Baccarat Guide

Introduction
Baccarat is an online casino game that has been immortalized in James Bond movies throughout the years. While it may initially seem complex, it is very similar to Blackjack and other simple card games that are available in casinos across New Zealand. It is one of the oldest games in the gambling world, with origins dating back to the 1400s. So, it is no wonder that the game has developed such a dedicated following.

At online-casinos.co.nz, we’re here to provide you with an in-depth game guide, helping you to understand the game of Baccarat and have a profitable online gaming experience.

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Rules
Baccarat is also known as Punto Banco (Player – Dealer), as it pits the player against the house and all competitors must wager on who will have the better hand. The dealer and the player are each dealt two cards face-down. In some cases, a third card will be dealt. These situations include the player’s initial total being a 5 and the bank’s total being anywhere from 2 to 6.

Players at the table wager on whose hand they believe will win, betting on either the player or the banker. Since it is possible to wager on the banker winner, there is very little house edge when playing a game of Baccarat. The Banker’s advantage is just 1.17% while the player’s is 1.36%, so Baccarat is one of the more profitable online casino games that you will find.

Strategy
Baccarat generally involves more luck than skill, so strategies for the game are quite simple. Unlike poker and poker variations, there is not much that the player can do to manipulate the outcome of the game or increase their chances of winning; however, there are a few things that you can keep in mind when you play this online casino game.

Firstly, it is always wise to bet on the banker. Like all casino games, online baccarat favours the house. In the long run, the banker will win more times than the player. Since Baccarat allows you to bet on the banker winning, you should make sure that you wager on this outcome as often as possible. Some strategies suggest taking notes on patterns in order to predict when the player will win, but betting on the dealer is the most profitable option over a large sample size of hands.

Secondly, you should avoid the ‘tie’ bet altogether. It offers better payouts than either the player or the dealer outcomes, but hitting a tie in the game of Baccarat is incredibly rare. As such, the house edge on a tie bet is 5%, so it is not at all worth it to wager on this option – even if you are feeling lucky.

Variations
Since Baccarat is quite a simple online casino game, there are many different variations available to spice things up while you play. Each variation is played with a different number of decks, changing the odds of winning with each alternative you play. The standard deck size for Baccarat is 8-decks, so we advise sticking to those variations.

In the online gambling world, Microgaming offers a ‘Baccarat Pairs’ game. This is a traditional game of Baccarat which offers players the option of placing a side bet. The side bet wagers on whether the banker or the player’s first two cards will make a pair. The pay-out for a successful side bet is 11:1, so it is certainly a worthwhile option for avid Baccarat players.

Software
Virtually all online gambling developers offer Baccarat at a wide range of online casinos. It is rare to visit an online gambling website and not find this game, as it is a staple for casino operators. Even casinos specializing in slots, such as Spin Palace, offer Baccarat, so you can give this game a try regardless of which casino you are signed up with.

Microgaming and PlayTech offer Live Dealer Baccarat, so you can interact with a dealer via webcam, making the experience more authentic and enjoyable. Microgaming has recently launched its Diamond Edition Baccarat, which offers a higher-quality live dealer experience, as dealers are broadcast via webcam and multiplayer options are available.