Pronounced bah-cah-rah with the emphasis on the first
syllable.
Most people never bother with this game because in most casinos the Baccarat tables are
roped off from the rest of the casino. This gives the game an air of exclusivity that no
other game has. This is compounded by the fact that the dealers and pit critters in the
Baccarat area are usually tuxedoed to the max. The final topper is the sight of one or two
perceived high rollers with a trophy babe thrown in for good measure hunched over the
table with stacks o chips piled a half mile high.
Don't let it fool you guys. First of all Baccarat takes NO SKILL to play. There is an air
of sophistication that everyone perceives about the game. The thing to remember is you can
play just as well as the "high rollers" do, or any experienced Baccarat player
for that matter. There is no way to "minimize" the casino's advantage at the
game. Also, unlike Craps, there are NO ODDS to remember. The only thing you may have to
keep in mind is to keep a little money on the side to pay off any percentages that may be
coming, but for the most part, the game is almost automatic pilot!!
Second, there is no requirement that you bet thousands per hand. The casino does not mind
you sitting down and plunking a 25 dollar chip on the same table that houses a 10,000
dollar bet by the billionaire from Texas. You also don't have to wear a suit and tie to
the Baccarat table, but if you read our Blackjack etiquette page you know not to dress
like a Gen-X/Y schmuck or someone who blue light specials his clothes at K-Mart. Even
though the Baccarat area is roped off in the hopes that it lures high rollers in from the
"common" folk, casinos today are making a true effort to get poor slobs like us
into the Baccarat parlors. |
|
Baccarat |
The Game |
The Game itself is
relatively easy. You don't even have to know the rules to play it effectively. But it adds
to the enjoyment if you know what's going on. |
Card Values |
Insanely easy to
follow, but we give you a chart and some practice hands as well. You'll learn how to count
to nine in no time! |
Third Card Rules |
The only tricky part of
the game, and one that you needn't know to play the game. It's just nice to know WHY
certain things happen when your chips are on the line. |
Why Play Baccarat? |
Because the casino's
edge of the player is one-fourth that of one of the games we DON'T recommend: Roulette. |
|
Some of the Hogs outside a Las Vegas Casino! |
Baccarat