Differentiating Different Baccarat Variants

Looking past the glamor and prestigious image of baccarat, you will notice that the game itself is relatively simple. Each round of the game will end up in only three possible results: banker hand wins, player hand wins, or a tie. Thus your options in this game are either wagering on the banker hand, a tie, or the player hand.

There isn't much math to be done in baccarat since the cards are not played like you do in blackjack. You don't split cards, you don't double down, and there isn't even such a thing as busting a hand. The rules on getting extra cards are so specific that they seem automatic without any player having to make a decision. The only big decision players will make is which hand they will put their wagers on.

In spite of the simplicity of the game play, you will still find baccarat variants. These don't necessarily differ in the game play mentioned above but there will be variations in the different kinds of baccarat games you'll find. We'll look and differentiate Punto Banco from Baccarat Chemin de Fer and Baccarat Banque.

Punto Banco is the baccarat variant you will usually find in North American casinos. This game is usually and traditionally played at an oval-shaped baccarat table. Punto Banco will have from six up to eight decks of cards per session. The dealers and the croupier get to shuffle the cards in this baccarat variant.

Baccarat Chemin de Fer will have six decks used on each table. In this variant, a basket will be in place at the center of the table for the used cards. The croupier shuffles the cards in this baccarat variant and each player shuffles the cards in turn.

In this baccarat variation the croupier will hand over some cards to the player who for the mean time acts as banker and the other players act as punters. Any of the punters at the table can go against the stake of the banker by saying "banco".

The banker will deal two cards for himself and two for the punters. If the banker wins he gets the punter's wagers and keeps this role. If the punters win then the banker pays each one of them and another player takes the position of banker.

Baccarat Banque is a baccarat variant where the role of banker doesn't pass from one player to the other. This variant will usually have three decks in use. The role of banker usually stays with the player who wagers the most in a particular session. If the banker retires another player can take up the role.

The game play for each baccarat variant still remains the same. There are some differences from one variant to another but they essentially work the same way.