Baccarat is a card game that is so loved by players around the world, including Canadians. It’s attractive because of its simple rules and the opportunity to win real money.
There are now more than 400 licensed online casinos in Canada, and you’ll find almost every type of baccarat in all of them. Since, according to the users’ preferences, this card game is always on the list of the best gambling games.
Brief history of baccarat
Today, there is no clear version of where the card baccarat game first appeared. Some say France, others say Italy, and still others insist on China. But, according to most historians, the card game first emerged in Italy. Why Italy? Based on extant documents, a game with similar rules was first mentioned in Italy. The game was likely invented by an Italian, Felix Falguiere, in the late 15th century. Originally, this game was played with Tarot cards.
So what does this have to do with France? Well, it has to do with the fact that around the same time the King of France, Charles VIII, played a similar game. However, it is considered that the game came to France from Italy during the Franco-Italian War. So it was in France that the card game got its actual name. “Baccarat” is the French equivalent of the Italian word “Baccara”, which translates to ‘zero’ or ‘nothing’.
However, there is no consensus and it is likely that baccarat began to originate in some European countries around the same time.
Online baccarat types
In fact, there are more variations of baccarat. It depends on the region, the country or even the city. In general, they don’t differ much from each other. They can vary in the number of players, the number of decks, and the layout of the tables can also be different. However, the main goal of the game remains the same.
Here are the three basic types of baccarat, which you will find at any casinos in Canada and are still around today:
- Punto Banco or American Baccarat
This version is one of the most popular due to the fact that the casino has no special privileges over the player. What makes this type different is that no special knowledge or skill is required. The player only needs to decide which of the two hands (banker or gambler) to bet on.
- Baccarat bank
The difference in this type is that the banker here usually acts as a player with a large sum of money. However, this type is not as popular as the former.
- Baccarat Chemin de fer
A variation of baccarat that is very popular in France. However, Canadians also like to play this type on occasion. It’s a version of baccarat played with six decks of 52 cards each. In Chemin de Fer, one player takes on the role of banker and sets the bet. In this way, players compete against each other.
How to play baccarat
First of all, it should be mentioned that baccarat is a game played between two hands:
- the player;
- the banker (dealer).
However, unlike blackjack, the banker here is not a representative of the casino.
The main objective of baccarat is to put together a combination of two or three cards that totals 9 or very close to it.
Value of cards in baccarat
Like any other card game, in baccarat each card has its own value. These values may vary a little depending on the version of baccarat. However, here are the values of the cards in classic baccarat:
- Cards with numbers 2-9: the values are equal to the denomination;
- Cards with a value of 10: give no points (0);
- All cards with a picture (Jack, Queen, King): equal to 0;
- Ace: 1 point.
When a player scores 10 or more points, then 10 is subtracted from his score. The rest is written down to sum up all the points at the end. For example, 7+6=13, then subtract 10 to give the player 3 points.
Types of baccarat bets
According to baccarat rules, there are three types of bets:
- Bet on a player (the odds are calculated on a 1:1 proportion);
- Bet on the banker (it is calculated as 19:20, or 1:1 and a 5% commission is charged);
- Bet on a tie, or that the player and the banker will have the same points (calculated on an 8:1 ratio).
It’s worth noting that players need to place a bet before the dealer starts dealing the cards. Once the cards have been dealt, the bets cannot be changed.
Sequence of actions in baccarat
After the bets have been placed, the game begins.
As mentioned above, you can bet on either a player, a banker or a tie. Accordingly, the baccarat table is divided into these 3 sectors.
The dealer then deals 2 cards to each player, including himself. The cards are always dealt in the same order. The 1st and 3rd cards are dealt to the “player” sector and the 2nd and 4th cards to the “banker” sector.
After the cards have been dealt, each participant’s points are counted. If someone scores 8 or 9 points, their points are compared with the banker’s points to determine who wins. If the player wins, the bet on the player wins. If the banker wins, the bet on the banker wins. A combination where either the banker or the player scores 8 or 9 points is called a natural eight or a natural nine.
