Smash Vegas

Baccarat is traditionally considered to be a high class card game. There are three main variants (baccarat chemin de fer, baccarat banque, and punto banco) of which you’re only ever likely to play one - punto banco. Despite a great deal of ceremony and special terminology, the game is very simple. So simple that some consider it almost the same as betting on the flip of a coin.

Punto banco is played with 6 or 8 decks of cards by two players, one assuming the role of player the other the banker. The banker’s role is ceremonial and involves no financial responsibility. All the players (including the designated player and banker) bet on who they think will win - player, banker or a tie. Each is dealt two cards. Hands are scored on their point value, which is the rightmost digit in the hand total (mathmatically we describe this as the value of the hand modulo 10). Cards 2-9 are worth their face value, 10’s and face cards are worth zero, and aces are worth 1. For example ace and 3 is scored 4, 3 and 4 is scored 7, 8 and 9 total 17 and so is also scored 7. Thus hands are always worth between 0 and 9, and it is impossible to be bust. The hand with the highest score wins, therefore 0 (or baccarat) is the worst score, 9 is the best. Depending on the hands, the player and banker may draw a single card or stand. What they do follows the tableau (table of play) - they have no choice.

If either player or banker has 8 or 9, both stand. Otherwise play proceeds as follows:

• If the player has 0-5 he draws a single card, if he has 6 or 7 he stands
• The banker’s play depends on the player’s actions:
  • If the player did not draw, the banker draws on 0-5 and stands on 6 or 7
  • If the player drew a 2 or 3, the banker draws on 0-4 and stands on 5-7
  • If the player drew a 4 or 5, the banker draws on 0-5 and stands on 6 or 7
  • If the player drew a 6 or 7, the banker draws on 0-6 and stands on 7
  • If the player drew an 8, the banker draws on 0-2 and stands on 3-7
  • If the player drew an ace, 9 or any card worth 0, the Banker draws on 0-3 and stands on 4-7

Usually winning bets are paid even money, with a commission of 5% if the bet was on the banker. Despite the commission it is always the smart move to bet on the banker. Betting on the banker (including the commission) carries a house edge of 1.06%, while the player bet has a house edge of 1.24%. The house edge on the tie bet is huge at 14.4%.

There are often sidebets offered, but it’s almost always true that a sidebet is a sucker bet. If you must play baccarat, stick to the banker bet.