Finding The Best Baccarat Casinos
As is the case with all casino games, where you choose to play them can help or hinder the playing experience you have. This is why you should hunt out the best baccarat online casinos on the market. These will offer a wide selection of baccarat games, both virtual and live, but may also provide special baccarat casino promotions that will benefit you also. We have compiled a list of the ones below so make sure you check them out for a guaranteed good time playing online baccarat.
How to Play Baccarat
If you want to learn how to play Baccarat, you just need to follow these steps:
1. Bet
Choose your bet and place your chips down on the option you think will win between Player, Banker, and Tie.
2. Deal
After you place your bet and hit deal, the dealer will then deal two cards each to you and the Banker, all four of which will be face up.
3. Draw
A third card may be drawn based on specific criteria. For example, if the player’s hand is between zero and five. Whether the Banker draws a third card or not will depend on the player’s hand, which is why they have a slight advantage in the odds.
4. Result
The winner is determined by the highest value hand. In baccarat, the maximum value a hand can be is nine, with any hands with two digits equaling the sum of the two digits. So a hand with a value of eleven would be worth two.
Baccarat Rules
The Baccarat card game is relatively simple to play, and you’ll find the rules in the game information. Here’s a quick rundown of the Baccarat rules:
- In Baccarat gambling, there are three betting options, the Player (You), the Banker (the dealer), and the tie.
- At the beginning of the game, you’ll be able to bet on whether you think your hand or the dealer’s hand will have a total closer to nine. You can also bet on the tie, where each hand is equal.
- The dealer will deal two cards to the player and two cards to the banker. All cards are dealt face up.
- When a hand total is in double digits, the two digits are added together. For example, a hand total of seventeen would actually be eight.
- A third card may be automatically dealt to either the bank or the player, depending on certain criteria.
Baccarat Odds
In a Baccarat game, you have three betting options. These are the player, the bank, and the tie.
- If you bet on the player, you’re betting that your own hand will be closest to a value of nine. This has a 44.6% chance of winning, and you’ll double your stake if your bet is successful.
What to Look for in Baccarat Casinos
If you’re looking for a good online casino to play Baccarat, you need to focus on a few key points:
Safety and Security
All good online casinos should be safe, which is why our reviews always check the license and reputation of a site.
Game Selection
Check that the site has the kind of games you like to play and how many variations of Baccarat are available.
Bonuses
To have the most fun playing Baccarat online, you should check that the site you use has a bonus available.
Baccarat Table
When you play a Baccarat casino game at a land-based casino, there are up to fourteen spaces around the table, with numbers one to fifteen (the number thirteen is excluded. When playing online, there’s a single space for you that contains three main sections. Each section of the Baccarat table signifies a bet, so there’s the Player, Tie, and Banker. These sections are where you place your chips in order to place your bet on which you think will win. Some versions of Baccarat will include additional sections for side bets such as Banker Pair or Player Pair.
- If you bet on the banker, you’re betting that the dealer will have a hand closest to a value of nine. This has a 45.8% chance of winning, and you’ll double your stake but pay a 5% commission if you win.
- For a tie, you’re betting that the two hands are equal in value at the end of play. This has a 9.6% chance of winning and pays out at eight to one.
Baccarat Gameplay
Baccarat games have three possible outcomes; the player can win, the banker can win, or there can be a tie between both. As such, when you are devising your strategy, players can bet on any of these three outcomes – including the one where you lose and the banker wins. As with most online casino games, baccarat is a game that relies heavily on chance, but having a strategy does help.
The game generally starts with the dealer giving out a pair of face-up cards for each player and for the banker himself. The values on the cards are tallied, with numbered cards costing their values and 10s and face cards costing zero points. The Ace is the lowest scoring card at a single point and the maximum is 9 points, so any total value above that needs to be subtracted by 10. Taking an example which you can easily notice when you practice this game if your cards are 5 and 7, which have a sum of 12, this needs to be subtracted by 10 and this gives a final outcome of 2.
This is the point where your baccarat strategy comes into play, as you would need to decide your next step. As per the above example, players that have an outcome that is less than 5 should generally keep on drawing cards until they get a number that is closer to 9. Players that end up with a 6 or 7 will have to stand, leaving the side with the highest number as the winner. You can also be lucky when you play online baccarat and have an initial hand that adds up to 8 or 9, as these are considered to be natural wins which lead to a straight-up win.
Baccarat Card Values
The cards are worth their face value except for aces, which are worth one, and picture cards, which are worth zero. When you count the value of the cards you have been given, only single digits are possible; after nine comes zero, one, two, etc. In other words, if a player has two and is dealt a 9, his total would be one. If he had six and was dealt an 8, the total would be 4. The easiest way to look at it is that you simply remove the tens place from any two-digit number, so 18=8, 17=7, etc. If you are confused just remember the following:
- Aces will always count as 1.
- Numerical cards 2-9 will always equal their face value.
- Suits (hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades) are irrelevant when counting card values.
