While the grandiose atmosphere may attract the well-dressed high roller, baccarat is a simple game of chance that involves no degree of skill on the part of the player or dealer.

Players may sit in any of the 14 open seats at the table, as seating position does not affect the play in any manner. Each seat corresponds to a number on the layout, one through 15, excluding a spot numbered 13 to avoid bad luck.

Three dealers service each table. The dealer standing in the middle is known as the croupier or the caller. The croupier makes the calls on each hand as they are dealt, and directs the players on the procedure of the game. The other two dealers are responsible for handling the payoffs.

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Baccarat is played with either six or eight decks of cards. All cards, ace through nine, have a value equal to their face value while tens and face cards are equal to zero. When the combined value of any two cards is greater than 10, 10 must be subtracted and the remaining total is the card count.

The cards are shuffled by the dealer and placed in a covered box called the shoe.

As part of the formality, each player gets a turn to handle the shoe, and the caller explains exactly what to do.

The player is expected to bet the bank when holding the shoe, but any player may decline the shoe and pass it along to the next player.

Baccarat Rules

• The highest total any baccarat hand can have is nine. A two-card total of nine is called a natural and cannot lose. An eight is the second best hand and it is also called a natural. If both player and bank are dealt identical hands, a tie is declared and neither bank nor player wins.

• If neither hand has a natural, the player's hand is always the first to be played. If the first two cards total five or less, another card is drawn. If they total six or seven, no further cards can be drawn.

• No more than three cards can be drawn for either hand, and when both hands have been played out, the hand closest to nine wins.

• Players bet by placing their chips on either the player, bank, or the tie. Winning bets made on the player or bank are paid off at even money. The only other bet that can be placed is a tie bet, which pays 8:1.

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The type and amount of the wager are the only decisions a player must make, after which point the dealer's actions take over.

After the winner is announced, the two other dealers at the table pay off the winning bets and collect from the losers.

If the bank was the winner, players who won must pay a 5% commission on their winnings.

A record of the commission owed by each player is kept with plastic lammers in a numbered box.

Players can pay this vigorish at any time, but it must be paid when the shoe is complete.

Each time the shoe is depleted of cards, all decks are shuffled and replaced in the shoe.

The house edge in baccarat is the lowest of any casino game. With only a 5% commission on winning bank bets and nothing taken from winning player bets, the player's disadvantage is only 1.37%. The payoff for ties is 8:1, but it is a bad bet as the house edge is increased to 14.1%.

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