Baccarat has always enjoyed a decidedly glamorous
image. In Las Vegas, the game is often played in special rooms that
are roped off from the regular casino. Typically, a baccarat room is
occupied by beautiful women (employed by the casinos to attract
players) and high rollers, who frequently bet thousands of dollars for
endless hours of play. Baccarat dealers sometimes wear tuxedos, giving
the game an additional air of exclusivity.
While the game attracts many notable high rollers, especially from
Asian countries, it has simultaneously scared off less affluent
players, who view the game as overly sophisticated. Although baccarat
may seem intimidating to those unfamiliar with the rules, it is, in
fact, one of the easiest casino games to play. There is only one
decision you have to make for each hand, and the dealers handle the
rest, playing out the hands according to strict, predetermined rules.
Some casinos also offer a game called mini-baccarat, which actually
has the exact same rules as regular baccarat. The only real difference
is that mini-baccarat requires only one dealer, and the bets are
typically made in much smaller denominations.
In addition, baccarat and, to a lesser extent, mini-baccarat, have a
lot of glamour-appeal to many people; the sharply-turned out dealers
and serious pit-bosses help to ensure this image.
The table
Baccarat Table
The regular baccarat table is about the size of a
craps table with 3 casino dealers and up to 12 or 14 players. Each
player, including the player dealing, may still bet on either the
player or the banker but it is customary for the dealer to bet on the
banker. The deal will rotate around the table, much like the dice
rotate around the craps table. If a player does not want to deal they
may pass the shoe to the next player. The same person will keep
dealing as long as the banker keeps winning. The person dealing will
put two cards, face down, tucked under the shoe, and give the player
with the greatest bet on the player the other two cards, face down.
This player then looks at the cards and then gives them back to the
player who is dealing. Then the player who is dealing will turn over
the cards and one of the casino dealers will announce the totals.
Depending on the totals the dealer may then instruct the person
dealing the cards to deal a third card. Finally the dealers will pay
winning wagers and collect losing ones out of the dealer's tray. The
player who actually deals is not assuming any financial responsibility
of the other players bets, unlike pai gow, and is just turning over
cards.
