Baccarat is a staple offering in casinos around the world, both bricks and mortar and online. It can be played with standardized rules, but there are also variations that have developed over time.
The game’s origins are unclear, but it may have been derived from the ancient Chinese game of Macao or the French card game chemin de fer.
Punto Banco
In the case of baccarat, punto banco is the most commonly played version around the world. If you’re playing a live casino game advertised as being baccarat in the USA, UK or Australia and other nations of the world then it will most likely be this form of the game.
The game process is very simple and the outcome of a hand depends on chance alone. Players make their bets by deciding whether they think the player or banker will win. Once the bets are placed the dealer will deal the cards and the result is dependent on the hand’s value which should be close to nine.
The game is played on a large table with seats for up to 14 players and two dealers. The table has designated spaces for bets on the Player and Banco as well as a third box for Egalite bets. A sshuffled deck of cards is dealt to the player and banker and the winner is the hand that has a total closest to nine.
Chemin de Fer
Chemin de Fer, meaning railroad, is an original Baccarat variation that allows players to make decisions in the game. Unlike the other two major baccarat variants – baccarat banque and punto banco – in which players bet against the banker, Chemin de Fer requires a player to take on the role of the “bank” by setting aside a wager that covers the bets made by his/her opponents.
In this way, each player becomes a banker on the table, taking turns to deal and passing on the banker role when he/she loses. This adds an element of strategy to the game and explains why it is more popular than other baccarat variants.
It is also one of the few baccarat variations featured in some of the early James Bond movies, including Casino Royal and Thunderball. Players can try out this version at online casinos and brick-and-mortar establishments around the world. Despite its differences from other baccarat variants, it follows the same rules as conventional baccarat and has an expected value of -0.012351 after the commission on winnings.
Mini-Baccarat
Baccarat has become a global phenomenon and as such many different variations have emerged. Although they haven’t all been successful in retaining gamblers’ interest, there are some which have managed to stand the test of time. One of the most popular versions is the French game, Chemin de Fer, which differs from classic baccarat in that players bet against each other rather than against the house. The game is played on a large kidney-shaped table and uses six decks of cards. The banker can choose to accept or refuse a third card depending on the value of his / her initial hand.
There are also a number of smaller variants of the game such as mini baccarat and baccarat banque, which work in the same way as no commission baccarat regarding payouts but use fewer decks and lower betting limits. Speed baccarat is another variation which uses reduced betting times to make the game faster and more exciting for players.
Banque
Baccarat is a popular casino game that can be found in bricks and mortar casinos all over the world as well as at online sites. The game’s popularity has led to the creation of multiple variants of the game that differ from one another in small yet significant ways. These variants include mini baccarat and chemin de fer (which is also known in America as chemmy or shimmy).
The Chemin de Fer variation of the game, sometimes called a deux tableaux, has players bidding for the role of banker before each round begins. The earliest player to bid for the banker position has priority. If a player wins a hand they may choose to call ’banco suivi’ and return to play for the bank in the next coup.
Other variations of the game include speed baccarat, which works in a similar way to no commission baccarat with regard to payouts. The game is played on a smaller table and is more suitable for casual players.