Baccarat is the leading casino table game and generates the highest revenue. This high-end game, played at tables with 14 seats run by three dealers, allows players to place bets on either Player, Banker, Tie or any combination thereof before cards are dealt; players may also place side bets that vary depending on establishment and platform.
Baccarat has earned itself the moniker “the game for whales”, with high rollers often wagering $100,000 or more per hand in Macau and Singapore casinos, where players often place bets of up to $500,000 per hand! As one of Asia’s premier casinos, baccarat can also be found at some of the world’s most luxurious hotel rooms.
Baccarat requires players to accurately predict which hand will win each round. A dealer distributes two cards to both Player and Banker hands, plus sometimes a third card in some instances, before giving each hand three additional cards from a shoe containing six or eight decks of cards; Tens, Jacks, Queens, Kings count as zero; Aces count as one.
If the total of either the player or Banker hand exceeds nine, its initial digit will be subtracted – for instance a two-card hand that totals thirteen would yield a score of fourteen that is reduced to three as it’s closer to nine than fourteen. Players must place their bets prior to card distribution as there is no option for re-betting after initial deal has taken place.
Though baccarat may seem complex, it’s actually relatively straightforward. Once bets are placed, the Dealer will deal two cards to both Player and Banker hands before adding one more if necessary. When standing on 6 or 7, and drawing when totalling 0-5, these hands must stand.
When the Player is standing, the Dealer must decide whether or not to hit. A nine or eight is considered a natural win; on six or seven a banker may hit; however 0s or 5s do not qualify as natural wins and should draw additional cards before drawing another hand from this score. In all instances where this number occurs (0-5, 0-6, or 0-9) new bets should be accepted when such situations arises.
Be patient and remain relaxed while playing baccarat to optimize results. Understanding your limits and when it’s best to walk away is vital, and experts advise betting exclusively on Banker because this offers lower house edges than Player hands with greater chances of winning. Monitoring patterns and trends during gameplay is also useful in increasing profits – just remember never bet both player and Banker simultaneously as only one hand can win at any one time!