Baccarat punto – A version of baccarat brought to Nevada in the 1950s and also known as American Baccarat , Nevada Baccarat or Punto Banco. The main difference between Baccarat punto and earlier forms of baccarat is that the casino plays the role of banker. Baccarat punto is the type most likely to be played in a casino, and the version of the game that people tend to be most familiar with.
Baccarat strategy – Any methods you use in order to give yourself the best chance of ending your baccarat game without suffering losses, such as setting a limit on how much you are going to spend, or avoiding certain types of bets.
Baccarat system – A method of playing designed to try and help you to beat the casino when playing baccarat and win by altering the house edge. This can include streak or pattern prediction or card counting. Baccarat systems are generally flawed. The most famous example of a baccarat system is the 1-3-2-6 System.
Banco – Banco refers to the bank or banker. Baccarat players can bet on either banco (that the banker hand will win), punto (that the player’s hand will win) or a tie (that the total value of the banker’s hand will match the total value of the player’s hand). In European baccarat, banco is also a term that players must shout if they wish to cover the entire banker’s bet.
Card counting -A baccarat system which involves studying which cards have already been used so that you have more idea of what bets to make based on which cards are left in the shoe.
Chemin de Fer -An early version of baccarat which appears to have become popular amongst French aristocrats in the 1500s. Its name translates as “railroad”. In Chemin de Fer the casino does not play the role of banker (banco). Instead, the players bet amongst themselves, and play the role of banker in turn.
Croupier – Croupier is a French term for the dealer. The croupier’s role varies depending on the type of baccarat being played. In baccarat punto, the croupier controls the game by making the calls and directing the players on how to play the game. There are two other dealers who deal the cards and handle the payouts. There is also sometimes a ladderman, who watches the table from a raised position and settles any disputes. In Mini-baccarat, a single croupier does all these things.
European baccarat – A version of baccarat that is very similar to that of Chemin de Fer, except that the dealer controls the banker and the casino finances the banker’s hand. There is therefore a set limit on how much the players can bet. If a player decides to cover the entire banker’s bet, he or she must shout “banco”. Once he has done so, no other player may bet during that round.
Face cards – Cards which have a face on them, i.e. the Kings, Queens and Jacks of any suit.
House edge – The house edge (also known as the casino advantage) is the profit that a casino builds in to each game. It is expressed as the difference between the true odds and the odds that the casino pays out.
Ladderman – A casino employee in baccarat punto who watches the table from a raised position and settles any disputes.
Mini-baccarat – A version of baccarat punto which was introduced by casinos to appeal to the mass-market. It is played on a smaller table, has lower table limits and is faster to play because players are not allowed to touch the cards. Internet casinos offering online baccarat games usually offer Mini baccarat.
Natural – A natural is a total of eight or nine in the first two cards.
Nevada baccarat – See baccarat punto.
Punto – Punto refers to the player. Baccarat players can bet on either banco (that the banker hand will win), punto (that the player’s hand will win) or a tie (that the total value of the banker’s hand will match the total value of the player’s hand).
Punto Banco – See baccarat punto.
Shoe – The shoe is a wooden or plastic device that can hold up to eight decks of cards. In Chemin de Fer and European baccarat, the shoe is passed around the table as the banker role moves between players.
Standoff – See tie.
Tie – A tie refers to a type of baccarat bet. Baccarat players can bet on either banco (that the banker hand will win), punto (that the player’s hand will win) or a tie (that the total value of the banker’s hand will match the total value of the player’s hand). The tie has the highest house edge of the three types of baccarat bet, and it is less likely that you will win. Most experienced baccarat players do not bet on the tie.
1-3-2-6 System – One of the most well-known baccarat systems. Its name is related to the number of betting units you gamble in each game if you continue to win. If you make an initial bet of £1 and win, you increase your bet in the next round to £3. If you win again, you then reduce your bet to £2 in the next round. If you are successful again, you then increase your bet to £6 for a fourth and final round. If you were lucky enough to win four rounds in a row, you would therefore win a total of £14. However, if at any stage you lose a round, you return to your initial stake of £1 for the next round, minimising your losses.
