Jennica | December 24, 2023 | Updated on: February 15th, 2024
Baccarat is a game shrouded in mystery to a lot of players because it has often been limited to only the high rollers. Online gambling has broken a lot of barriers by offering low minimum bet limits, which means even players with a small bankroll can play the game.
As not many people know much about baccarat, we decided to create a baccarat FAQs guide with answers to all the frequently asked questions about the game. Keep reading to see if we answer some of the questions you have about the game.
Play Baccarat Online
$30 Min Deposit
Popular Baccarat FAQs
Baccarat is played with a standard 52-card deck. Each player gets two cards and based on the scores of the player’s cards and the dealer’s; a third card may be dealt. The hand with a score closest to 9 wins.
Each card retains its face value except a 10, which counted as 0 points (along with all face cards.) Once the score of your hand exceeds 9, the second number in the ten is the score of your hand. For example, a hand score of 12 is really only 2.
Your aim isn’t actually to win the game. Rather it is to bet on the hand you think will win the game. For example, if you bet on the dealer, you are hoping that you get a lower score than the dealer. For new players, this idea can take some time to adjust to.
No, there isn’t really much skill in baccarat. You choose who you think is going to win the game before it is played. In games like blackjack and poker, you make decisions that could impact the outcome of the game.
For example, in blackjack, your decision to hit or stand has a direct impact on the result of the game. In baccarat, you get a couple of cards. Based on the score of your hand, there are pre-written rules determining whether you get a third card.
So, you can’t bet on a player hand to win and then refuse to take a third card if your hand score is two. The rules state you have to get a third card, which could result in a natural whether you like it or not.
Some players think that baccarat is dangerous because land-based casinos have high-betting limits on baccarat tables. It is not uncommon to see players betting up to $100,000 per hand at a baccarat table in a VIP room.
If you love the thrill of the game, you may be tempted to bet money you cannot afford to lose to join in on the fun. However, we suggest you avoid making rash decisions like this just to play a casino game. If you want to play baccarat, know that you can play online with little to no issues.
The only way to ensure you consistently beat baccarat is to cheat at the game. However, we wouldn’t recommend you do this. If you try to cheat at a land-based casino, you may face some serious charges that could result in a prison sentence.
We won’t be so naïve as to say that you can’t cheat at online casinos, but it requires some technical skills that few players have. So, if you want to dedicate a lot of free time to scamming a casino with your hacking skills, go ahead, but it is probably a fruitless effort.
This is dependent on the player. Some people like blackjack more and others like baccarat more. We’ll be honest in saying that a lot of players like blackjack more because than baccarat because they have some effect on the outcome.
However, there is no definitive way to say one game is better than the other. We just recommend you play blackjack over baccarat if you want strategy to have some effect on the outcome.
Land-based casinos used to cheat a lot at table games when they were less regulated and it was harder to detect cheating. Previously, people who walked away from casino tables claiming games were rigged were laughed off by authorities. After all, casino games feature a house edge that ensures more players lose than win. So, losses were treated as a player’s bad decisions.
Nowadays, players are a protected, so if casinos try to cheat players, they could land themselves in a lot of trouble. It is simply not worth it.
It’s advisable to bet on the banker. The house is statistically more likely to win a casino game, and this remains true in baccarat. So, it is generally recommended you stick to betting on the banker in baccarat games. Winning is a built-in mechanic in the game’s design.
That said, if you see the tide turning and the player is winning some games, we suggest you switch your betting strategy.
No, baccarat is not hard to learn. The game seems like it has a lot of rules regarding when you get a third card, and this can make it seem intimidating if you are just reading through the rules.
However, if you just spend some time playing the game, you will realise that it actually isn’t hard to learn how to play. All it takes is some practice to memorise the rules. Luckily, you can practice by playing free baccarat online.
Unfortunately, there is no way to ensure you consistently win at baccarat. It wouldn’t be gambling if there was a way to win every game you play and you can imagine that casinos would not be offering the game.
You could try cheating at the game to ensure victory. However, even this is a bad idea. Cheating could lead to a prison sentence. Let’s leave it at that!
Theoretically, you can count cards in baccarat. However, it does not give you the advantage you get in blackjack. This has got to do with the rules of the game. In baccarat, you try to guess which hand is more likely to win – you aren’t trying to make your hand win as per say.
As such, card counting doesn’t offer the same benefits. You might be forced to pick up a card to force a higher score even if you don’t want a card. So, it really doesn’t actually matter.
Generally, at online casinos, dealers retain the role of banker throughout gameplay. So, the banker wins more often than not in baccarat because of the in-baked house edge in casino games. The casino understands this to be true, which is why they force players to pay a commission for betting the house, which is usually 5% of your winnings on a successful bet.
No, online baccarat is not rigged. Well, at least if you play at a trustworthy online casino. You can check whether an online casino is trustworthy by having a look at whether it is licensed, uses SSL encryption, and is powered by a reputable casino software provider.
If you want to cut your search short, we recommend signing up to one of our recommended online casinos above.
