Baccarat Variations

Baccarat is an extremely old game originating in Italy during the middle ages. With its age, has come much traveling as well as a great deal of evolution. This has given the game a number of variations. Each of these variations has its own rules and all are equally acceptable, though depending on the casino, different versions are used. American baccarat is standard within Vegas casinos.

The following is are the most common variations of baccarat, and what makes them unique:

European Baccarat - In this game, you are able to decide weather or not you wish to stand when you have drawn a 5, whereas you must draw if you are playing the American version. The dealer is considered the permanent banker, and the play of this participant is optional. When one bets on the banker, it means a 5% charge on the winnings of each of these bets. The player has the option of playing or buying the bank.
Chemin de Fer - This game is an early variation of the original game, created in France when the game migrated there from Italy. The name means “railroad” in French and refers to the movement of the shoe among the different players. In this version, the play of the banker is optional. Each player has the option of standing or drawing on a 5. The house is the banker, and will collect a commission each time the banker’s hand has won so that there is no risk for the house.
Baccarat en Banque - This is another French version of the game. It involves one banker hand and two player hands, instead of one. The players are allowed to bet on each other’s hands, but never on the banker’s hand. The banker is the dealer and is always a casino employee. There aren’t any rules stating whether or not the banker must stand or draw.

Though the differences between these different variations are not dramatic, and most baccarat players can manage with the dissimilarities in rules, most people have a personal preference as to which game they wish to play. In most cases, as long as a person has a good understanding of the American rules, they will be able to adapt to other rules easy enough to play comfortably.