Baccarat Basics

Usually, the game of Baccarat or Punto Banco is played in the separate area of the casino. The size of the table to play baccarat is just like the craps table with 3 dealers of the casino and 12 to 14 players.

Bets are of two type including banker’s bet or player's bet i.e. banco or panto, along with a Standoff used rarely. Players are allowed by some casinos to deal the cards in turn while in others, casino dealer is there to deal the cards. A virtual dealer is there in online Baccarat casinos to deal the cards.

All players, including the dealer is free to bet either on Punto or Banco, but dealer usually bets on Banco. The 'shoe' can be passed to the subsequent player, if a player does not opt to deal. Player possessing the shoe for a long time like the bank becomes the winner. If Punto becomes the winner, then the shoe is passed to the subsequent player.

Two hands are dealt in the game, and the players have to put the bet expecting a certain bet to be won, or they will get tie. This is just like bets placed on Red or Black roulette, and even money is the payoff i.e. 1:1, excluding standoff that pays 9-1 or 8-1. A win on banco costing a player a commission of 5% or the tax imposed by the casino – the inherent advantage is the only difference between Punto and Banco.

The reason behind imposing tax on Banco is that the tax has been established over the cards in 8-deck on average, more than 3 to 4 hands are won by the Banco in comparison with the Punto.

There consists at least 2 and highest 3 cards in every hand. Two facing down cards are put by the player at the time of dealing; insert it into the shoe, and given two other facing down cards to the player placing the largest bet.

Then cards are observed by the Punto player and then returned back to the dealing player. Then the cards of both the hands are turned over by the dealing player while the results along with the winner are announced by any of the casino dealer.

If any of the hand constitute a total of eight or nine (9 is the highest), then it is referred as a "natural" and there dealt no more cards. If no natural is there, then a card dealer might be instructed by the casino dealer for dealing a third card. There follows a precise set of rules is used by the casinos for making the decision regarding the dealing of third card.

The hand containing the highest counts wins after the completion of the dealing. Initially, the losing bets are collected by the casino dealers and then the winnings are paid to the winners. It is not the responsibility of the player actually dealing to distribute the payouts. He/she just plays like any other player plays against the casino.