In this review, you will learn about how to play baccarat. This is one of the most popular games in internet casino libraries. We will tell you about its variations, rules and payouts. You will read about whether the baccarat strategy can benefit, and how to count cards. You will also learn about the features of this type of entertainment in a Live casino, and whether it is possible to enjoy it in free mode.
What is a Baccarat Card Game?
You’ve probably heard the word “baccarat” because it’s one of the most popular online casino games. Historians still argue which country is her homeland – Italy or France. But in one thing their opinion is the same – many years ago, baccarat was entertainment only for the nobility. But this is already in the past, now residents of any country in the world can freely play this game. And it doesn’t matter at all whether they belong to the rich or not.
With the development of online casinos, baccarat has firmly taken an important place in their catalogues. Now it is difficult to find a gambling site where you cannot try this game. Gamblers all over the world can enjoy it at any time of the day, and developers periodically delight with new variations of this type of entertainment.
Where to play Baccarat online?
You can play baccarat at websites and on their official mobile apps. You don’t need to download the game to your laptop or mobile device. It will be launched in the lobby. You will need a good internet connection.
How to find an online casino? To do this, you need to do a little preparation. This is one of the most important steps separating you from the fun that baccarat gives. The fact is that you should not get caught on a fraudulent website created to steal the money and personal information of users. We will tell you how to avoid this.
Play only in legal internet casinos
The reliability of the site’s services is ensured by the presence of an international license. The document means that the company has successfully passed the audit, and it is safe to play online baccarat and other titles on its platform.
Study the catalogue of games
Baccarat is usually accessible on almost all gambling portals, but you need to make sure that the site you choose provides an opportunity to play it. Perhaps you will also find here varieties of this type of entertainment.
See which payment methods the online casino works with
This is an important point because you must have confidence in conducting comfortable deposit and withdrawal transactions. The more banking options the gambling operator offers, the better.
Visit the bonuses section
You don’t have to participate in online casino promotions, but they can help you win more money. The main thing is to carefully study the terms and conditions of a particular bonuses offer.
Find out how to contact customer support
Usually, online casinos provide the following communication channels: live chat, email, feedback form, and phone number (less often). Check which of these options are available so that you know how to ask a question or send a complaint to company representatives.
As you can see, everything is quite simple. Following these tips, you will save yourself from many risks.
How to start playing online Baccarat?
Now that you learned how to choose a casino, we will tell you how to play baccarat. There is nothing complicated about this.
1. Decide whether you want to enjoy the game for cash or for free
If you need a demo mode, then just run the game. Otherwise, read our instructions further.
2. Create an online casino account
You will need to enter personal data, come up with a password and write contact details. We recommend that you provide truthful info, otherwise you will have problems. Firstly, the company’s employees will not be able to contact you if necessary. Secondly, you will not be able to withdraw the funds you have won. After the registration is completed, you will need to confirm the account creation using a link that will come to your email or phone number.
3. Make a deposit
Usually, online casinos offer many ways to conduct payment transactions. These are bank transfers, electronic wallets, credit cards, payment systems and cryptocurrencies. Compare the terms of operations and restrictions on their minimum and maximum amount.
4. Open the games section and select a variation of Baccarat
You can play both the virtual type and against a real dealer.
Baccarat Game Rules
Gamblers love baccarat for its simple rules. This is one of the games that you can learn to play very quickly. We still recommend that you train for free. This will help you reduce the risks of rapid bankroll loss due to insufficient experience.
The standard round of the online baccarat game goes as follows:
- The croupier deals 2 cards to each player. The task is to ensure that the amount on the participants’ hand is equal to 9 points or is as close as possible to this figure;
- If a user has 5 points in his hand, he has the right to ask for another card;
- If the sum of the points in the gambler’s hand is 6 or 7, then he will not be given a third card;
- If the sum of points in the hand exceeds 9, then 10 is taken away from it. Say, the player has 4 and 9, which in total is 13. Thus, the sum of his points is 3 (13-10).
The amount of points is calculated based on the value of the cards. It’s very easy to remember it: Ace is equal to one, and the value of cards from 2 to 9 is equal to their face value. Finally, 10, Jack, Queen and King are equal to 0.
Basic Bets
When playing baccarat in an online casino, you will be able to place three different bets before the dealing process. Baccarat is a slightly unusual game in which you can actually bet even on your losses to eventually win.
Bet on the Banker
In Baccarat, a dealer is also called a banker. He also gets cards during the dealing process. Say, if you bet $10 on a banker and he eventually wins, you get $10. The banker’s bet is the most profitable in this type of entertainment. The percentage of casino edge is usually only 1.06%.
Bet on the Player
This is another equal bet, meaning, say, that by placing a bet of $10, you will win $10. The casino’s advantage is usually 1.25%
Bet on a draw
Such a development of events happens if the combinations of the player and the banker are equal. The approximate odds of a draw are 9:1 or 8:1. This means that by betting $10 on a draw, you can win $90 or $80. We do not recommend betting on a draw. This is the worst and riskiest basic bet in baccarat.The edge of the casino over the gambler reaches a whopping 14.4%!