- All face cards (queen, king, joker) and tens count as 0.
How to Win With Baccarat Strategy
If the player is dealt an 8 or a 9, he has a natural and wins automatically unless the dealer also has an 8 or 9. If he has any other point total, the dealer may or may not give him a third card depending on the total. There are particular rules for the player and dealer to draw the third card. A player will receive a third card if the total of the 2 first cards is less than or equal to five. This is not the player’s decision, it is determined automatically according to the rules of the game. Similarly, the banker’s decision to draw himself a third card is pre-determined by a set of rules, which are outlined in detail on the baccarat strategy page. Whoever has the higher point total wins the hand. To increase your success when playing the Baccarat game, follow these strategies:
Ignore The Tie Bet And Side Bets
The tie bet is tempting as it has a payout of eight to one or nine to one in some cases. However, the chance of a tie occurring is low, only around 9% probability, and as a result, the house edge is very high. This means you should generally avoid it if you want to win consistently. Likewise, with the side bets, these can be payouts of eleven to one, but the house edge is very high as the probability is so low.
The Banker Is The Best Option
Based on baccarat odds, the higher probability of the Banker compared to the player bet makes it the best option, even if you have to pay a 5% commission. The house edge for this bet works out at 1.04%, while the player bet has a house edge of 1.24%.
Manage Your Stake
If you want to be successful, managing your stake is an important Baccarat strategy to use. Always set units that are a percentage of your total bankroll and manage how much you’re betting each time.
Baccarat Betting
Online baccarat is a game where bettors have the option of betting on the player or the banker to win. Bettors can also bet that the player and banker will tie, but this bet offers very poor odds and should be avoided. You place your bets in the relevant betting box on the table before the croupier deals the cards to the players, so you need to make a decision before actually knowing your cards. All in all there are only three bets to make in the game, with no option of adding more bets.
The payouts for these three bets are as follows:
- Player bets are paid 1-1.
- Banker bets are paid 1-1, but with a 5% commission to the house.
- Ties are paid at 8-1 in most casinos, sometimes (but rarely) 9-1.
Baccarat Online Betting Strategies
Using the proper Baccarat strategy is a good way to enjoy this game to the fullest. Knowing what the odds are, what the house edge is on various bets, in addition to knowing various insider tips can help you play the game in order to maximise your final winnings. You can make your betting decisions easier by using the baccarat card counting method or the detailed betting systems.
Online Baccarat Money Management Tips
Learn how best to minimize losses and finish the game with more money in your pocket than you started with. There are also different gambling betting strategies which can be applied to Baccarat, depending on how you prefer to play. Betting strategies are a useful way to manage how you place your bets, but read up on each one first to find out which betting strategy suits your needs and playing style best.
Keep Your Bankroll Separate
You first and foremost need to keep your baccarat bankroll separate from the money you need to spend on survival basics such as rent, food, water, electricity, clothes, etc. Set aside some money every month which you dedicate solely to playing.
Paroli Betting System
Paroli is a progressive betting system in which you double your ante when you win a bet, and when you lose a bet you return to your initial bet amount and start again.
1-3-2-6 Betting System for Baccarat
This strategy works by betting one unit on your first hand, 3 units on your second hand, then 2 units on the third hand, and 6 units on your fourth hand. The purpose of this strategy is to gain money from shorter winning streaks instead of running after losses.
Baccarat History
The game of Baccarat is one of the oldest casino games still played today. It is an elegant game believed to have been introduced in France as early as the late 15th century. The original game was called Chemin de Fer, and it was a popular game amongst the French nobility due to the very high cost of printing the cards in the very early days of the printing press. It popularized in the 1900s when, during the reign of King Louis Phillip, playing card games for money was made illegal in 1837, shifting the game underground. This move combined with the increase of printing possibilities spread the game throughout all social classes. Despite this fact, Baccarat has been able to retain its aura of royalty to this day. The game was then taken to the Americas through European immigration, and another variation developed called Punto Banco, famous in the casinos in Mar Del Plata in Argentina which can also still be played today in many casinos. From here, it was taken to the casinos of Las Vegas in the 1950s where it was introduced alongside the more popular games of online blackjack and Craps and became a casino game staple.
Finally, in the 1980s, casinos introduced mini-baccarat. The creation of mini-baccarat was designed to make the game more accessible to the masses. Regular baccarat pits usually have much higher limits than most other casino table games. These roped off areas are typically reserved for high-roller types. If you try to enter a high-stakes baccarat pit in a tank-top and flip-flops, you’ll likely be asked to leave and come back dressed in more appropriate attire. This is not the case in mini-baccarat. Today, online casinos have made baccarat even more accessible, and players can play this game online at leading casinos. Furthermore, online baccarat games are becoming even more accessible by the use of HTML5 software that allows players to play no download games from any desktop or mobile device.
