Baccarat Boom
I’m reading that Baccarat is booming and thinking - hmm, there’s a game I don’t play very often. Now there’s good reason that many of us avoid the baccarat table. It’s not because the game is complicated. It really isn’t once you learn how to place a bet. It’s because in a land based casino the baccarat table is treated like sacred ground. It’s often roped off from the “masses” like the people who play nickel slot machines (been there, done that). And the minimum bet alone can be enough to keep the “nickel players” away. But online baccarat has the same limits you’ll find in online blackjack and many casinos offer “mini-baccarat” games with, once again, stakes similar to those you’ll find in blackjack.
And baccarat is easier to play and more fun than you may realize if you’ve never played the game. In a land based casino, you want to find the table with other players so you can join in the social fun. Baccarat is one of those games designed so the dealer does most of the work, leaving the players free to socialize and bet.
The basics concept behind baccarat is to bet which hand will come closest to 9. Card values are calculated at face value with face cards counting as a zero and aces as a 1. Resulting values are added until you get something between 1 and 9. The math sounds complicated when you first hear about it. But here’s the thing - this isn’t blackjack. You don’t have to bet on your hand and decide to stand or hit. In Baccarat you can bet on the dealer hand, player hand or a tie. And then the dealer deals according to house rules, does the math and either takes your money or gives you money. The big bet is for the tie because that pays out 9 to 1. I love betting the tie because I get lots of money if I win.
If you’ve never played baccarat before, head over to your favorite online casino and give the game a try. Like me, you might find it addicting. But remember, you can play for free if you just want to experience the fun without the risk.