Baccarat - Bond’s Game
The character of James Bond has been featured in over twenty-feature films. Although chronologically, the first film should have been “Casino Royale”, it was actually the explosive “Dr. No” that was released as the first in the series. It would be over thirty years before Casino Royale was finally made. If you consider yourself a Bond trivia expert, you might already know this. Here’s another bit of trivia:
What is Bond’s favorite card game? If you have just seen Casino Royale, you might be tempted to stand up and shout ‘Texas Hold ‘em, of course.” But you would be wrong! In fact, the novel casino Royale has Bond playing another game entirely. The producers simply assumed that Americans would be more familiar with the game of poker so they switched it.
Now if you really follow Bond, you know that Bond’s game is Baccarat. He plays baccarat in five of the movies including the opening scene of Dr. No, his grand public entrance. And if you think about it, it fits with everything else we know about Bond.
Bond is the elite of the elite. He wears finely tailored suits and speaks impeccable English (”Bond, James Bond”). He drinks vodka martinis, shaken not stirred. He does not drink beer. He loves expensive cars and super model women. Would this kind of guy play poker? No, he plays baccarat, the game of the aristocracy! Baccarat is for the masses. In fact, why is it normally played in separate rooms in casinos? Because it is an exclusive game for exclusive people.
In Dr. No, we are introduced to the famous ‘gun barrel” introduction. An action packed series begins before even the first credits. The sequence never has anything to do with the actual plot of the movie, it is simply to introduce us to Bond and whet our appetites for the Bond genre. So it is only natural that in the very first Bond movie, in the very first Bond scene, the very first thing we see is Bond playing… Baccarat!
Now here is a really interesting bit of trivia from the film. The casino scene was set at the “Les Ambassadors” Club, in London. The club still exists, and is one of London’s most exclusive casinos. Next time you are in London, look it up. But to get in on a good game of baccarat, you had better be dressed right and speak without any accent. After all, the game of baccarat — where enormous stakes are won and lost in an instant — is not for everyone.
Baccarat Rules
Internet Baccarat is an online casino game that is growing in popularity. The Baccarat rules follow strict guidelines that might seem complicated, but it’s actually pretty simple to learn Baccarat. And in fact, if you’re an absolute Baccarat beginner you don’t even have to know the rules of Baccarat. Every action from both dealer and player is pre-determined - all you have to do is place a bet before the hand starts.
However, it’s always good to know the rules when you’re gambling for money. The official Baccarat rules can be found below. Another source of information and instructions on Internet Baccarat is to look for magazines that are dedicated to online gambling and gaming. These magazines often offer strategies and additional tips on how to play various casino games, and will be a valuable resource if you want to learn how to play Baccarat.
How Baccarat is played
Baccarat is a game involving two people, the banker (the house) and the player. In addition to this, up to 14 people around the Baccarat table can bet on either the banker or the player to win.
The object of Baccarat is to come as close as possible to 9 in total card value. It’s impossible to have a total over 9. If a player’s (or banker’s) total card value should be 10 or higher, 10 will be subtracted from the total sum.
Individual card values in Baccarat: Ace = 1, 2 to 9 = face value, 10 to King = 0. For example, a hand of 4-D has a total value of 4 (4+0) and that a hand of 8-7 has a total value of 5 (8+7=15. 15-10=5).
Strict procedure
As mentioned above, Baccarat follows a strict procedure. At the start of a Baccarat game both the banker and the player are dealt two cards face down. If either of them has a total value of 8 or 9 (this is called a natural) both hands are turned over and the hand closest to nine wins. If the player’s and the banker’s hands have the same total value, it’s a draw, and the bet is returned to the player.
If no one has a natural (8 or 9), the value of the player’s cards decides how the game goes on. If the player’s total card value is 6 or 7 he must stand. Otherwise he must take another card.
After this it’s the banker’s turn to act. The banker’s move depends on the value of his own two hole cards and the player’s third card. The banker always stands if his total card value is 7. On 6 the banker takes one more card if the third card dealt to the player was a 6 or 7. On 5 the banker takes one more card if the third card dealt to the player was 4-7. On 4 the banker takes another card if the third card dealt to the player was 2-7. On 3 the banker takes another card if the third card dealt to the player was anything but an 8. On a total value of 2-0 the banker always takes another card.
After the banker has made his move the hands are turned over and the player with the total value closest to 9 wins.