It could also be that the player and the banker have the same number of points, therefore a tie bet wins.
If the player scores less than 6 points he is dealt an additional third card.
Further, if after the third card is dealt any player gains 8 or 9 points, he wins. In case the player has more than 10 points, he loses 10 points as described above.
Below there is a table with information on when a player gets a third card and when he does not.
| Banker’s initial two-card | Player’s third card | ||||||||||
| No third card | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| 0 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| 1 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| 2 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| 3 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | S | D |
| 4 | D | S | S | D | D | D | D | D | D | S | S |
| 5 | D | S | S | S | S | D | D | D | D | S | S |
| 6 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | D | D | S | S |
| 7 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
| 8 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
| 9 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
D – Draw third card;
S – Stand with two cards.
Baccarat strategy
Of course there is no win-win baccarat strategy, but there are certain cheat sheets (strategies) that can greatly increase your chances of winning. It doesn’t matter whether you play baccarat online or live baccarat, as the strategies apply to both.
Remember, a player can only choose on whom to bet, but further in the process of the game, he can not make any decisions. So, obviously, all the strategies we are going to tell you about are based on how to manage your bankroll.
Here are three strategies which may help you increase your chances of winning real money:
- Flat strategy (according to this you choose your own betting percentages, but your bankroll remains the same);
- The Grind strategy (with this strategy, each bet must not exceed 5% of the bankroll, and if you win, the bet amount is increased);
- D’Alembert strategy (here, each time you win, you must decrease your bet by one point, and when you lose, on the contrary, you must increase it).
Best casinos for online baccarat Canada
We have compiled for you a list of the TOP 3 online casinos in Canada. All of them are safe and properly licensed, so you don’t have to worry about your personal details being stolen. To play any type of baccarat you can choose any of these online casinos:
JackpotCity Casino
A great advantage of this casino is that you can play in both English and French. Here you’ll find not only the three most popular baccarat variants, but also others.
Spin Casino
Baccarat is one of the advantages of this online casino. Here you can play any baccarat variation (except live) in test mode and practice your skills. All variations are available for free.
Mega Casino
At this online casino you can get a welcome bonus to play baccarat. You can also play both the demo version and with real players. Different versions of baccarat are available both in the mobile app and when you play on the official website.
Tips for playing casino baccarat
As we have already mentioned, there are no 100% winning strategies in baccarat, just ones that can increase your chances of winning. You should also remember that baccarat is largely a game based on luck. Consequently, no matter how much you practice, it cannot guarantee a 100% win. But that does not mean you should not practice, as it will help you learn the game rules, algorithms, etc.
We have put together some useful tips for you so that you can enjoy the game to the maximum and not regret losing money. Check out these tips:
- Study carefully the type of baccarat you have chosen (This is very important in order to feel comfortable and understand the game. Try it out a few times in test mode, get to know the betting options, and read user reviews and tips. This will give you confidence);
- Go all the way through the game from start to finish (You can play as a test game or watch how others play. This way you can notice all the nuances of the game and feel more skilled);
- Determine your budget (Remember that baccarat is still a gambling game, where you can either win it all or lose it all. Therefore, determine in advance the amount of your bet. It should be the amount you are prepared to lose. You can also leave the game once you’ve won, as in baccarat online you can easily lose immediately. So know how to stop in time);
- Don’t bet on a player who is winning one by one (As a general rule, if a player or banker wins time after time, it is better not to bet on him to win the next time. It’s better to bet on the player who is just getting lucky at the moment).
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What is the main aim of baccarat?
The player has to collect a combination of cards with a total of nine points or as close to this number as possible (but not more than nine), using two or three cards to do so.
Does baccarat have a win-win strategy?
As baccarat is mostly a luck-based game, no one can guarantee you a 100% win. However, there are some strategies for controlling your bankroll. You can use one of these strategies: Flat strategy, The Grind strategy and D’Alembert strategy.
What types of betting are there in baccarat?
Depending on the baccarat variation, there can be either 2 betting options or 3. Usually there are 3: on the player, on the banker and on a tie.