Some Baccarat History

Baccarat is one of those casino games that originated in Italy. The name Baccarat derives from an Italian card game dating back to the middle ages. It was originally played with Tarot cards and no one seems to know when that changed to regular playing cards. The word Baccarat, stemming from the Italian Baccara, means 0 which is what is especially significant to this game.

The counting of points in Baccarat as well as in online Baccarat is very singular. Face cards count as ten, Ace counts as one, and although all other cards count at their numerical value, scores are only totaled in one digit. In other words, in this Italian gift to casino games, two face cards with a value of 20 would only count as 0. A six and a ten would not be sixteen, but only six.

Online Baccarat is Available to All

Around the end of the 15th century Baccarat was a favorite with the French nobility which is probably how it obtained its reputation as one of those casino games for the elite. Even today, in land based casinos, it is usually played in a separate room or in a roped off section with VIP treatment for the players.

However, online Baccarat is available to anyone playing online casino games. If you check any online casino directory asking for sites for online Baccarat, you will receive long lists of sites because almost every online casino today offers the game of online Baccarat. The casino directory might even give you sites where online Baccarat is played with a live dealer which is now the latest innovation in online Baccarat.

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How to Play Online Baccarat

Online Baccarat is played just like regular land based casino Baccarat. The aim of the game is to reach a point count of nine, or as close to nine as possible. Although online Baccarat is easier to play than blackjack, it is not as popular amongst online casino games as blackjack. This is probably due to its reputation as a game for the elite. Only two hands are dealt, one to the Banker and one to the player, but all participants at the table may bet on either of these hands. Chances are that in online Baccarat you will be the only player. Each hand is dealt two cards. If the hand count with these two cards is less than eight or nine, the player may stand or draw one more card. The player must stand on six or seven, and he must draw on four or less. The hand closest to the count of nine, without overreaching it, wins.

Standard online Baccarat is played with three to six decks of cards all shuffled together. However, in any online casino directory, you will probably find the game of Mini-Baccarat listed amongst the casino games. Mini-Baccarat is very popular because it is played with only one deck of cards. The pace of this online Baccarat version is usually faster and betting minimums and maximums are generally lower than regular Baccarat casino games.