Start Playing Online Casino Baccarat Now – Here’s Your Ultimate Guide!

Baccarat is a game that’s relatively easy play and you certainly don’t need to be a secret agent to have any kind of success. And now there are plenty of online baccarat casinos to choose from, any one can play. James Bond fans will know that he was an avid player but there are also many real life fans. For those of you who’re new to the game you’ll be pleased to learn it’s not going to require hours of practice. Of course, a basic understanding is required and that’s what we’ll be able to help with. The game is played using 6 decks and there are two players, you and the banker. Each of you gets a hand dealt and in order to win you have to pick the hand with the highest total. This is a 9, and the lowest is a zero. You’ve the option to bet on yourself, the banker, a tie or a combination of all three. But before we get any deeper into the ins and outs of playing baccarat at an online casino, let’s start with a little bit of history. Because it’s always interesting to know where something comes from.

A history that’s filled with intrigue, gentleman killers and international spies

It’s not all that easy to put the history of baccarat into a nut shell. So we’ve decided not to even try because it’s actually rather interesting. And we think you’ll think so too. As with many things, the actual origin of the game is clouded in mystery. There are a number of views as to where it came from, with Ancient Rome and China being prime candidates. However, there’s kind of a general consensus that it’s in Italy where a precursor to the game was played, as early as the 13th and 14th centuries. It was a game involving the use of Tarot cards, and the guy credited with playing it is an Italian named Delix Falguiere. An ancient game called Macao is also often referred to as Italian Baccarat as it’s played to a score of nine. While the origin of the game is argued over there is no denying that France is responsible for the creation of the actual game. It was popular with the social elite right up until the time of Napoleon. And when casinos were made illegal in France it continued to be played openly throughout the rest of Western Europe. As far as the game in the UK goes, it was also enjoyed by the elite but suffered a setback in 1886 when it was declared illegal. This was because it was deemed a game of chance. Plucky British that they were back then, it didn’t stop them playing and many players claimed they weren’t playing for money. The first official record of baccarat in America is in a New York Times article printed in 1871. When the bright lights of Las Vegas first started shining there weren’t actually any baccarat games. Until 1958 that is when Chemin de Fer got its first table at the Sands. Then came the game Punto Banco, which became the favored game. The game struggled, even during the 1970s, when there were only 15 tables available to play at. By 2008, the number of tables had increased significantly and there were 24 versions of the game available.

James Bond has done a lot for the popularity of baccarat. It was first mentioned in the 1953 Bond novel, Casino Royale. The plot is based around a high stakes game of baccarat between 007 and a high-rolling arms dealer who needed to raise some cash. It’s not the only Bond novel in which the game has featured. Bond plays the game in Dr No, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Thunderball, GoldenEye and For Your Eyes Only. In more recent releases of this secret agent’s escapades the game of baccarat has been dropped in favor of Texas Hold’em. So that’s the connection with international spies covered. But gentleman murderers? Where does that link in with the game? The infamous Lord Lucan, otherwise known as Richard John Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan, enjoyed one of the more notable wins in 1960. He won the equivalent of more than $76,000 in a game that lasted two nights. As well as being well-known for racing power boats and being a professional gambler, his achieved significant notoriety for the alleged murder of his children’s nanny in 1974. He fled the scene in a blood-covered vehicle and hasn’t been seen since. This history lesson is brought right up to date with the creation of the internet. Now it’s possible for anyone, not just the rich and famous, to play at a casino baccarat online. It doesn’t matter about your social standing or whether you’ve got an intriguing occupation. Anyone can play baccarat at a casino online. Without having to leave the comfort of their own four walls it’s even possible to experience the atmosphere at a live baccarat online casino. So, there you have it. The history of baccarat in a rather large nutshell. Sorry it was so long, but we hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about the origins of the game. Now we can get down to the nitty gritty of actually playing it.

There are a few basic rules to learn even if you play at a live dealer baccarat online casino

The game is completely automated, unless of course you’re playing at a live baccarat online casino. But even then you need to understand the rules. Most online baccarat casinos have the same house rules, but there are some exceptions so it’s a good idea to check before you commit any cash. The game itself, is very similar looking to blackjack, but in baccarat there are no decisions to make except which hand to bet on. But before we look at the different bets you need to understand the value of the cards.

