Online Casino Spotlight

In Baccarat, cards are dealt to the house and to the player. The card’s value is then added together to determine the winner.

How do I Play Baccarat?

To play Baccarat, the dealer will draw two cards face down to himself and the players. These cards are then added together at face value. At first, if the player or dealer received a total of 9 in the first hand no more cards are drawn. If no hand has a value of 9, then the dealer will continue to draw more cards.

There are exceptions to this rule:

• If the player has 6 to 7 no cards will be drawn.
• If the player has 0-5 he will draw one card.

After the initial hand has been established, the banker will then draw more cards to their hand based on the cards the player’s already drew:

• Should a player not draw a card, the banker will then draw at 0-5, or stand at 6-7.
• Should a player draw a 2 or 3, the banker will then draw at 0-4, and stand at 5-7.
• Should a player draw a 4 or 5, the banker will then draw at 0-5, and stand at 6-7.
• Should a player draw a 6 or 7, the banker will then draw at 0-6, and stand at 7.
• Should a player draw an 8, the banker will then draw at 0-2, and stand at 3-7.
• Should a player draw an Ace, 9, 10, or face-card, the banker will then draw at 0-3, and stand at 4-7.

Whoever has the highest hand based on the face value of the cards after the cards have been dealt wins the round. If the dealer and the banker have the same total of cards a tie is announced.

The value of the cards for Baccarat is a simple formula. Numbered cards are taken at face value. 10’s and face cards are worth 0. The Ace in Baccarat is worth 1.

How Does Betting Work in Baccarat?

Players must place their bets before the hand starts. The player can either bet on the player’s hand or the banker’s hand. If the hand wins, the player wins the bet.

Baccarat is the most popular casino game among high rollers and whales. Baccarat is usually played in a separate roped off area in the casino. While it is portrayed as a game for the wealthy and well to do, the basics of the game aren’t too difficult to learn.

The basics of Baccarat

Baccarat or Punto Banco is a card game of chance. The standard playing table in the game is about the same size as a craps table. In the game, there are only two principal wagers to make. The bet will be on either the player (punto) or the bank (banco).

The value of hands in baccarat are unique but simple. In the game, cards 2-9 are worth face value. Tens, jacks, queens and kings all have a value of zero. The ace cards have a value of one. When hands are calculated, the tens digit is not included. So, the scores in baccarat range from a low of zero to a high of nine. Ironically, the baccarat name is derived from the worst hand (zero) in the game.

In North American baccarat, the casino banks the game. At the beginning of the game, two cards are dealt face down in alternate fashion. The initial card is dealt to the player. Then, the results of the two cards for the player and banker are revealed. Depending on the hands of each participant, the player and banker can either stand pat or draw another card. The highest hand will win the game.

A structured game

The game has some set procedures on when the player and bank must stand or draw. If either participant has a value of 8 or 9 from their first two cards, they must stand pat. For other initial outcomes, there are rules in place on whether a participant must stand or draw.  Here is a breakdown of what is required from the player and banker based on certain outcomes from their initial two cards:

• If the player has a total of 0-5, he will draw one card. If he has a total of 6 or 7, he will stand.

In turn, the banker’s play will be determined by the player’s hand. This will be based on whether the player drew a card, and on what card the player drew.

• If the player did not draw, the banker will draw if he has 0-5, and stands at 6-7.
• If the player draws a 2 or 3, the banker will draw if he has 0-4, and stands at 5-7.
• If the player draws a 4 or 5, the banker draws if he has 0-5, and stands at 6-7.
• If the player draws a 6 or 7, the banker draws if he has 0-6, and stands at 7.
• If the player draws an 8, the banker draws if he has 0-2, and stands at 3-7.
• If the player draws an ace, 9, 10, jack, queen or king, the banker draws if he has 0-3, stands at 4-7.

Finally, bettors are required to pay a 5% commission for winning wagers on the banker because it has been determined that over 8-decks of play, the banker will usually win three of four more hands than the player.

Online casinos have exploded to popularity in recent years as more players come to grasp the intricacies of web-based wagering.  The major draw to these casinos is the array of games up for grabs.  The most common options you have are table games and there are quite a few to choose from.  Because there is such a wide variety, it is good to know just what is available so you don’t find yourself wondering aimlessly from room to room.

