Feature: Discover the Allure of Baccarat

Baccarat is a highly appealing game in the sense that there is no skill or strategy or involved. Players can relax and while their time away enjoying a therapeutic session of cards. In Southeast Asia, many Chinese residents travel to the special administrative region of Macau to play baccarat in a bustling social environment. Looking at the online word of casinos, players can now experience baccarat with live dealers hosting games.

Playing Strategy

But before the focus shifts to playing baccarat online, first it’s important to consider the basic rules and playing strategy. One of the most popular forms of the game is punto banco, which is widely played in Eastern and Western casinos alike. The translation roughly equates to player-banker (punto banco).

In this version, a shoe is made up of four, six, or eight decks of cards. Aces are played low, serving to lead off the scoring from one to ten. The value of numbered cards is reflected by the value displayed on them, so the ten of diamonds would be worth a score of ten.

The purpose of baccarat is to be dealt two cards and to obtain a score that is closest to eight or nine as possible. Should the player and dealer not have eight or nine then both take a third card in an attempt to conclude the hand.

To calculate the value of a hand, the cards are added together. However, there is a curious wrinkle in that only the right hand number counts. For example, 10 + 9 = 19. Only the nine counts, and this hand is known as a natural nine. In another example, 6 + 8 = 14. That’s a score of four because the left hand number is not counted.

Baccarat is not a casino game that is strategy-intensive, and that’s why it is so enjoyable. Nevertheless, there are three basic strategic decisions dictated by the score of a hand:

0-5 – Draw another card

6-7 – Stand on two cards and wait for the dealer

8-9 – A natural eight or nine are the best hands

Three-Card Baccarat

Played with a single deck of 52 cards, all participants receive three cards facing upwards. The three cards are added together in the same way as punto banco, with only the right hand digit counting. However, the best hands in the game are not natural eights or nines. Players with three face cards will reign supreme. Additionally, a tied hand will result in the player with the most face cards winning.

Where to Play

The following casinos are three popular destinations for experiencing the core versions of baccarat, including live, mobile, and standard. 

Euro Grand Casino provides players access to a live baccarat experience powered by renowned Playtech software and hosted by glamorous dealers. Sit back in relaxed surroundings and enjoy the immersive graphics at bet365 Casino. Access a standard version of baccarat that will be free of competing players. For mobile players, All Slots Casino offers a mobile casino version of the game. Take the game with you on Android, Apple, BlackBerry, and various other devices when you play Atlantic City Blackjack Gold, the Microgaming version of the game.