Baccarat

Baccarat is a favorite in Macau. It also draws heavy action on the Las Vegas Strip.

Baccarat is one of the few games that do not require a wager to be placed. A player that is not feeling lucky can pass on the hand, even if he is the only one at the table. The cards will be dealt out regardless of whether there is action or not. Players are also allowed to count cards and results at the table, an unusual feature for casino games dealt with cards.

Players that wish to place a wager have three options. Below is a list of those bets and the payouts:

• Player: Even money
• Banker: Even money, less 5% commission
• Ties: 8-1

The player and banker bets push on a tie. Some houses only pay 7-1 on a tie. Our game pays the favorable 8-1 odds.

Once the bets are established, the player and banker will each be dealt two cards. All cards are exposed.

All number cards are worth face value. An ace counts as one. Face cards have a zero value.

If the player or dealer is dealt a total point value of 8 or 9, the hand immediately ends. A player total of 5 or less requires a draw. Only one card is drawn. The maximum number of cards in a baccarat hand is three. The player hand will always stand on 6 or 7. If the player stands, the banker also stays on a 6 or 7.

If the player draws, the banker's action depends on the card drawn by the player, not the actual total count. The banker will always stay on a 7, regardless of what card the player draws. The banker always hits a 0, 1, or 2. These are the other scenarios where the banker hand draws a card:

• Dealer 3: Always hit, unless player draws an 8
• Dealer 4: Always hit, unless player draws a 0, 1, 8, or 9
• Dealer 5: Always stand, unless the player draws a 4, 5, 6, or 7
• Dealer 6: Always stand, unless the player draws a 6 or 7

The highest point value wins. Totals cannot be over 9. If the combination of cards is higher than 9, the first number is dropped, regardless of whether a hand has two or three cards. For example, a hand with three sevens in it has a total of 1, not 21.