Head up with the Dealer

Table games are generally the same games you will find at the tables in brick and mortar casinos.  Two of the most popular choices are baccarat and black jack.  Both of these games are favorable to the player and make a great option for beginners.  Baccarat has become such a hit because it is simple and doesn’t require any real skill to play.  While the concept isn’t difficult, blackjack tends to be a little more challenging.  However, the fact that it does require a little know-how and gets so intense makes a favorite among serious players.  Because winning against the dealer is much harder, you will probably want to get familiar with blackjack before placing a wager online.

The Many Faces of Poker

There are many other card games available but most fail in comparison to the popularity of poker.  With poker you get options such as Texas Hold ‘Em, Let it Ride, Caribbean Stud Poker, Tri Card Poker and the list goes on.  In many of these games, you aren’t necessarily playing against other players, but against the dealer, similar to black jack and baccarat.  There are numerous poker rooms online, most of which offer generous incentives such as bonuses, promotional offers and huge progressive jackpots that seem to never stop growing.  Competition is heavy in the poker room so you definitely don’t want to approach the tables without your skills and virtual game face intact.

Dice and the Big Wheel

The main table games that don’t involve cards are craps and roulette.  Arguably the most popular land casino game, roulette typically gives the house a higher edge but that doesn’t take away from the excitement involved with spinning the wheel.  This game is often a first choice of beginners for the simple fact that it doesn’t require any skills – roulette is the ultimate game of luck.  Roulette comes in many niche variations such as French, European and American, which ironically is the least popular.  Craps is another risky game filled with plenty of sucker bets that make it harder to distinguish between the good wagers.  Though exciting an nearly as fun as the real life version, this isn’t a table you want to try without your head in the game.

The plethora of online casino games is enough to make your head spin.  While many of the rules are the same, it would be wise to get some information on online play before heading into a room.  Fortunately, there are numerous communities and tutorials that will provide you with essential tips on how to play virtually any game.  Even better, there is also a nice variety of casinos that will allow you to play for free and gain the confidence you need to play for money.

Online casinos have been around for more than a decade now but really exploded over the last five years or so.  These web-based platforms present a dynamic virtual atmosphere that mimics the real-life casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City nearly to the tee.  Best of all, there are plenty of options for game play, thus finding your favorite game should be quite easy.  Here are some of the most popular casino games you have to choose from.

Baccarat

Though many people are not familiar with the game, baccarat is a major hit in online casinos.  The object of the game is to draw a hand with a face value as close to 9 as possible.  You begin with two cards, add their value and if they equal 10 or higher, the first digit is discarded.  From there, you play the hand against the dealer.  In baccarat, the winner isn’t necessarily based on who has the better hand.  Instead, you place a wager on who you think will win a particular round – you or the dealer.  Make the right choice and you get paid out at the odds, no matter whether you lose the hand or not.

Blackjack

Originated centuries ago in Europe, Blackjack is one of the most exciting and easiest casino games to play.  The object is simple – draw your cards until the face value adds up 21 or close as possible.  You start out with two cards and can be hit with more until you decide to stay or get busted.  The dealer than draws until they reach 17 or bust.  You generally get paid 1:1 odds if you win.

Roulette

Poker is huge, but roulette is crowned as the “King of Casino Games.”  What makes roulette so fun is that it is a game of pure chance with little to no skill involved.  The wheel consists of number slots, usually colored black or red.  You place your bet on the number or color you think will come up, the dealer spins and drops a silver ball into the wheel, which bounces about until it stops at one of the slots and reveals the winning number.  If it stops on the one you chose, you could win big.

Slots

Online slots are basically the same as those you would find in a real casino.  Simply place your bet, pull the virtual level and the drums go spinning.  Once they stop, the images are aligned and of course, different configurations result in different payouts.  The most exciting part about online slots is the progressive jackpots as they tend to mount up very quickly.  Some pots even climb into the millions.

Video Poker

Just like Saturday night poker at your buddy’s house, the goal of video poker is to build the most powerful hand you possibly can.  You place your bet and the virtual dealer gives you five cards.  If you get something good on the first try, click the buttons underneath your cards to hold them.  The dealer discards the ones you don’t choose and deals you more cards, which result in your final hand.  With a good casino, the payouts are increasingly higher the better your hand gets.  With poker being such a phenomenon right now, finding a casino that offers video poker should be a breeze.