Variations of Baccarat
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The term “baccarat” is usually used to refer to the American version of baccarat that is played in North America. However, you will find many variations of this game in other locations. The rules vary from one variety to another, but they all have one main thing in common: the goal is always to get a hand with a score as close as possible to nine. The most common variations that you will run into are mini baccarat, chemin de fer, European baccarat and baccarat en banque.
Mini Baccarat
Mini baccarat is almost the same as American baccarat. It uses a smaller table that is about the same size as a blackjack table. Only seven people can play at one time. There is only one croupier at a mini baccarat table, instead of the normal three that work the larger American baccarat tables. The croupier deals the hands and acts as the banker.
Mini baccarat is a less intimidating version of baccarat. It is not held in a roped-off area of the casino. Instead, it is right out on the floor with the other table games. Bets in mini baccarat often start as low as five dollars, so this is a good way to get your feet wet if you are just getting started playing baccarat.
European Baccarat
There are two main differences between European baccarat and American baccarat. The first is that the player has the choice of standing or drawing if their initial hand is 5. The second is that the banker also has a choice on whether to draw. Usually, however, the banker plays in accordance with the American baccarat rules.
The banker’s hand is funded by the casino, and the players may not bet more than the amount that has been funded. For example, if the casino funds the banker’s hand at $1700, then the player’s bets may not total more than $1700. Once that amount has been reached, no further bets are accepted. A player can shout “banco” to bet the entire amount that the banker’s bet has been funded. If someone does that, no other bets are taken for that round.
Chemin de Fer
This variation of baccarat is mainly played in France. In this game, you can’t bet on the player or banker (punto or banco) unless you are one or the other. The banker role rotates counterclockwise around the table, and all other participants are players. If a player does not want to be the banker when it is their turn, they can pass and the shoe goes to the person to their right.
The players bet amongst themselves, and the casino is not directly involved in the betting. The house provides a croupier to oversee the game and make sure that no one is cheating. In exchange, the house takes a commission on winning bank hands.
In chemin de fer, the player has the choice of drawing or standing on an initial hand scoring five. The banker is free to decide whether to stand or to draw.
Baccarat en Banque
In this game, the casino always performs the role of banker. This allows players to place larger bets, since the bank is not being funded by an individual player.
