SOS Casino - Baccarat Game Rules

The word Baccarat is derived from the Italian word baccara, meaning zero, and refers to the zero value given to all of the face cards and tens. In Europe, the elegant game of BACCARAT is one of the most popular casino games.

It has long held the attention of gamblers and an early version was played with cards from a Tarot deck back in the Middle Ages. Baccarat may have originated in Italy around 1490, but by the early1950's it had become the game of choice for the French nobility. Eventually Baccarat evolved into European Baccarat and the French game Chemin de Fer. The game known as American Baccarat actually originated in England and spread to South America. The version of the game that is played today came from the Capri Casino in Havana, Cuba.

When Baccarat was introduced to Nevada in the late 1950's, casinos tried to instill the glamorous aura associated with the European game. In most casinos, Baccarat is played in a roped-off area, is closely monitored and sometimes even guarded.

GAME PLAY
Baccarat, at SOS Casino, is played with six complete decks of cards. All cards, ace through nine, are valued according to their count. Tens and face cards count as zero. When any two cards total over a 10 count, 10 must be subtracted and the remaining total is the card count. The cards are shuffled each hand and placed in a covered box called the shoe.

The highest total any baccarat hand can have is nine. A two-card total of nine is called a natural and cannot lose. An eight is the second best hand and is also called a natural. If both player and banker are dealt identical hands, it is a tie and neither the banker nor player wins. If neither hand has a natural, the player's hand is always the first to be played, followed by the banker. If the first two cards total five or less, another card is drawn. If they total six or seven, no further cards can be drawn.

No more than a total of three cards can be drawn for either hand, when both hands have been played out, the hand closest to nine wins.

Players bet by placing their chips in EITHER the player, banker, or tie spot. Winning bets made on the player or banker are paid at even money (the player receives his bet plus the same amount again). The only other bet that can be made is a tie bet, which is paid at 8:1. The type of wager and the amount are the only decisions a player must make, after which point the dealer's actions take over. If the player wagers on the banker winning and he is correct then the bank pays the winnings LESS a 5% commission.

The house edge in baccarat is the lowest of any casino game. With only a 5% commission on winning bank bets and nothing taken from winning player bets, the player's disadvantage is only 1.37%. The payoff for ties is 8:1, but it is a bad bet as the house edge is increased to 14.1%.