Baccarat, the royal game, was originally played only by the European aristocracy from the 15th century onwards.

Still today, there is an air of exclusivity about it and today more and more people are discovering at as online gaming becomes more popular.

The players often wear black tie dress, the playing area is set apart from the rest of the casino, and the playing limits are usually higher than all the other games.

Baccarat is truly the royal game as the rules, the manner of play, and the rewards all remind one of the elegant and romantic past.

Baccarat is basically a very simple game, and there are few and limited strategies to win. We shall examine them below. The odds are easy enough to calculate, and the play is rather structured as you shall see.

The rules

The rules to play baccarat are set, and really, when the bets are in, the cards will be dealt and the results are evident at once.

Here is how it works; the 'dealer' (and can be any player or a croupier) will deal two cards to every player, plus the banker (note: in Baccarat, the banker does not have to be the dealer). The sole object of Baccarat is to get as close to 9 as possible.

So, If your two cards equal a 9, or an 8 (both are called "naturals") you are a winner. Should the dealer have a natural, it will be a tie game.

The rules are clear, should any player have a 7 or a 6, he must stand. If any player has 5 or less, he is obliged to take a 3rd card. That is the game.

Card values dictate that any 10 or face cards have no value.

The second digit of the number determines the value in Baccarat, so a 10 = 0. Likewise, a 10 and a 6 = 6. Suppose you receive a third card, the actual total (called the score) will be the right digit of the total of the cards. Therefore, the score of three cards equaling 16 will have a score of 6.

The Dealer's Role.

In Baccarat, the dealer makes no choices whatsoever; His actions are completely pre-determined by the rules. Here they are. Should a player stand, the dealer takes a 3rd card if his score is 5 or less. In case the player took a 3rd card, the dealer must act as below:

If the dealer has a score of 0, 1, 2: he must draw a third card.

If the dealer has a score of 3: he must draw if a player's 3rd Card is 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9-0 (but not an 8)

If the dealer has a score of 4: he must draw if a player's 3rd Card is 2-3-4-5-6-7

If the dealer has a score of 5: he must draw if a player's 3rd Card is 4-5-6-7

If the dealer has a score of 6: he must draw if a player's 3rd Card is a 6 or a 7

If a dealer has a score of 7: he must stand.

Betting in Baccarat

Baccarat has only three bets.

The first is on the player, the second the banker, and the third if you think there will be a tie game. The payout on the player bet is even money or 1 to 1, with no commission.

The banker bet is also paid out at even money, but there is a commission, from 4 % to 5% depending on the table.

A tie bet is paid out at 8 to 1 or 9 to 1 (depending on the table) and no commission.

Tips to Win at Baccarat

? Bet with the banker. The bank will win more than the player (that is why the payout has a commission!).

? Don't card count or track the game (like you see everyone else doing). Card counting in Baccarat does not work! If it did, the casino would not supply you paper and pencil to track the game. Card counters in Blackjack are quickly evicted from the casino, because it works, but Baccarat counters are permitted.

? Also play at the table that uses the fewest decks in the shoe.

Baccarat is truly the royal game, and playing it reminds you of the gallant past and you somehow feel its elegance, even now.

Enjoy yourself, bet with the banker, and don't overstay. Allocate your bankroll play have a win and loss target and leave when either have been hit and keep in mind your chances of winning for a game of chance are very good so good luck!