face cards are worth zero points; cards numbered from 2-9 have their face value; and aces count as one. Points are added up until they reach a double digit or exceed 9.
Aside from choosing which bet to place, the only other decision a player must make is how much to wager. It is generally considered poor form to sit at the table while a game is in session, as baccarat etiquette dictates that you must wait until the session is over before joining.
The game has a wide range of decorative styles and techniques, from elaborate glassware to delicate gold-painted metalwork. It was founded in the mid-18th Century, but its most famous period of production came in the 19th Century, when it began to receive commissions from the French court and other prominent clients.
Baccarat pieces are prized today for their beauty, but they are also valued for their craftsmanship and rarity. The company’s early pieces were primarily windows and mirrors, but its production expanded to include table services and drinkware. In addition to the traditional cutting and engraving methods, Baccarat also used acid to etch patterns into its glassware. The process involved covering the object in bitumen, a tough tar-like substance, then dipping it into acid to cut away at the uncovered areas of the glass.