Baccarat is one of the easiest of the casino card games to play.
These are the standard rules, though there are variations on this format that we will explain further down the page:
- In most cases Baccarat is played with SIX or EIGHT decks of 52 cards;
- There are two hands dealt – one to the dealer, one to the banker;
- Each hand consists of two cards, face up;
- Only the rightmost digit counts in double digit hands;
- The winning hand is the one that is closest in total to 9;
- Bets are placed on the winner being the Player or the Dealer, OR a tie as the outcome;
- A winning hand pays 1:1;
- A tie normally pays 8:1 or 9:1;
- Banker payouts have a 5% commission
It’s as simple as that!
There are variations on this classic format and they are as follows:
CHEMIN DE FER
This is a French version Baccarat, also known as ‘railroad’ or ‘the railway’ as the table resembles a railway.
When you are playing Chermin de Fer, six decks of cards are used, and 8 to 12 players are required. One is chosen in turn to be the Banker. As the Banker, a player sets the bet level and its up to the others around the table to meet that bet level.
Once bets are made, two cards are dealt face to each of the Banker and the player who made the highest bet. If either checks their cards and finds they have an 8 0r 9, they call it and the round is finished with the greater value hand winning. If neither has 8 or 9 then more cards are drawn.
PUNTO
This is very similar to Chemin de Fer. However, in Punto, the Banker role is taken by the house. The house edge here is just 1.06% and there are seperate rules on what to do if a hand has a total of 5, 6, or 7. Punto is the most popular form of Baccarat in Canada.
BANQUE
This is another variation of the game is the ‘Banque’ way to play. This is different from Chemin as the Banker role is just a figurehead position, as the casino will always remain in control of the bank. After the cards have been dealt, you place a bet on Player or Banker hands at designated boxes on the table.
As well as different table setups and small changes to the rules, different casino operators may also offers variations in gameplay and betting limits. This means you might want to take some time to get used to the different set-ups offered at each casino before choosing your favourite to play at.
LIVE BACCARAT
In Canada, Baccarat is one of the most popular games available in the live format. Live Baccarat is played in the traditional style rather than Chemin de Fer. Variations like Speed Baccarat and Lightning Baccarat with added multipliers are also found in the live areas of any casino featuring Evolution Gaming software. You can find out more on our Live Casinos page.