Baccarat

Baccarat is one of the oldest casino table games in the industry and as such, is now available to play at virtually every land-based casino. Moreover, the popularity of game means that it is also available to play at a range of online casinos, both in software and live dealer formats. In its most basic form, the aim of the game is to outscore the other player, by getting a hand as close to 9 as possible. Moreover, you can win at Baccarat by either betting on your own hand, or the hand of the Banker.

Baccarat UK Overview

Unlike other traditional casino card games, there are no gameplay options available to the player. Instead, each round is based on the original cards that are dealt by the Banker. To make sure that you maximise your chances to win at Baccarat, it is well worth spending some time understanding the main rules. In the next section, we are going to explain how to play Baccarat UK.

How to play Baccarat UK

Baccarat UK can seem somewhat confusing at first glance, due to the nature of the ‘Third’ card rule. Before we get there, we’ll explain how to get started. Firstly, you need to determine how much you want to stake. Take note, if you win at Baccarat, you receive odds of Even money. In other words, if you bet £5 and you win at Baccarat, then you are returned a total of £10.

Next, you then need to choose whether you want to back the ‘Player’ (yourself) or the ‘Banker’. There are no underlying factors that can determine who wins. Once you’ve placed your chips on the respective part of the table, the Banker will then proceed to deal the cards. Baccarat UK rules state that the player must have his hand dealt first, so we’ll start with that. In total, two cards are dealt to the player.

Depending on the total value of the two cards, a third card might be dealt. Before we explore the third card in more detail, let’s clarify the value of each card. Cards between 2 and 9 are simply represented by their own value. Aces only count as 1. All 10-value cards, which includes Jacks, Queens, Kings and of course the 10 itself, represent a value of 0. The highest total that either the player or Banker can get is 9. If the total value of the hand exceeds 9, then it reverts back to 0.

For example, if the two cards that were dealt to you were a 3 and a 4, then this would give you a total of 7. However, if you got an 8 and a 4, then your total would be 2. The reason for this is that after 9, then score reverts back to 0. Therefore, to win at Baccarat, you want to get as close to 9 as possible.

Once the player has received their initial two cards, the Baccarat UK Banker then needs to ascertain whether or not a third card is required. If the player has an initial total of 6, 7, 8 or 9, then they automatically stand, meaning that no third card is required. On the contrary, if the player’s initial two cards amount to 5 or less, then by default, a third is dealt. At this point, the player’s hand is now complete and it is now the Banker’s turn to formulate a total.

The Banker

The Banker also gets two cards dealt to themselves. In a nutshell, in order to win at Baccarat, you need to beat the score of the other player. If the banker’s first two cards amount to a total of 7, 8 or 9, then they do not receive any more cards. Instead, the total is compared against the player. This is where things get a bit confusing.

If the banker has a total of 0, 1, 2 or 3, then they will take a third card. The banker may also receive a third card if they have a total of 4, on the proviso that the player has a total score of 2-7. The Baccarat UK banker will also take a third card when they have 5 or 6, but only when the player has a total of 4-7 or 6-7, respectively.

Once all of the cards have been dealt, you win at Baccarat if the player/banker that you backed has the highest score. As noted above, these wins are paid out at Even money. If both scores are the same, then the game ends in a ‘Push’. If so, you get your stake back.

It is also possible to bet on the push as a side bet before the game commences. These odds will vary depending on the casino in question.

Whilst the above variations of Baccarat UK hands may seem complex, you do not need to memorize anything.

Are there any strategies that can help me win at Baccarat?

Essentially, there are no underlying strategies to help you win at Baccarat. The key reason for this is that the neither the player, nor the banker, has the opportunity to make any gameplay decisions. Instead, Baccarat UK dictates that the third card is only dealt when certain conditions are met. As a result, this means that the outcome is a pure guess.

It is also worth mentioning that longer streaks are more likely in Baccarat in comparison to other table games such as roulette or blackjack. This is mainly due the ultra-thin winning margin between the player and the banker.

Baccarat UK summary

Whilst Baccarat UK appeals to many, others aren’t so keen. Those that like to play enjoy the fast nature to the game. Moreover, unlike blackjack, there is no requirement to make any gameplay decisions. Instead, all you need to do to win at Baccarat is select the winning player! Will it be the player, or the banker?

On the other hand, those that like to make decisions often find Baccarat a turn off. Furthermore, the underlying rules on whether or not the banker should get a third card can seem somewhat confusing.

Nevertheless, if you think you have what it takes to win at Baccarat, then there are now hundreds of online casinos that allow you to play it at the touch of a button, both in the form of software and live dealers! Check out new online casinos here.

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