How To Play Online Baccarat
A firm favorite among royalty and high rollers, the classic card game Baccarat has come a long way since its development in 19th century France. In addition to being offered in brick-and-mortar casinos around the world, the game is available in RNG and live dealer versions at the best online casinos.
The game might look complicated at first glance, but it’s one of the easiest casino offerings you can play on the worldwide web. Here, we unpack online Baccarat and how to play it.
Online Baccarat Basics
As with many other casino games, online Baccarat is available in a range of variations. Most of the versions are based on the popular variation known as Punto Banco.
The game sees two hands, known as the Player and the Banker, compete to get the score closest to 9. In games such as Blackjack, the player decides what moves to make, but that’s not the case in Baccarat.
In this game, moves such as hitting (taking another card) are determined by the rules. The scoring is also different, as only single digits and the second digit in numbers higher than nine are counted. For example, if the Player was delt a 2 and a 3, the score is 5. If the Player was delt a 9 and a 3 for a total of 12, the hand would be scored as 2. All 10s and face cards count as 0.
Another important point to remember is that, in online Baccarat, you can choose which hand to bet on to win. You aren’t limited to betting on the Player. Instead, you can bet on the Banker, or you can bet that the hands will tie.
Online Baccarat Bets Explained
Let’s take a closer look at the different bets you can place when playing Baccarat at Lucky Creek online casino. The standard bets include:
Player Bet: The Player bet is a bet that the Player hand will win. If this bet wins, it pays out 1:1. While this bet has slightly lower odds than the Banker bet, it does offer slightly bigger payouts.
Banker Bet: The Banker bet is a bet that the Banker hand will win. This bet has slightly better odds than the Player bet. If your Banker bet wins, it pays out 0.95:1, due to a 5% commission that the house takes from the payout.
Tie/Draw Bet: The Tie bet is a bet that both hands will end with the same score. While this bet has lower chances of winning than the Player and Banker bets, it pays out 8:1 if the game ends in a draw.
The additional bets or side bets you can place in some variations of online and live dealer Baccarat include:
Pair Bets: In some online Baccarat games, you can place a Player or Banker Pair bet. When you place this bet, you are betting that the relevant hand will be delt a pair (two cards of the same rank, such as a 5 of spades and a 5 of hearts) during the game. A winning Pair bet pays out 11:1. There is no commission for winning Banker Pair bets.
Perfect Pair Bet: When you place a Perfect Pair bet, you’re betting that the relevant hand will be delt a perfect pair (two cards of the same suit and rank, such as two 9s of clubs). This bet also pays out 11:1.
How to Play Online Baccarat
Now that you’re more familiar with the different types of bets you can place, let’s find out how to play Baccarat online, step by step.
First, sign into your favorite online casino and launch the online Baccarat game you want to play. Second, select a chip value on the game interface. Third, choose the main bet you want to place, which can be the Player, the Banker, or a Tie bet.
Fourth, the dealer or online Baccarat RNG software will deal two cards to the Player and two to the Banker. The cards will be turned face up after they’ve been delt. Fifth, the dealer or game software will calculate the scores. If either hand has a score of 8 or 9, the winner will be announced. A score of 8 or 9 from the first two cards is known as a ‘natural.’
If neither hand wins, a third card will be delt according to the rules, which determine whether one or both hands get a third card. This usually depends on the score of one or both hands. The game software or dealer will calculate the new scores after dealing the third cards, the winner will be announced, and winning bets will be paid out.
Online Baccarat Tips and Strategies
Here are some of the best tips, tricks, and strategies you can use to make the most of your online Baccarat gaming sessions:
Bet on the Banker: Consider betting on the Banker rather than the Player. Even though there’s a 5% commission charged for winning Banker bets, the Banker generally wins 0.20 times more than the Player. While this doesn’t sound significant, it can make a big difference over time.
Avoid Tie Bets and Side Bets: Avoid placing Tie and side bets if you’re playing on a budget or you’re still familiarizing yourself with the game. While the Player and Banker bets each have an almost 50/50 chance of winning, this isn’t the case with Tie or Side bets, which have a much higher house edge.
Play at a Reputable Online Casino: Whether you want to play Baccarat, Blackjack, Roulette, or the crash games offers, it’s vital that you choose a reputable site. Check for valid licensing, trustworthy game providers, strong encryption technology, reliable banking options, approval by eCOGRA, readily available customer support, and whether the site accepts players and currency from your country.
Experience the Excitement of Online Baccarat
For many players, the real excitement of playing Baccarat online lies in the fact that they have no say in how the game plays out. Now that you know how to play this popular card game, you can experience the excitement for yourself on a computer or your mobile device.
Lexy Summer is a talented writer with a deep passion for the art of language and storytelling. With a background in editing and content creation, Lexy has honed her skills in crafting clear, engaging, and grammatically flawless writing.