Advantages of Internet Baccarat
Internet Baccarat has several advantages for its online players. First many online baccarat sites offer generous bonus and comp programs to its players. Secondly online baccarat sites offer free tutorials on the game and how to keep score. Finally many online baccarat sites offer “play for free” baccarat tables where players can try out this classic game.
Baccarat Odds
The famous game of Baccarat involves luck and strategic, it’s not without cause that the Baccarat is well known for the high stakes involved in this luxuries game. but beside luck and strategic, the player must known the Baccarat odds if he wished to clean the table.
If you still haven’t read about the basic rules of baccarat, I advise you to go through them before moving on, Since without the basic knowledge of the rules, the next paragraphs might be difficult to understand.
Most of the Baccarat games are played with six or eight card decks and the rules are strict thus making little room to manipulate the Baccarat odds. The house winning odds are 45.8%, while you winning odds are 44.6%. which leaves a 9.5% chance for a tie. The casinos payout for a tie are 8:1, when in reality it should be 9.47:1 which represent the actual odds.
Although some might say that trying to memorize the cards will tip the odds in your favor, this is not true. If you compare the memorizing method in Baccarat against the same method that is being used in Blackjack, then it is nine times less efficient. Also keep in mind that in many tables they shuffle the card decks after every hand.
Baccarat Variations
Baccarat is one of the oldest card games played in casinos worldwide. From its humble beginnings in Italy, it was popularized by France and spread throughout each continent. With this, several types of baccarats emerged, with each type varying slightly in rules. Although this is the case, the object of each baccarat type remains the same, to bet on the hand that values closest to nine.
One of the oldest baccarat types is widely played in French casinos and in most casinos in Europe. This type of baccarat is called “chemin de fer” or railroad. In this baccarat type, the casino does not fund the game. One of the players serves as the bank and they bet amongst themselves. The role of the bank rotates among the players in a counterclockwise fashion. A player can pass the role of the bank to the player on his right. Also, this type of baccarat has flexible rules in terms of drawing a third card, both for the player and the bank.
Another type of baccarat is the world-renowned Nevada baccarat or more popularly known as the American baccarat. This baccarat variety features three betting areas, the bank, the player and tie or stand-off. The casino provides the funds for the game and the players bet on any of the betting areas. Drawing the third card for each hand is subject to specific rules provided by the casino.
European baccarat on the other hand, as the name implies, is very popular in European casinos. In this baccarat type, the casino provides the funds for the bank. The bet limit is determined by the banker. Once the betting limit is reached, no other players may be allowed to bet. European baccarat also gives an option to either draw or stand if the value of the hand is five. But in practice, the rules for drawing a third card are very much similar to the American baccarat.
The other type of baccarat is called the mini-baccarat. The rules in this baccarat type are very much alike to the rules of the American baccarat. This baccarat game is played in a table about the size of a regular blackjack table. Unlike the regular baccarat game, mini-baccarat is not played in a specific area in the casino with elegant ropes surrounding it. Instead, mini-baccarat is played among with the other casino games and the minimum amount of betting is very much lower than the regular baccarat game.
There are many other types of baccarat that can be found in different parts of the world. These are some of the few baccarat games you can play and enjoy. The game has evolved and will continue to evolve to bring out fun and excitement to game lovers for years to come.
Baccarat tips
The question is being asked why is it wise to play baccarat if systems and strategies have no use in the game. The answer is simple. The game naturally gives one of the lowest House Edges in the online casinos. There are only three bets a player can make, one of which should be avoided at all times. Of the two other bets, they are relatively close in odds, although it is advisable to play only one of these bets. Thus, it is a smart game to play no matter what. It has the glamour and prestige of the gambling world.
You can try the following strategy tips to optimize your success at online playing.
# 1 Tip
A Bet on the banker is the bet that offers you the best odds of winning. Your chances of winning a Banker bet are 44.61%. This makes A Banker bet the best bet for the gambler to make - even though the casino will charge you a 5% commission on winning banker bets.
# 2 Tip
Some casinos offers you the chance to bet on a Tie - this is the worst bet at the table for you. The casino has an advantage of 14% at a Tie bet when the tie pay odds 1-8. Some casinos offers 1-9 so that is a bit better - but still not a recommended bet.
# 3 Tip
Trying to beat the casinos edge with any betting system will all fail in the long run - so don’t waste your money!
# 4 Tip
When you play in a real casino and bet on the banker; always make sure that you have spare money so that you are able to pay the casino the 5% commission when you want to leave the table. The commission is first due when you leave the table.
# 5 Tip
This is a game of chance - not a game of skill. The secret of winning is to quit playing while you are ahead.