• Picture cards and tens are worth 0
• Aces are worth 1
• Cards from 2-9 are face value

Your score is the total of the cards in your hand and the best hand you can get is a nine. If the total of your hand is above 9 and therefore in double figures, only the right hand number counts. Imagine you have a 9 and a 7 in your hand. The total is 16 but only the 6 counts as your score. The goal when you play at a baccarat casino online is to get as close to 9 as possible. Only two hands are dealt, one to the player and one to the bank. Both hands are dealt face down. Players bet for the banker or themselves to get closest to nine, or for there to be a tie. The decision you have to make as a player, is how you want to bet and how much. 8 points (Le Petit) or 9 points (Le Grande), drawn in the first two dealt cards are winning hands. The hand stands and the round comes to an end. If there is a tie the game also comes to an end. Any other point total and the dealer can give you a third card depending on the total. Rules have to be followed when it comes to drawing a third card. The decision is not one to be made by either player or dealer. The decision is made automatically by the games software, according to the rules of the game.

There are only three bets to worry about when playing at a casino baccarat online

There’s nothing overly complicated about the betting when you play baccarat. Your three options are to bet on the player or the banker to win. Or for there to be a tie. The tie bet, however, offers very poor odds and is best avoided. Bets are placed in the appropriate betting box, before the cards are dealt. You make your decision of the bet you’re going to make before knowing what your cards are. There are no other options when it comes to placing your bets. So what about the odds?

• Player bets – 1:1
• Banker bets – also 1:1, but the house adds a 5% commission
• Ties – in most casinos the odds are 8:1, and very occasionally 9:1

In essence, the game of baccarat online isn’t all that complicated which may well be one of the reasons it’s become so popular. After all, it must be something more than simply emulating their favorite international spy. But this does has a flip side in that it could become rather boring. But not to worry because there are a number of different baccarat games you can play.

Online baccarat comes in a number of different guises but all have one constant

There are a handful of different baccarat games to choose from but all have the same aim. To get the highest possible hand, preferably a 9. The value of the cards is also the same incidentally. The five most common baccarat variants at an online casino are:

• Punto Banco (American) – This is the most common variant found in the US, Canada and Australia. The game follows the rules and format we’ve already covered and it’s the most popular game at a baccarat casino online.
• Chemin de Fer – This is the version of the game that is most often played in Europe. Which is why it’s often called European Baccarat. It differs from American baccarat is several ways. For a start, the players do all the dealing. The banker’s role rotates around the table. But the biggest difference is that the player has the option of standing or taking another card if their hand total is five.

• Baccarat en Banque – This is another European version of the game and is played with three decks of cards. The banker’s role goes to the player willing to take the biggest risk. Drawing rules vary but are very similar to Chemin de Fer. However, in this game, one Banker’s hand and two players hands are dealt.
• Super Pan 9 – This is a game you’re more likely to find in live baccarat casinos in America. It uses a limited deck of 36 cards, all of which are face cards and A,2,3,4,5 and 6. Three cards are dealt to the banker and player in the beginning and there is the option of drawing one more card to try and get as close to 9 as possible.
• Three Card Baccarat – This is a popular game in live casinos in Asia and Macau. Only one deck of cards is used and the rules are very different.
• Live dealer baccarat – This is a version of the game that has become very popular recently, as more and more people crave the atmosphere and banter of playing with real people rather than just a computer screen. There are more and more online casinos offering the live dealer option. One last version of the game worth mentioning is Mini Baccarat. It’s very similar to regular baccarat but smaller. The bets are smaller, the table is smaller and there’s only one dealer managing all the action.

Basically, that’s all you need to know to get started. As with many online casino games it’ll take a little bit of time to become completely au fait with how it all works. Which is why it’s a good idea to get in as much practice as possible before risking your own cash. Even when you think you know it all you’ll soon realise that playing casino games online is a never ending journey of discovery. There are always new casino games to play on the Internet, updated versions of the ones you already know, and new and exciting ways to play them. We’ll do all that we can to keep you up to date with all the latest news and innovations. And help you find the best online casino games to play.