Baccarat

It is not evident to trace the origin of the game of Baccarat, due to the hypotheses and narratives that are sometimes historically divergent. This game made its first appearance in the 19th century, but some historians argue that it has its roots in the Middle Ages. Others maintain that this game was exported from Italy, while other groups insist that it originated directly from France.

Despite these rather controversial opinions, baccarat has sparked the enthusiasm of players, especially after the release of the film Dr. No by James Bond 007. Throughout the episodes of the secret agent, there is a similar game to this game of chance. In this article, we will try to discover the theories surrounding the conception of this game. Some facts mentioned here may be discredited by certain individuals. But since researchers are still searching for the origins of the game, it is important to gather all possible versions.

The medieval game

The first theory states that baccarat has been around since the Middle Ages. At that time, people were already playing a game similar to baccarat. On the other hand, according to certain rituals from that era, young virgin women would throw something resembling a tarot card or a dice to determine their fate. If the number indicated 8 or 9, the women could become priestesses. If, unfortunately, the dice or card showed the number 6, the player deserved the death penalty. And for the number 7, she should no longer be part of the temple. Although chance is involved in this decision, it is still difficult to conceive the link between this card throw from the Middle Ages and baccarat.

French origin

According to the book by poet Joseph Méry, the practice of this game began in the south of France. According to this author, the word baccarat is a Provençal term. It means bécarre or "to be at zero". To go bécarre means to be at the end of one's roll or to be ruined. This seems plausible indeed, especially since it resembles Blackjack. In the 18th century, blackjack did not yet exist, but people played "chemin de fer" or "ferme française" in the casinos of Paris. The principles of these two games are identical in some respects, hence the birth of this theory about the origin of the baccarat game.

The Italian version

Some references at the beginning of this game also come from Italy. In the Italian language, Baccara means "nothing". Specialists deduce a connection with the meaning of the number 10 and the face cards. In the game, these two have a value of zero. Two groups even dispute the true origin of this game. The first attributes the creation of the game to Felix Falguiern, a man relatively unknown to those around him. The second group argues that the paternity of this game belongs to Lino Bussoli. The latter was a banker renowned for his cheating. According to the little story, his ears were even cut off because of his bad deeds. A storyteller might find the narrative amusing, but regardless, it is unknown which country deserves the right to claim the birthplace of this game.

A European game

If the nationality of the game is neither French nor Italian, it is indisputable that it is still European. Simply because in the 17th century, it was already popular in the establishments of the French Riviera. After its birth in the Italian peninsula, King Charles VIII would have brought it. The king himself was a fervent follower of the game. Nowadays, in Europe, players willingly indulge in the version of baccarat derived from Chemin de fer. Its popularity began with the expansion of the new English colonies across the sea. The English brought their cultures and their games to their colonies. The product also quickly captivated the land of Uncle Sam, where it rubs shoulders with the casinos of Nevada.

The practice of baccarat in the casino

In the 19th century, the game was only for the entertainment of the aristocracy and the wealthy bourgeoisie. Now it has become a flagship game in casinos. In the 1880s, the Court of Cassation banned this game. But that did not stop the development of the game. It is actually around 1905 that this game of chance will be made accessible to the public. It made its entrance in Las Vegas in the 1950s. Around the 1980s, mini-baccarat was born in casinos. The limits of this game are less restricted compared to the original baccarat. It is not necessary to be wealthy to bet on a game of mini-baccarat. If you want to one day feel like one of these movie stars, bet large sums on baccarat. The sensation of being a very important person is worth it!

The search for a winning strategy in baccarat is of paramount importance for any player wishing to emerge victorious in one or more games. Before delving into the details of the various baccarat strategies, it is first necessary to understand the basics of the game.

The objective of baccarat is simple form a combination of 2 or 3 added cards. The player who holds a hand closest to a value of nine will be the winner. Knowing that the values of the cards are equal to their nominal values, except for 10, J, Q, and K which are worth zero, and A, equal to one. During the game, you can bet on who will have the best hand: either the player, the banker, or on a tie. If the player's hand wins, you will receive double the amount bet. The same applies when you bet on the banker, except that a commission of 5 percent will be deducted. Betting on a tie can result in up to nine times your bet, while otherwise, you will automatically receive the same value. If you want to deepen your knowledge of this game, feel free to consult our resources. baccarat rules .

Assess the risks

The goal of a potential game strategy is to know when to draw the third card and when to stand with the first two. The player should always draw if their starting hand is equal to zero or has a value of 1, 2, 3, or 4. It is advised to draw if the total of the two cards is 6 or 7. The only case where a player has the choice of action is when their first two cards give them a hand value of 5. It is therefore recommended not to risk taking more if one is betting big. Most baccarat games use eight decks, which means the game is played with eight sets of cards. However, the most popular ones remain those with six decks. Each deck taken out of the game will effectively affect your chances of winning by a small percentage. Although low deck games are not the best, the result can be noticeable.

The martingale strategy

This strategy is the simplest and can bring in big winnings. However, if you are unlucky, the losses will be minimal. 1, 3, 2, and 6 are the units that you should bet on the first four hands. Let's say on the first hand, you place 1 unit. If you win, you will have gained a profit of 1 unit. On the second hand, increase your initial bet by 1 unit, so 3 units. If you win again, you will be rewarded with 6 units. The same goes for the third hand, with a gain of 4 units, then place a bet of 2 units (6 - 4 = 2). If luck smiles on you once again, you will have 4 units on the table, and on the next hand you add 2 more units for a total bet of 6 units. If the fourth bet wins, you will have 12 units on the table, including 10 profitable units. Once you lose one of these hands, start again from 1 unit. Unfortunately, this strategy only works in unlimited betting games where players have unlimited resources.

Play by odds

The only areas where a player can reasonably have an impact on their chances of success is by choosing their table wisely and betting on the most likely outcomes. A good way to win at baccarat is to try to spot different patterns in the game and bet accordingly. In order to do this, it is essential to observe the favorable odds offered for each bet, knowing that the house advantage is 1.06 percent on banker bets, 1.24 percent on player bets, 14.36 percent on a tie, and 11.25 percent on even bets. Therefore, the banker bet represents the best value in baccarat. However, the gap between the true probabilities and the payout odds is considered too large.

Remember that you are more likely to lose if you choose to play in the long term, regardless of the strategy systems you choose. According to statistics, the best bet is to bet on the banker. Even though this strategy may seem repetitive and boring, at least you will be sure not to come out as a loser. And since the stakes are usually very high, it is important to keep in mind how much you can afford to bet and to stop once your limits are reached. Furthermore, it is now possible to play baccarat from the comfort of your own home and not have to bet as much as in a land-based casino.

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