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In Baccarat the deal is played between a designated
‘dealer’ and a designated ‘player’. The players bet on
who will win the deal – the ‘dealer’ or the ‘player’.
If the players predict the winner correctly they are
paid out 1:1. Otherwise they forfeit their wager. Ties
result in the bets being withdrawn.
The player who draws the highest card is the dealer.
The dealer (he is also referred to as banker) places
his stake first. If any player wants to match the
entire stake he says “Banco”. Then other players do
not bet in this deal. If “Banco” is not called the
players place their bets. If the total of the
players’ bets is less than that of the dealer, any
player makes up the deficit. If the total of the
players’ bets is more than that of the dealer, the
dealer can make up the deficit or return the excess
bets. The player with the highest bet becomes the
‘player’.
The dealer deals two cards to the player and two to
himself, all cards being dealt face down. Baccarat
has a unique system of valuation of the hand. Aces
have a value of one; twos have a value of two;
threes have a value of three and so on till the
nines, which have a value of nine. The tens, jacks,
queens and kings have a value of ten. To obtain the
hand value the cards are added up and only the
unit’s digit is taken. The total of a hand
containing a nine and a jack is nineteen and
therefore the hand value is nine. The total of a
hand containing a six and a four is ten and
therefore the hand value is zero. A hand with a
value of zero is called baccarat.
The dealer and the player see their cards and value
their hands. If any of them have a hand of eight or
nine the hands are immediately compared. The one
with the higher hand value wins the deal. If neither
the player nor the dealer has a hand value of eight
or nine, the game proceeds. If the hand value of the
player is between zero and four, he has to call for
a third card, which is dealt face up. If the hand
value of the player is six or seven, he indicates
that he does not need a third card. If the hand
value of the player is five, he has an option
whether or not to call for a third card. Then the
dealer has to decide if he wants a third card.
Unlike the player, the dealer has no rules to
follow. He makes his decision based on the play of
the game. Once the dealer taker the third card, or
indicates that he will not be taking a third card,
the hands are compared and the on with the higher
hand value wins the deal. If the ‘dealer’ has won he
retains the deal, otherwise it passes on to the next
player.
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