What is Baccarat?
Baccarat is a table game of chance where you wager on whether the Player hand or Banker hand will win. It is one of the most popular casino games worldwide, and is often played for high stakes in land-based casinos. It also features prominently in the James Bond film ‘Casino Royale’. It is easy to understand and requires no technical skill. This makes it a popular game amongst novice players who are looking for a tingle in their gambling experience.
In Baccarat, the objective is to get a hand with a point total closest to nine. Aces are worth one point; Tens, jacks, and queens are worth zero points; and all other cards are worth their pip value. When the total is 9 the winning hand is declared. Those who bet on the Banker hand have to pay a 5% commission on their winnings. The game is similar to Blackjack and Thirty One, which are also card games that require no technical skill.
It is important to understand the rules of Baccarat before playing the game for real money. Once you are ready, you can start by choosing a chip value and pressing the field on the Baccarat table. You can also select the ‘CLEAR LAST BET’ button to cancel your last bet. You can then choose another chip value and place it on the table.
Unlike other casino games, you can place bets on both the Player and Banker hands. When all bets are placed, the dealer deals two cards in a row. The first card is placed in the Player box and the second in the Banker box. Then the dealer announces ‘no more bets please’.
If the Player or Banker hand has a point total of 8 or 9, the bets are paid and the game is over. Otherwise, a third card may be drawn for either hand.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding baccarat’s origin, it is known that it was a hit at the great exhibitions of the 19th Century. In 1828 Charles X of France visited the Baccarat factory and was so impressed with the company’s craftsmanship that he commissioned a full glass dinner service for the Tuileries Palace. This began a long line of French monarchs and Emperors commissioning Baccarat glassware. Other notable pieces include the ‘Jusivy’ table service, which was commissioned in 1855 for the Exposition Universelle in Paris; and the famous Harcourt wine glasses that were designed by Baccarat in 1841. These were prized for their prismatic lustre, which caused them to reflect a range of colors depending on the direction they were being held when viewed. Baccarat also produced a monumental 24-foot tall glass fountain for the 1867 Exposition Universelle in Paris and the furnishings for the Dolmbahce Palace, residence of the Ottoman Sultan in Istanbul. Its successes at these great fairs earned the company worldwide fame and acclaim. It would eventually become the world’s leading producer of fine lead crystal.