Baccarat is that enigmatic card game that you see people playing in glamorous casinos and it’s a unique, exciting casino game that can be enjoyed online as well. Despite its mystique, it’s one of the easiest casino games to play and has a simple rules structure. With a bit of practice, you can learn the nuances of this game and enjoy it as much as high rollers in opulent rooms do.
In baccarat, players place wagers on whether the player or banker hand will win. The dealer deals two cards to each of the players’ and banker’s spaces and the winner is determined by which hand comes closest to 9 without going over. The total of the cards is counted by adding up the pips (the dots on the face of each card that represent clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades) and then subtracting 10 for scores over nine. Face cards and tens are worth zero, and aces are worth one point.
The Player and Banker hands are the only winning bets in baccarat, but you can also place a bet on a Tie bet, which pays out at odds of 8:1 or higher (depending on the casino and variant of baccarat). Winning Player and Banker wagers pay even money (1:1) – however, you must pay a 5% commission when you win a banker bet at DraftKings.
As with any casino game, you should only gamble with money you can afford to lose. Set a loss limit before you start and stick to it. If you’ve lost your limit, leave the table and try again another day. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of baccarat and it’s a game that can easily become addictive.
There are a number of interesting side bets on baccarat beyond the Player and Banker bets, though these vary by platform and establishment. One of the more common is the Match side bet, which wagers that the player and banker will receive identical cards on the deal. This is an exciting bet that can result in huge payouts.
Other side bets on baccarat include the Super Six and the Progressive bet. These are both risky and expensive, but offer a great way to spice up the game. Another popular side bet is the Lucky Number, which wagers that the dealer’s next hand will be a number other than seven or nine. You can find a variety of interesting side bets on baccarat at most online casinos, including the popular games offered by DraftKings. The site also offers specialty baccarat variants like Lunar New Year Baccarat that change the feel of the game to celebrate the new year.