Casino Baccarat Variations
You can try a lot of variations of baccarat at the gambling websites. They have certain differences in the rules, so study them before choosing a particular title.
- American (Punto Banco). This type of the game is deservedly the most famous. It uses from 6 to 8 decks consisting of 52 cards each. There are no jokers. The table has a special marking;
- European version. Another popular option. In it, if a player has a sum of 5 points in his hand, he can stop or request another card. The dealer has the option to take a third card if he wishes;
- Mini Baccarat. It is a smaller version of Punto Banco with lower limits. It makes the game more democratic;
- Dragon Tiger. This is a very popular variation of baccarat in Asia. It has simplified rules compared to the original version of the game. You can find it in the development of Evolution provider in many online casinos. A Dragon is called a player here, and a Tiger is a banker. Gamblers can make various bets, for example, whether the sum of cards will be more or less than 7.
Live Baccarat Features
You can get a special experience by playing against a live dealer. This is a real person, an employee of the casino or the company that developed the title. The broadcast is usually conducted from a specially equipped studio. Multiple cameras guarantee high image quality and attention to detail. The player can monitor the dealer’s actions, which eliminates the possibility of fraud.
The gambler can use the chat to communicate with the dealer and other participants. Some users don’t like Live Baccarat because of the slower process compared to the virtual version. This is because the croupier sets the pace. But, this should hardly be considered a big drawback, because manual shuffling and dealing of cards eliminate suspicions of dishonesty.
The main developer of Live Games is the Evolution company. You will surely be able to enjoy baccarat from this developer on reliable web platforms.
What are the Baccarat Strategies?
The effectiveness of using game strategies in Blackjack motivated many gamblers to start using them in Baccarat. We cannot recommend or warn you against using such systems. Yes, there is a chance that they will increase your chances of success. But, this requires not only attentiveness and strict adherence to technique but also luck. And luck is impossible to predict.
There are several strategies for playing Baccarat, and you can learn how to use each of them. Perhaps the main benefit they bring is the discipline of the gambler. Following the rules, he cultivates a gaming ethic, learns to control the bankroll and not go beyond his own limits.
Martingale
This strategy is actively used in various games, and baccarat is no exception. Gamblers are not deterred even by the high risks associated with this system. Using the Martingale system, you need to double the size of your bet after each loss, so that if you win, you can immediately win back all the lost funds and get the amount of the initial bet. The problem is that you may not have enough money for a permanent doubling. In addition, there may be a limit on the maximum bet size in an online casino.
Paroli
This system is often used by beginners and players who do not have the biggest bankroll. The bet should be raised only after winning, and only by a previously determined amount. Funds from past victories are used for this.
1-3-2-4
This baccarat strategy is considered safe for gamblers. They need to place bets in a certain sequence and return to the original bet after four consecutive wins. So, if the first bet wins, the gambler moves on. If he loses, he returns to the first bet. It is important that if your first and second bets win, then it doesn’t even matter to you whether the third and fourth bets lose. The overall victory in the series will be yours.
There are many other techniques for playing online baccarat. Before using them in a real money game, we recommend training in demo mode.
What is the Use of Counting Cards in Online Baccarat?
The effectiveness of using card counting in baccarat is a very controversial question. Many gamblers believe that it is advisable to use this technique only in offline casinos. And you can agree with them because tracking the output of cards in the online version of the game is difficult, if not impossible. Unlike blackjack, a baccarat player has virtually no freedom to choose further actions. This significantly limits his influence on the course of the game.
If you still insist on using the card count, pay attention to sixes and fours. The more fours come out of the deck, the higher the banker’s chances of winning. If there are a lot of sixes, then the alignment has improved in favour of the gambler.
Tips for Players
As you have already understood, for a successful online Baccarat game, you need to know its rules well. However, there are some more useful tips that we recommend you adopt.
Play at reliable online casinos
You don’t even need to explain it in detail – by registering on a phishing site, you will lose money, and you risk that your personal information will be transferred to third parties.
Choose a variation of the game with fewer decks
The smaller the decks, the lower the randomness factor when dealing the cards. This is beneficial for players using the counting technique.
Bet on the banker
This is the most statistically advantageous bet for the players. But we recommend forgetting about the choice in favour of a draw. In this case, the edge of the casino over the gambler reaches 14.4%!
Take care of your money
There is no need to make rash bets trying to recoup after a defeat. No one guarantees you victory, and you can lose money very quickly.
Set a limit on the game
Any type of online gambling should be enjoyed for a certain time. Say 2-3 hours. You are mistaken if you think that you will win more if you play longer. It doesn’t work that way. On the contrary, you will get tired and start making mistakes.
Strategies are a helper, but not a saviour
You can use various proven systems in online baccarat. They will help you maximize the chances of success when used correctly, but they will not protect you from losses.
There are no victories without defeats
Accept the fact that you will definitely have losses. If you take it calmly, you will start winning, because no failure streak lasts forever.