Baccarat is one of the world’s most popular casino games. It’s played around the globe, from Macau to Singapore and even Las Vegas.
It’s a game of chance and requires no skill, just luck, but the high stakes players who play it make it a lucrative moneymaker for casinos.
This elegant European card game was first played in the mid-18th Century. Its origins can be traced back to a glass workshop founded in 1764 by King Louis XV of France in the town of Baccarat in the Lorraine region.
The factory produced windows, mirrors and tableware. In 1867, its ‘Jusivy’ table service was shown at the Exposition Universelle in Paris and became a renowned design.
In the 19th Century, the Baccarat factory’s production diversified into more sculptural objects and more elaborate glasswork. Some of its most famous designs were made for the French royal court.
Another of its most enduring creations was a series of wine glasses, some of which are still in existence and can be seen in the Elysee Palace in Paris today. These thick, short-stemmed glasses are known for their distinctive prismatic lustre, an iridescence that reflects different colours depending on the light source behind it.
Some of these glasses are engraved with patterns and are often used as tableware in hotels, restaurants or bars. Historically, these patterns were cut into the glass using a stone or copper grindstone. In the 20th Century, however, the company began to engrave its mark onto the glass instead of using a paper label.
The basic rules of the game are that a player’s hand will win if it is closer to 9 than the banker’s hand and that both hands will lose if they are unable to reach nine or if they have the same number of points. The highest winning hand is a straight flush.
Cards in the game are dealt face up, with a single card being drawn for each of the banker’s and player’s hands. The dealer may choose to draw a third card.
There are three main variations of the game: Punto Banco, Mini-Baccarat and Macau-style.
A punto banco version of the game has a higher house edge, but it’s also quicker than the original Baccarat. The shoe travels faster, and the deal is more efficient, making it easier for a dealer to run a fast game.
The mini-baccarat variation of the game, on the other hand, has a lower house edge and can be played on a single table. It has the advantage of a lower maximum bet and is available in many casinos.
It’s a simple game and doesn’t require much knowledge of the rules, but it can be complicated if you aren’t careful. There are certain tricks to the game, like knowing when a third card will be drawn and how to play it correctly.
There’s also a side bet called a tie that pays eight to one if both the Banker and Player’s hands are a tie. The odds of a tie are slightly better than the Player or Banker bets, but this isn’t the best choice for a serious gambler.
