Live Baccarat | Rules, lingo and tips you need to play like a pro

While it may be kept behind velvet ropes in land-based establishments, online casinos make the game of Baccarat accessible, exciting and entertaining to play in both the standard and live casino versions of the game.

With table limits that start at as little as 50 cents, players of all budgets are welcome to join a table at a time and in a setting that is most convenient and comfortable for their needs. No need to worry about what time the casino opens or waiting for a spot to open up at a table, simply login to your casino account and start playing straight away.

Don’t be put off by the exclusive nature of the game as portrayed in movies and TV shows – the game is incredibly easy to learn and play. And, like many other casino table games, practice makes perfect, so honing your skills is key to securing that win as often as possible. The game only requires that you predict whether the Banker or Player will receive the higher value card so there is no need to worry about adding card values as everything is done for you.

Of course, there are a few more handy tips and tricks to know about so, let’s dive right in.

Live Baccarat rules

How do I play Baccarat?

The live dealer version of Baccarat has many benefits that make it much easier for players to learn and play the game. Where land-based casinos have table limits that exceed hundreds of dollars per hand, online casino Baccarat is much kinder on the pocket.

Live dealer Baccarat offers all the adrenaline-filled thrills with privacy, bonuses, convenience, a wide range of betting options, immersive action, realistic engagement and more, all at the touch of a button and from the comfort and security of your own home.

Brick and mortar casinos have business hours, which makes it tricky if you have the urge to give the game a go in the middle of the night.

Playing live casino Baccarat is as easy as any other casino games. Simply create your casino account, claim your welcome package, purchase casino credit and then click to play Baccarat for real money. You are welcome to play the game at a time and in a location that suits you and you can select the variation as per your mood.

No matter which variation or table limit you select this is how the game will proceed:

You place your stake in the marked section of the table as your indication as to whether you think the Player or Banker will receive the higher value card, or whether they will Tie.
The Banker and Player are both dealt 2 cards each.
Depending on the value of the cards, a third card may be dealt – we will discuss this in greater detail a bit later.
The outcome of the game is confirmed by the dealer in the live casino version and the game software in the online variant.
In the event, both the Player and Banker have received cards of equal value, and you have bet that they will Tie, the outcome of the game will be in your favour.
Winners receive their prize.

What are the values of each card?

In the real-life casino game of Baccarat, the dealer calculates which character has the stronger hand and announces the winner accordingly. The online version is even more accurate as the game software makes the necessary calculations before assigning winnings to the relevant punters.

Baccarat is the ideal game to host in your home as you can show off your skills to your friends. The card values are the best place to start when learning the game and understanding the rules will go a long way to ensure that you play the game like a pro.

In the game of Baccarat, the objective is to receive a hand that is closest to the value of 9 as possible. Since the playing cards from 2 – 9 are read at face value, receiving these cards are the easiest ways to a win.

The only thing left to know about card values is that the Ace card is valued at 1 while cards 10, Jack, Queen and King have a value of 0.

Let’s put this into practice by looking at an example – let’s say the following cards are dealt:

Player receives: 4 + 3 = 7
Banker receives: 10 (which equals 0) + 8 = 8

The Banker is closer to 9, so punters who have correctly predicted the outcome will receive their winnings.

When is a 3rd card dealt?

When playing the game at a brick and mortar casino, the Player can decide on how to proceed once they have received their cards. In live Baccarat at an online casino, everything is determined automatically and the next step is decided based on what the Banker has received:

Banker’s hand equals 2 or less means he will receive another card, regardless of the player’s third card.
Banker’s hand equals 3 while Player’s third card is valued at 8, he takes another card.
Banker’s hand equals 4 while Player’s third card was between 2 and 7 results in him taking another card.
Banker’s hand equals 5 while Player’s third card was between 4 and 7 stipulates that he takes another card.
Banker’s hand equals 7, 8, or 9 means that the dealer Stands.
Banker’s hand equals 6 while the Player’s cards are valued at less than 5 gives the Player the option of requesting another card.
- If a new card takes the total up to 6 or 7, the Banker takes another card.