Play Mobile Baccarat
When you play Baccarat online, you have a choice of playing on your PC or at a mobile casino via smartphones and tablets. Almost everyone has a smartphone these days, and it’s an excellent way to enjoy your favorite games on the go. Most online casinos are now optimized for mobile play, allowing you to sign in and play Baccarat while on the go. This includes live Baccarat games, provided you have a stable internet connection. Some casinos also offer apps, which you can download to play Baccarat on your iOS or Android device wherever you go.
Baccarat Variations
- Mini – Mini baccarat is played in the same way as regular baccarat, only at a smaller table and with smaller stakes. The low-stakes option makes this a popular choice and means that most casinos offer a mini Baccarat table.
- Lightning – Lightning Baccarat is a live casino game offered by Evolution Gaming as part of their Lightning series. This features Lightning cards that can show up randomly during the game and provide win multipliers between 2x and 8x. In addition, multipliers can stack up to a huge 512x!
- Speed – Speed Baccarat is another live Baccarat game provided by Evolution Gaming. A typical Baccarat game round lasts forty-eight seconds, but Live Speed Baccarat speeds things up considerably. Each game round is completed in a suspense-filled twenty-seven seconds, with results time kept to a minimum.
- Squeeze – Baccarat Squeeze and Baccarat Control Squeeze are a new way to play this classic game. The rules are the same, but the way the cards are dealt differs from the regular version of Baccarat. In Live Baccarat Squeeze, the dealer deals the cards face down rather than face up. The dealer will quickly show cards for the hand with the lowest total wager and squeeze cards dealt to the hand with the highest total stake.
- Punto Banco – Punto Banco is the simplified version of Baccarat that’s played at most online and land-based casinos. Although The game is called Baccarat, most games are actually Punto Banco as they use the simplified rules. In regular baccarat, players take turns taking on the role of the Banker. Generally, there are no side bets or other rules in Punto Banco, but some variations do exist.
Free Baccarat
Players that want to try out a free online version of baccarat have three different variants of the game to choose from. These include the North American or Punto Banco version, the Chemmy or baccarat Chemin de Fer variant, and finally the a deux tableaux or baccarat banque version. The great news is that you can now test any of these free baccarat game online versions from any HTML5 enabled platform and from any device! Keep on reading below to find out how and where you can now play baccarat for free online.
About CasinoTop10’s Free Baccarat Game
- Advanced HTML5 software makes this free baccarat game accessible from any device or desktop;
- Free virtual bankroll that allows you to play for a long time;
- Test your online free baccarat skills and strategies to prepare for the real money version.
Practice by Playing Free Baccarat Online
Online Baccarat is truly great fun to play at casinos on the net. If you’ve never played the online casino game before and would like to give it a try without spending money, have a go at it for free by clicking the ‘Play Now’ Button displayed above.
Why Play Free Baccarat
You can play online Baccarat free, and it’s a great way to learn the rules and try out new versions of the game without risking your own money. You can also try different strategies to see how each hand plays out and eventually find your own playing preferred style. After playing a little while for free, you’ll come out as a stronger baccarat player and you’ll be able to reduce the game’s house edge.
Pros and Cons of Free Baccarat
Pros
- Learn the game without risking losing money.
- Enjoy new variations of Baccarat.
- Have fun for free.
Cons
- You won’t be able to win real money.
Summary
Baccarat is one of the world’s most popular casino games, enjoyed by the likes of James Bond as well as gamblers all over the world. It’s been played for hundreds of years and is available today at any good online casino. You can enjoy Baccarat with live dealers and even play on your mobile, and there are lots of different versions to try out. Pick a top-rated Baccarat casino online and sign up today to start playing!
Online Baccarat FAQs
How do you play baccarat?
Baccarat is a simple game to play. Firstly, you need to place your bets on one of the three outcomes. These are the banker, player or tie. In baccarat, the card values are tallied and the maximum is9 points. Our video above can guide you on how to play baccarat.
Where can I play free online baccarat?
Right here! At the top of this page you can play our exclusive free online baccarat game. This is excellent for beginners to practice. If you wish you play different variants, the best baccarat casinos offer a free demo version of the game before you decide to play for real money.
What baccarat variations are available?
There are many baccarat variations from different software providers. Some popular ones include Mini Baccarat, Punto Banco and Chemin de Fer. If you prefer live dealer games, you can find plenty of exciting live baccarat games too.
What are the odds in baccarat?
Since there are 3 outcomes in baccarat the odds can vary. There is a 45% chance of the player’s hand to win and there is a 46% chance for the player’s hand to lose. There is a very small chance that the hand will tie and it is at about 9.5%. Meanwhile, the banker’s odds are at 51%.
Is there any strategy to baccarat?
Baccarat is mostly a game of chance. However, you can still use one of the betting systems to increase your odds of winning your bet. The general rule is to mostly bet on the banker, bet occasionally on the player and never bet on a tie. Despite the attractive payout, the tie bet is hardly ever profitable.
What is the best bet in baccarat?
The best bet in baccarat is the banker bet. By making this bet, you have the highest odds of winning the hand. Additionally, the banker bet has the lowest house edge.
