Online baccarat is a chance game with easy rules and little skill that has enthralled players for decades. Baccarat gained popularity after being mentioned as James Bond’s preferred table game in Ian Flemming’s books, and it is now one of the most popular games at both traditional and online casinos.
A baccarat table typically has 14 seats, numbered one through 15, with seat number 13 being purposefully left off due to superstition. The name of this thrilling game, online baccarat, is said to have originated from the old Italian word “baccara,” which translates to “zero,” in reference to the zero card value that face cards and tens have in this game.
Baccarat is typically played with six or eight decks of cards. You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking to learn how to play baccarat online. Join us as we explore everything this game has to offer and decide if it’s the right game for you to play the next time you visit your preferred online Casino Philippines,. Let’s get started.
A Brief History of Baccarat
It’s not entirely clear where online baccarat came from, but some claim that the French invented it in the late 19th century. One well-known online baccarat variant is called Baccarat Chemin de Fer, which translates to “railway baccarat.” An even more straightforward variation of the game is known as Punto Banco, which is said to have originated in a casino in Havana, Cuba. The first mention of this was made in an 1847 book by Charles Van Tenac and is referred to as “Baccarat Banque” or “Baccarat à Deux Tableaux.” Regarding the name’s origins and meaning, there are also a number of different accounts.
According to the earlier section of this online baccarat guide, the most widely held theory is that the word derives from the Italian word “baccara,” but there is also no conclusive evidence for this. Given that the majority of references are to France, it’s possible that this is where the game actually started. According to game historian Thierry Depaulis, the name actually comes from a phrase used in the Provence region that means “go bankrupt”: fa bacarrat!
Online Baccarat Game Types
There are several baccarat variations you can play when playing the game online. We’ll be highlighting some of the most popular baccarat variations in today’s online guide, including:
- Punto Banco
- Baccarat banquet or Baccarat à deux tableaux
- Chemin de Fer
- Banco Punto
This is most likely one of the most played variations today, especially in Asian casinos where high rollers frequent. This online baccarat variation is essentially a game between the “player” and the “banker,” with the only decision the player has to make being which side they’d rather bet on and the outcome of the game being left to pure chance.
As mentioned earlier, a number of 52-card decks are combined in this case, and for the purposes of the game, each card rank is given a different numerical value, with tens and face cards worth zero points and number cards and aces worth the same number of points.
- Both the player and the banker are dealt two cards, and the dealer will announce the result. Both sides now have the option to either remain standing or ask for a third card if the final score is five points or less, depending on the score. The banker will imitate the player by standing whenever the player does, hitting with hands worth five or less and standing with hands worth six or more.
- Baccarat banquet or Baccarat à deux tableaux
According to our knowledge, this is the original variation of 19th-century baccarat, as it was mentioned in the earliest descriptions. In this instance, Chemin de Fer, which we’ll discuss in the section below in this online baccarat guide, and Baccarat Banque are both played with three decks of 52 cards each. But in this instance, the banker is free to keep playing while the player’s position is fixed.
As the name would imply, there are two sides to the table in this scenario, with players seated on the banker’s left and right sides, respectively. In this instance, the players on the right receive one hand, the players on the left receive another, and the banker who is seated in the middle receives a third. In this scenario, rather than playing against one another, both sides of the table will play the banker. - Chemin de Fer
The Chemin de Fer is a well-liked online baccarat variant that originally featured the dealer’s choice and required players to alternate playing as the banker. Contrary to the Punto Banco variant, neither the player nor the banker are always able to draw a third card in this variation, which was used in one of the first James Bond movies, Casino Royale. The primary distinction between this variation and Chemin de Fer is that Chemin de Fer typically calls for at least six players at the table, and the dealer is provided with a long wooden paddle that enables him or her to move the playing cards and casino chips to the opposite end of the table.
Once more, two hands are dealt—one to the player and the other to the banker—with the player to the dealer’s right having the option of being the first banker. Thereafter, this will rotate around the online baccarat table counterclockwise. - General Rules for Online Baccarat
The first thing you should remember when learning how to play baccarat is what we already mentioned: face cards and tens are worth zero points, while aces all the way through nine will retain their numerical value.
The dealer will deal two cards to the banker and two cards to the player at the start of each game round. The objective of the game is to place a wager on the hand with the closest total value to nine points.
The first number is eliminated whenever the card total is greater than this amount (for instance, 7 + 7 = 14), leaving you with a total hand value of 4 in this case. Before the cards are dealt, you must guess which hand will be closer to nine in value and place your wager on that hand. Before you sit down at the table, there are a few more online baccarat tips you should keep in mind. These consist of:
Whenever the banker or the player is dealt an eight or a nine, both hands will stand.
Whenever the player’s hand is equal to five points or less, s/he is able to stand or request a third card.
If the player chooses to stand, then the banker is required to hit on a total of five points or less.
As a general rule, banker and player hands pay 1:1, whereas if you choose to bet on the tie and win, then you can expect an 8:1 payout in return. There are also a number of online resources available to help you keep track of your gameplay.
- Essentials of Online Baccarat Strategy
We can help you hone your online baccarat strategy skills if you’re looking to do so. The first thing you should keep in mind is that since online baccarat is a game of chance, there aren’t many other ways you can improve your chances of winning besides the obvious ones, like avoiding the tie bet option, which statistically is the least likely type of result.
Most would advise betting on the banker at all times when learning how to play online baccarat because it presents a more lucrative betting option than betting on the player. Standard casino betting systems like the Martingale or the Fibonacci system do not always perform favorably and are not always advised when it comes to this type of game because the nature of online baccarat is completely random.
In essence:
It’s generally preferred to bet on the banker.
Never bet on a tie unless you’re feeling particularly lucky.
Look for games played with fewer decks.
Make sure you’ve completely understood the rules.
How to Play Live Dealer Baccarat
Since baccarat has been a popular game among crowds for many years, the development of live online baccarat felt like a logical progression with the rise of online casinos. If you’ve never experienced live online baccarat, it’s pretty much the closest thing to what it’s like to visit a real-world casino that you can do from the comfort of your home.
In this case, you can anticipate entering a number of virtual baccarat tables that are manned by actual dealers using actual decks of cards. You are able to take a virtual seat at the table and watch the action unfold in real time as it is being broadcast from a number of casino studios around the world thanks to the
most recent high definition streaming technology and numerous high-tech cameras.
As opposed to the digital version, real cards rather than virtual representations will always be shown to you when playing live online baccarat. Additionally, you can relax knowing that this type of game cannot be rigged because everything happens right in front of your eyes. Having said that, reputable casinos are always licensed and regulated, meaning that there are already third parties overseeing transparency and fairness in the games. However, if you’ve ever had any reservations about playing online baccarat, live online baccarat can dispel these notions.
If you’re tempted to learn how to play online baccarat at a real-world casino table, you’ll want to be prepared with the fundamentals. primarily because live casino games also feature a messaging feature that enables players to interact both with one another and the dealer directly. This online version of baccarat has an interface that is similar to that of the traditional casino game, allowing players to place bets and buy more chips. One of the most helpful live casino online baccarat tips is that some live casino tables allow players to watch the game rather than participate right away. By doing this, you’ll be able to get a better idea of what to anticipate before starting the game.
