Baccarat Mastery: Learn to Play in Minutes
Baccarat is a traditional card game played at casinos that is quite simple to understand and easy to pick up for new players. While the game may initially give a sense of complexity, baccarat is one of the simplest table games to learn and there is no doubt why many people enjoy baccarat too much in online casinos.
This guide will provide readers with the necessary knowledge on not only how to play the game but also how to play with confidence at Gcash Philippines Online Casino. Instructions on how to play baccarat and tips from seasoned players are included to make sure readers will become pros at baccarat in no time.
The Main Objective of the Game
The main goal of Baccarat is to correctly guess which hand, the Player or the Banker, will receive the total closest to nine after the cards are dealt. Card values will be discussed below. There are established rules regarding when the hand will draw a third card, but other than that, the player makes no decisions. After all cards are dealt, the hand closest to nine wins.
Card Values and Examples
Again, the value of your cards determines how close you will be to winning your hand and reaching your goal of 9. Here is the value of each card:
- Numbers 2 through 9 represent their face value. For example, a 3 will give you 3 points, and a 7 will give you 7.
- 10s, face cards, and kings are all worth 0. Although this might be disappointing to you, these fancy cards truly do not matter in this game.
- The Baccarat ace is only worth 1 point, which is not the 1-11 conversion according to alternatives like Blackjack.
While this may not be too helpful for you when playing at the Philippines online casino GCash sites, you should also know that you only need to focus on the rightmost digit of your total in Baccarat. So if you have a 7 and an 8, then you should have a total of 15 points. However, this equates to only 5 points in Baccarat because 5 is the rightmost digit of this final total. This keeps the action fast-moving and requires your focus on playing as close to 9 as possible.
How to Play Baccarat: Gameplay
Baccarat is a simple game that is easy to learn. The layout of the Baccarat table reflects this simplicity. There are designated places to bet on the Player’s hand, the Banker’s hand, and the Tie. Some tables also offer Player pair or Banker pair side bets.
Usually, before each hand, the player makes a bet. The bet can be for the Player’s hand, the Banker’s hand, or a tie. After betting is done, the dealer deals two cards to both the Player and the Banker’s hands.
The value of each hand is calculated by adding the two card values together, but only the one digit is taken into account; a hand with a 7 and an 8 would be worth 5.
If either the Player or Banker’s hand starts with a total of 8 or 9 (called a natural win), the hand is over and bets are settled accordingly. Otherwise, the game is further continued according to the specific rules between the Player and the Banker to decide who will be handed the third card. The hand closest to 9 at the end wins. If both hands have the same total value, then the result is a tie.
Hand Rules
Baccarat is known as tricky for beginners, specifically hand totals. So, if your first two cards comprise a certain value, you will either receive another card (hit) or stop playing (stand). Neither of the choices will depend on you, as they are characterized by the rules of the game.
The player always acts first. If the total of the two cards adds up to 6 or 7, you must stand. If it is 8 or 9, it is an automatic winning hand; no cards would be drawn. In any of these scenarios (6, 7, 8, or 9), the dealer then plays their hand. The dealer follows similar rules, standing on a hand value of 7, 8, or 9.
Third Card Rules
The decision to draw a third card depends on the first two cards that have been dealt in each hand, both for the player and the banker.
- Player: In all cases, the player will draw a third card if the total value of their first two cards is 0 to 5. However, if the total is 6 or 7, then the player will ‘ stand pat’, that is, not draw another card.
- Banker: For the banker, the decision is more complex, as the decision to draw will depend on both the banker’s hand and the player’s hand. In general, if the banker has a low total in the two cards in his hand, then he ought to draw a third card. However, there are several specific exceptions to this, depending on what the player’s third card is.
Play Baccarat Like a Pro at GCash Casino Philippines
With all that new knowledge under your belt, it’s time to make your way to some of the best online casino Philippines GCash sites offering real money games of Baccarat. So, good luck out there, and not just with Baccarat, but with the rest of the fascinating range at your fingertips.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many cards are dealt in Baccarat?
Two cards are dealt for both the Player and Banker’s hand at the beginning of each round. Players are holding no cards, they are simply betting on the outcome.
What are the hand values in Baccarat?
Face cards and Tens are 0. Aces are 1, and the other cards (2–9) are worth their face value. A hand whose total value is 10 or above will have the first digit dropped, e.g., a hand with 8 and 7 would be worth 5.
What are the payouts for each bet in Baccarat?
The main bets are on the Player or Banker hand winning. Winning bets of this type pay even money, except for Banker wins with a total of 6, which typically pays half the bet. The next best bet, Tie, offers a payout of 8:1, which is the highest in the game. However, it is also the worst bet, with a probability of winning only 9.52%. There are side bets too, with payouts of 11:1 in most cases, such as Player/Banker pairs. However, they have a higher house edge.
