Baccarat

ABOUT BACCARAT

Baccarat is a centuries old game, with origins in Italy. It began with a card game known as Tarrochi in the 1400s. The gentleman credited with the name ‘Baccarat’ was Felix Falguiere, when he referred to the game as ‘Baccara’ which means zero in Italian. Indeed, in this high-class casino card game all the royals and 10s count as zero.

From humble beginnings among Italian soldiers, the game was popularized by French nobility, ultimately spreading far and wide. Today, Baccarat is considered the ultimate showstopper. It now features prominently as the high roller card game of choice across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

888casino NJ brings the incredible appeal of Baccarat to life, on PC, Mac and mobile devices.

Luckily, there aren’t too many complicated rules in this engaging card game. Most of the action is controlled by the dealer. It’s the dealer who draws cards for the ‘Player’ and the ‘Banker’, and all of this takes place according to a specific set of rules.  This means that players don’t need to worry about how many cards the ‘Player’ or the ‘Banker’ should receive – it’s written in the rules.

The only decisions you need to make as a player are the following:

• Who will win the next hand? The ‘Player’ or the ‘Banker’?
• How much will you bet on the game?

These really simple decisions make Baccarat the game of choice for millions of players around the world. The house collects all bets and pays out on winning hands. With Baccarat, the player simply places a bet on their position and nothing else needs to be done. The number of cards dealt to each position, the hand totals, and the winnings are immediately calculated by the house.

The online version of Baccarat is played with 8 decks of cards at 888casino NJ. After each hand, the deck is automatically shuffled in a shoe to ensure randomness of outcomes. The house deals 4 cards in total. The first card is dealt to the ‘Player’, the second card is dealt to the ‘Banker’. The third card is deal to the ‘Player’ and the fourth card is dealt to the ‘Banker’.

Once the ‘Player’ and the ‘Banker’ have received their cards, the point total is displayed on screen. The objective of Baccarat is to score as close to 8 or 9 as possible. These hand totals are considered a ‘Natural’. If either the ‘Player’ or the ‘Banker’ hand total is 8 or 9, no additional cards are dealt. The winner of the hand is the one whose hand total is closest to 9.

If you bet on the ‘Player’ or ‘Banker’ and their hand total wins, you will be paid out by the dealer.

An interesting thing happens if both the ‘Player’ and ‘Banker’ have equal-value hands. A ‘Tie’ results. In Baccarat, you also have the option to bet on a ‘Tie’ but the odds are generally not in your favor with this bet.

During the initial draw – the first four cards dealt – it may occur that no winning hand results. The dealer will then deal a third card to the ‘Player’ and possibly the ‘Banker’. This face up card gets dealt to the ‘Player’ first. In Baccarat, only one extra card can be dealt to each hand.

RULES OF BACCARAT

There are 5 unique Baccarat betting options available to players at 888casino NJ:

• Bets on the Player hand
• Bets on the Banker hand
• Bets on a Tie hand
• Bets on the Player pair
• Bets on the Banker pair

It’s quite possible to place bets on Player and Banker hand, the Player and Banker pair, or a Tie hand as well.

Baccarat Side Bets

The Baccarat Side Bets are placed on the Player Pair and the Banker Pair. These betting options are incredibly popular with players in NJ. With this Baccarat bet, you are taking the position that the first two cards dealt to Player or the Banker will be a pair. For example, a 7-7, or a 2-2, or even a Q-Q. The cards must be a pair, or else the bet loses. Since this is a Baccarat side bet, you can still place bets on a Player hand, Banker hand, Tie hand, and so forth.

In Baccarat, you don’t need to place the traditional bet – you can simply place the side bet and enjoy the game. The payday on the side bet is 12:1.

Baccarat Card Values

• Aces in Baccarat assume a value of 1
• Cards 2 – 9 assume their nominal value (face value)
• 10s and all face cards assume a value of 0 in Baccarat

Here are a couple of examples of Baccarat hand values:

• 4 + 5 = 9 à This hand is a natural in Baccarat
• 7 + 5 = 12 à This hand counts as 2 in Baccarat
• 9 + 9 = 18 à This hand counts as 8 in Baccarat 
• K + Q + 8 = 28 à This hand counts as 8 in Baccarat
• Jack + Ace + 7 =18 à This hand counts as 8 in Baccarat

Rules for Playing the Third Card in Baccarat

The specific rules of play will determine whether the ‘Player’ or the ‘Banker’ receives a third card.  Consider the following situations in Baccarat:

• If either the ‘Player’ or the ‘Banker’ has a hand total of 8 or 9 (Natural) they are required to stand
• On totals of 5 or less, the ‘Player’ hand is required to draw an additional card
• If the ‘Player’ stands, then the ‘Banker’ will draw a third card if the ‘Banker’ has 5 or less.

Drawing Rules for Online Baccarat Play (S – Stand; D – Draw)

Baccarat Game Settings and Menu

Baccarat Table Limits

888casino Baccarat tables allow you to pick three unique table limits. These include Low Limit games, Normal Limit games, and High Limit games. The betting stakes you choose will impact the chip range you are allowed. You can easily change your table limits when you start a game of Baccarat, or you can edit this from the settings menu.

Be advised that you will not be able to change your table limits while a game is in progress. In all cases, the game limits do not impact the game rules in any way. In the case of a progressive jackpot bet, it is limited to one currency of play at all times.

Classical or Digital Table Styles

Baccarat players can pick the Classical or Digital style. These table styles can be chosen during the game introduction message, or from the game settings menu. Once again, players will not be able to switch table styles while games are in progress. As with table limits, changing your table style will not alter the game rules and payouts.

Switching to Turbo Mode

Turbo Mode can easily be chosen from the introductory screen and also from the game settings menu. When you select Turbo Mode, you can play Baccarat much quicker. This mode of play eliminates time taken for card dealing activities, and in-game animations. The rules and payouts are not altered by switching to Turbo Mode in Baccarat.

Baccarat Background Music

The settings menu features an option to turn on/off Baccarat background music. It’s entirely up to you whether you wish to hear the background sounds at the casino.

Be advised that malfunctions void all plays and pays.

For a comprehensive set of Baccarat rules, kindly click here.

Official Baccarat Payout Chart

• Player Winning Hand pays even money (1:1)
• Banker Winning Hand pays even money (1:1)
• Tie Bets pay 9:1
• Player and Banker Pair Side Bets pay 12:1