Once the 3rd card is dealt, the character with the hand that is closest to the value of 9 is declared the winner and punters receive their payouts for their correct predictions.

Learning the lingo

What is the Shoe?

The shoe is the storage facility for the cards. At most Baccarat tables, 6 or 8 decks are used and shuffled regularly throughout the game. The shoe both stores the playing cards and makes it easy for the dealer to shuffle.

What does Coup mean?

A coup is the stage of the game when both the Player and Banker have received and revealed their cards.

What is La Grande?

This is the term used for a natural hand where the first two cards add up to 9 – this can be made up of an Ace plus 9, 2 plus 7, 3 plus 6, 4 plus 5, or a face card/10 plus 9.

What is La Petit?

It is the hand where the first two cards dealt with a character add up to the value of 8. It may be made up of an Ace plus 8, 2 plus 6, 3 plus 5, 4 plus 4, or a face card/10 plus 8.

How do the Baccarat variations differ from one another?

There are two main Baccarat variations: Punto Banco or American Baccarat is described above where the Player and Banker make all decisions where necessary and the rest of the game is more or less automated.

In Chemin de Fer, the players around the table bet against one another instead of betting against the Banker. This game is played with 6 decks and the role of the Banker is played by one of the players at the table. This role is rotated with each hand with players opting in or out as they prefer.

All other variations have slight tweaks to one or the other version of the game and can offer side bets and other features to increase excitement.

What are the side bets in Baccarat?

Side bets can add an interesting dynamic, especially for those who enjoy playing for hours at a time. With bet options like a suited tie, red/black and big/small, players place an extra stake in addition to their basic bet for a chance at winning a cash prize.

Which is the best bet in Baccarat?

Experts have thoroughly researched as much of the data as possible and suggest that betting on the Banker or Player offers the best chance at success. In casino terms, this percentage is called the house edge. It is simply the other side of the percentage denoted by the return to player (RTP) that is used for online slot games and shows the player advantage.

Banker Bet: 1.06% House Edge

Betting on the Banker is such a popular choice, that both online and land-based casinos add a commission to all wins. Despite this commission, betting on the Banker is your best bet because it has the lowest house edge. This is particularly helpful for those who are new to the game and still getting a feel for the rules.

Player Bet: 1.24% House Edge

Betting on the Player is the next best bet, especially because they are not as tightly bound as the banker when it comes to requesting a 3rd card for a chance at strengthening their hand.

Tie Bet: 14% House Edge

While the Tie bet is an option, it is clear from the house advantage that this is a choice to be made very carefully. A suited tie side bet is even less likely and this option has an even bigger house edge.

How do I win at Baccarat?

Baccarat is still a game of chance. Flipping between Banker and Player may not yield the success you are looking for so it is best to use the information you have available to strategically place your bets.

Getting a feel for the game can go a long way in giving you the confidence you need to bet what you can but it is always best to only ever bet what you can afford to lose. Gambling should be fun and working within your budget is the smartest way to ensure an exciting experience.

Online casinos also make several games available that can be played in demo mode which means you get to try the game using free virtual credit.

Table games like Baccarat are best learned by giving the game a try. You can memorize the rules until the cows come home but honing your skills is the best way to have some fun while doing so.

Another benefit to playing Baccarat online is the live casino version which gives you all the thrills and spills of a real-life casino experience in the comfort and convenience of your own home. With the evolution of high definition cameras and live streaming, you can play Baccarat while engaging with players from all over the world and chat to professional live dealers who are only too happy to offer their tips and tricks.

Where should I give live Baccarat a try?

Check out our comprehensive casino reviews to find an online casino that is best suited to your needs. We do all the legwork so that you don’t have to and you can rest assured that our recommended casinos are all above board.

The online casinos recommended here are all:

Licensed by at least one gambling authority
Audited by an independent 3rd party agency
Secured by Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption for the protection of your personal and financial details

That’s it! You have everything you need to play live Baccarat online or at a brick and mortar casino. So, why not give it a go? You’ll be so pleased that you did.

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