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Over 40 Years in the Casino Business

Baccarat

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You begin with ceremony. The cards are spread face up when the game opens. When a player comes in, the cards are turned over and everyone participates in mixing them up by swishing them all around each other on the table. This is known as the Baccarat Wash. Many Casinos are now using this when they open blackjack  and other games. The cards are then shuffled by the Croupiers and after they are cut, they are placed in the shoe. The shoe is offered to the first player that has a bet on the Banker. This player acts for the Banker and pulls out a card for the Players, and a card for the Banker. He then pulls a second card for each. The tuxedoed staff calls the hands and handles all wagers.  The shoe rotates clockwise around the table every time the Player wins. If the Banker wins, after the Croupier has paid and taken bets as appropriate, the player with the shoe deals another hand in the same fashion. The player will continue to deal this way as long as the Banker wins. If the Player hand wins, the shoe passes to the next player around the table, and that player deals the next hand in the same fashion. Since the house is the Banker, the player with the shoe is at no time at risk to pay winning or losing bets. They are simply getting to participate in the game. Baccarat is not always a busy game, and since many players do not like to play alone at the table, the Casino employs people to sit and play to keep the activity level up. They are frequently attractive young women whose job it is to keep the game moving. That is their only job: to be lovely and keep the game moving.

The game is incredibly simple to play.

Two cards are drawn for the Players, and two cards are drawn for the Banker. The hand that is closest to nine wins. A total of ten is counted as zero. Any score over nine is reduced by ten (or 20). For instance, a nine and a ten is nineteen, but it is reduced by ten so it is only nine. Two tens and a nine is reduced to a nine as well. Eleven is reduced to one, and twelve to two, and so on.

If the Player hand is closest to nine, the Player bet wins. If the Banker hand is closest, the Banker bet wins, and is paid even money, $100 wins $100.

In the event of a Tie, the Tie bet wins but neither the Player nor Banker loses. The Tie bet pays eight to one, so $25 pays $200.

If the Banker hand wins, the Banker bet wins even money but pays a 5% commission, so a $100 bet wins $100 but you are charged $5 for being allowed to bet on the Banker. Without being charged a commission for the Banker bet, the game would be too even to be played in a Casino.

You get to pick whether you are going to bet on Player or Banker every time. You can stay on Player or stay on Banker, or go back and forth. It is really like flipping a coin and you pay 5% for being allowed to bet on tails.

The bets are covered, and you know how the first two cards are dealt. There are rules for drawing a third card. They are based on what the first two cards are.

When the Bankers first two cards total 3, the Player draws.

If the Player draws an 8, the hand is done. Otherwise the Banker draws a third card.

When the Bankers first two cards total 4, the Player draws.

If the Player draws 1,8,9,0, the hand is done. Otherwise the Banker draws a third card.

When the Bankers first two cards total 5, the Player draws.

If the Player draws an 1,2,3,8,9,0, the hand is done. Otherwise the Banker draws

When the Bankers first two cards total 6, the Player draws.

If the Player draws an 1,2,3,4,5,8,9,0, the hand is done. Otherwise the Banker draws.

When the Bankers first two cards total 7, the Player draws, the Banker stands.

When the first two cards total 8 or 9, natural winners, the hand is done.

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