Baccarat is a table game of chance and pure luck. It’s portrayed in movies as elegant and formal, but it’s actually a simple game that can be played with just one or two players. Baccarat is also a good choice for new players as there are no complicated rules to learn. The objective of the game is to predict which hand will win, and you can bet on either the Player hand, Banker’s hand, or a tie. Each hand is dealt two cards, and whichever hand comes closest to nine wins. If you bet on the Player hand and it wins, you receive a payout of 1 to 1. If you bet on the Banker’s hand and it wins, you are paid 9 chips for each wager (note: when counting the winnings, be sure to drop the first digit). A winning Tie bet pays 8 to 1, but you have to pay a 5% commission on your wager.
Baccarat originated in Italy and is known as baccara or baccarat in France. The name baccara means zero, and it is used to describe the game because all picture cards and tens equal zero in baccarat. Baccarat is played with a standard deck of eight, or occasionally six, cards that are dealt from a dealing shoe. All of the cards have a numerical value, and card suits have no relevance. A 2 equals 2, a 3 equals 4, and a 7 equals 7. The game is a bit more complex than blackjack, but is still easy to learn and play.
A ‘Banker’ bet is the best way to reduce the house edge, but don’t expect a straightforward 1:1 return on your bet. If you’re betting on the banker, you must wait until the first player in line wants to stake an amount that is higher than the current banker total. The banker position is then held by the player who stakes the highest amount, unless they wish to withdraw or run out of money to stake.
Baccarat’s reputation as a glassmaker reached its zenith in the 19th Century, when the company began receiving royal commissions to design table services and drinkware. Its pieces were crafted in milky, opaline glass that closely resembled fine porcelain, and they often featured hand-painted floral designs. The company also made monumental lighting fixtures for exhibitions and royal palaces, and astonished contemporary audiences in 1855 with a 17.5 foot (5 metres) tall candelabra at Paris’ Exposition Universelle. The company would go on to make other spectacular creations, including a 24-foot tall glass fountain in 1867 and a massive glass ‘Temple of Mercury’ that contained a monumental statue of the Roman god in 1878. Baccarat is currently owned by Kering, a French luxury goods conglomerate. Its products are sold in more than 160 countries and its headquarters is located in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. The company is renowned for its craftsmanship and has received many awards and accolades throughout its history.