My Baccarat
Baccarats in Different Countries
The game of baccarat has truly captured the interests of card lovers worldwide. As the game reaches different countries, it has developed into different varieties. Rules were altered and the name changes, but the objective stays the same: to bet on the hand, which values closest to nine.
In France, the most famous baccarat version played in casinos is the "chemin de fer". This also serves as the foundation for other baccarat versions played in several countries in Europe and North America.
The game is played with at least two players. The casino is not directly involved with the game and merely collects a certain percentage of the win in the bank, usually 5%. Players compete with each other, one serves as the banker and this role rotates among the players. The rules for drawing a third card are flexible. For example, the value of the hand is five. This hand can either draw another card or stand.
In the United States of America, the Nevada Baccarat or the American Baccarat is the baccarat game of choice. Most online games of baccarat are based from the rules used in the American version. This baccarat variety is even more popularized by world-famous Las Vegas casinos.
To play this game is very simple. The players play against the house, which provides the funds for the game. One only needs to bet a certain amount not lower than the table limit on either the banker or the player. An option to wager on the tie is also available in most casinos. The pay-off is proportional to the amount of bet, although a 5% commission is paid to the house for every win in the bank's hand.
The Englishmen also have their version of baccarat. It was called "European Baccarat" and famous not only in England, but also spread in South America. Unlike in "chemin de fer", the casino is involved in the actual game. The casino funds the bank's hand and sets the betting limit for the players. The same 5% commission is also collected for every win in the bank.
In drawing the third card, the bank may choose to do so with a hand that values a total of five. The player may also draw another card or stand when its hand also values five. Although given this option, the rules for a third card draw in this baccarat game generally is similar to the rules in the America version.
These are only a few versions of the baccarat games available in the casinos today. Rules will change and the name will be modified, but baccarat will always remain among card-game lovers for generations to come.