If you are familiar with classic casino card games, you will know that Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games in any land-based and online casino. The game has always had a massive following, however many people were hesitant to give it a try because of the expensive learning curve for beginners. When online casinos started offering the game, players were able to go online and play for free, giving them the confidence to swap over and play for real money. The most popular version of the game played online is Punto Banco. In the notes below, we are going to look at how to get started playing and winning online.

A High-Stakes Casino Card Game

Online Punto Banco Baccarat has a fairly simple setup. The game is played on a single table where the player’s chips are located at the bottom of the screen. There are three betting areas and two sections where the cards are dealt. If you are new to the game, Punto Banco is similar to blackjack in a way. The biggest difference in this game is that you don’t have to bet on your own hand. In this game, you can bet on yourself, on the banker or on a tie. Thats what set New Zealand online blackjack apart from this game. The game begins with the player placing his or her bet on the table. This can be done by clicking on the chips and then placing them on one of the three betting options.

The Three Betting Options

In Punto Banco Baccarat, a bet on the player will pay out 1:1. If you place a bet on the banker, the house will take a percentage cut of the winnings. The highest paying bet is the tie bet. This pays out 9:1 but the odds of a tie are much lower. Once the player has placed their bet on the table, they can click on the deal button. The dealer will then deal the player two cards and two cards for the banker face down. The aim of Punto Banco is to win by scoring the highest number of points with the cards that you have been dealt.

Calculating the Point Score

In Baccarat, totalling up your points can get a bit confusing. In the online version of the game, the computer will automatically total your points and display it on the screen. In this game, the cards 2 through to 10 are each worth their face value. The jack queen and king are all worth 10 points and the ace is worth a single point. To get to the point total, players must add the two numbers together and then drop the first digit. For example, if a player has a 6 and a 7, their total is 15, when the first digit is dropped, their score is 5.

Natural Hands and Third Cards

After the cards have been dealt, if either the player or the banker has a natural hand (a total of 8 or 9), the round ends and the bets are paid out. If neither the player or the banker has a natural hand, the player can accept a third card according to the baccarat third card rules. The dealer can also accept a third card. Once the all the cards have been dealt, the computer will determine the winning bet and pay out accordingly.