Go to a land-based or online live casino in Malaysia, and you’ll see that many gamblers play Baccarat. With its simple rules yet suspenseful gameplay, this card game captivates both newbie and long-time players, making it a staple in countless casinos worldwide.
As with other classic casino games, Baccarat has several versions, such as the European variant. Most of the rules of this variation are similar to the original one; however, it has some unique rules that deviate from other versions. Understanding the ins and outs of European Baccarat allows punters to create winning strategies and make games more fun.
European Baccarat: Basic Rules
As with the original version, you have to bet on any of these results: player win, banker win, or a tie. A “win” means having a higher score with a hand of 2 or 3 cards.
Card values in European Baccarat go this way:
- Face cards and “10” are equal to 0,
- Ace cards are equal to 1,
- Number cards are equal to their face value.
Similar to classic baccarat, the maximum hand value is 9. If the hand exceeds 9, only the second digit of the sum is considered. For instance, if you have “8” and “7” cards, your hand value will be 5.
Moreover, a hand value of 8 or 9 automatically wins. If neither the player nor the banker gets a natural win, a third card will be played.
Player and Banker Rules in European Baccarat
Now, this is where most of European Baccarat rules come in – how the third card will be drawn. Here are the possible cases:
If the player’s hand sums to 5, the player may choose to deal a third card or stand. This rule deviates from most Baccarat versions, where the player must deal a third card whether they want it or not.
If the player’s hand sums to 6 or 7, no additional card is drawn
If the player’s hand is lower than 5, a third card is drawn.
Meanwhile, the banker rules in the European Baccarat follows the American version.
If the banker’s hand sums to 6 or 7, they stand.
If the banker’s hand sums to 5 and the player has two cards only, the banker draws another card.
If the player draws a third card and the total is at most 2, the banker draws another card.
If the player’s third card is not 8 and the banker’s hand adds up to 3, the banker may draw another card.
If the player’s third card is worth 4, 5, 6, or 7 and the banker’s hand is worth 5, the banker may draw another card.
European Baccarat: Tips and Strategies
Most of Baccarat’s wins are due to luck, but there are some things that you can do to boost your odds and have a memorable gambling experience.
Banker’s Bet is Better: Mathematically speaking, a banker’s bet has a higher chance of winning due to its lower house edge (1.06%) compared to the player’s bet (1.24%).
Tie Bets are the Worst: House edge is high in tie bets (around 14%). In the long run, tie bets are more costly to a gambler compared to a banker’s or player’s bet.
Manage Your Bankroll Wisely: Set only a specific number of bets every session (e.g., a maximum of 30 bets) so you can properly manage your bankroll and avoid financial consequences outside of gambling.
Wrap Up
European Baccarat adds exciting twists to the classic card game and provides Baccarat lovers with a fresh gaming experience. To make it even better, Malaysian gamblers can try European Baccarat in a secure, user-friendly, and fair online casino such as CM2Bet MY.
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