Which is the Best Baccarat Game Variation?

Liam O'Sullivan
Written byLiam O'SullivanWriter
Fact checked byDylan ThomasFact Checker

Baccarat is one of the most popular online card games that can be played in either online or land-based casinos. The Baccarat card game is considered very easy to learn, as its rules are very simple. Every baccarat online game has a very low house edge, which makes it very attractive for gamblers.

The Baccarat game is all about comparing the cards of the banker and the players. It can be found in any online casino, but aside from the standard variation, which is Punto Banco, players can enjoy many other variations, which can also offer a very good experience.

Which is the Best Baccarat Game Variation?

What are the Baccarat Game Variations?

Each baccarat online game variation can vary in some rules and side bets, but the major rules of the game remain quite similar. Baccarat card games offer quite more variations than any player might think of. Each player has to be informed and prepared about what each variation of Baccarat casino game offers, to choose the best one for him.

Punto Banco

The standard version of online baccarat is called Punto Banco. This type of baccarat is the most widespread and can be found on any online casino site. Punto Banco is a game type which requires 3 dealers, which mainly applies to land-based casinos. In the Punto Banco variation, players can bet on the Player, Banker, or a Tie, also known as Punto, Banko, and Egalite.

  • Punto (Player) Bet pays 1:1.
  • Banko (Banker) Bet Pays 19:20,
  • Egalite (Tie) Bet Pays 8:1

The card values in Punto Banco are the same as in almost any other baccarat variation. Aces are equal to 1, all numerous cards are equal to their face value, and 10, J, Q, and King are equal to 0.

Chemin de Fer

Baccarat Chemin de Fer Variation is considered one of the oldest ones. Proven recordings of the Chemin de Fer game were found from the French Napoleon Era. The way Chemin de Fer differentiates from Punto Banco is that the player cannot bet against the banker, but instead against each other. The game is played by 12 players.

At the beginning of each hand, the dealer will place a bet, which players may decide to go all-in against or choose to place a different bet. In this variation, players can basically act as a bank and play against other players. The objective of the game is also to get as close to 9 as possible.

Mini Baccarat

Mini baccarat is quite similar to Punto Banco, but as its name suggests, it is played on a smaller table with 7 seats, instead of the 14 of Punto Banco. Mini Baccarat requires only one dealer.

All of that makes Mini Baccarat online a preferred variation for millions of players, due to its fast-paced action and simplicity. As in the standard version of Baccarat, the mini version allows players to bet on the player, banker, or a tie, but also, side bets can be placed.

Baccarat Banque

Baccarat Banque is mainly popular in European casinos. It is very similar to Chemin de Fer, but it’s played with just 3 decks, which makes a huge difference from the other variations that are played with 6 or 8 decks.

  • The banker can only bet on the banker's position, whereas players can only bet on the player's position.
  • There is no tie bet option,
  • Players can make a matching bet to play against the Banker, which is something unique for this type of Baccarat casino game.

Three Card Baccarat

Three-card baccarat is among the most popular types of baccarat in Macau casinos. This variation features a single 52-card deck and in each round, the player and the banker are dealt with 3 cards, instead of the usual 2.

Card values in this variation of the baccarat table game are the same as in any other, except that 3 face cards are worth the most, making the score of 9 the second-best score to get.

An interesting rule of Three Card baccarat is when the player’s and the banker’s cards are equal, the round doesn’t end in a tie, but the hand with more face cards wins.

Which is the Best Baccarat Game Variation?

Every player has a different opinion of what the best type of baccarat game is. Punto Banco remains the standard variation, which is preferred by millions of bettors. However, mini-baccarat is gaining more popularity. This is because it’s very similar to Punto Banco but is played at a faster rate, with fewer players, and just one dealer.

Mini Baccarat is usually very suitable for beginners, as it also offers lower stake ranges. Of course, any player is free to play baccarat online and choose the variation they like the most.

Where to Play Different Variations of Baccarat Online with Real Money?

Nowadays, online casinos offer almost any type of baccarat, with Punto Banco and Mini Baccarat being a must. However, it’s always good to take a look at what types of Baccarat online game options a certain casino offers before opening an account. Players should always keep in mind that different types of baccarat are popular in different casinos.

Three Card Baccarat is very popular in Macau casinos, whereas European Baccarat is mainly played in Europe. Baccarat Chemin de Fer can be found in European and American Casinos, alongside Australian ones.

What Else to Look for When Playing Different Baccarat Variations?

When playing different types of Baccarat, players usually neglect that some key factors can help them be more successful in their baccarat journey. Let’s take a look at them.

Bankroll Management

Bankroll management is always the first thing for a player to look for when playing baccarat online, especially when playing online baccarat with real money and higher stakes.

It may be tempting to take bigger when trying new variations of the baccarat card game, but this could end up breaking the bank. So, it’s a must to follow a certain bankroll management strategy that will guarantee less risk.

Don’t Rush Into a New Strategy without knowing the rules

Each type of Baccarat game online has some differences in rules. So, if a player happens to try a new variation of the baccarat table game without knowing the rules, he risks jumping into very frustrating situations.

For example, in Three Card Baccarat, the highest possible combination is 3 face cards, making 9 the second-best score to get, which may come as a surprise for an unprepared player.

Live Dealer Baccarat or Standard Baccarat Table Game

Players can choose between playing live dealer or standard baccarat table games, which is another thing to consider when trying new types of baccarat. Live dealer tables usually allow players to observe the game first and then start playing, giving extra time to get to know the game in detail.

Conclusion

The Baccarat online game has a lot more variations than most players know about. These variations have the same basic rules. But, some factors make the difference, like how many players can play, whether the player can place the banker bet or not, and also the number of decks and dealers that participate in the game.

Another thing to be considered is that in different variations, there are different side bets that players can place.

Overall, Baccarat is a very simple game, which features a few rules that players should follow to be successful, and moving from variation to variation should not be a problem, as the differences are minor. Still, it’s good to know what the types of baccarat are to not jump into something completely new.

About the author
Liam O'Sullivan
Liam O'Sullivan
About

Liam O'Sullivan, an Irish digital maestro, seamlessly fuses his impeccable command of English with an enthusiastic penchant for online gaming. Highly regarded for his localization expertise, Liam fine-tunes online casino guides, ensuring they resonate profoundly with the diverse English-speaking populace.

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What kind of game is baccarat?

Baccarat is one of the most popular card games. It has very simple rules and plenty of variations which players usually don’t even know about. Baccarat is all about comparing cards, the cards of the banker and the player.

Which baccarat is the most popular?

The most popular variation of Baccarat is punto banco, which is the standard version of the game. In this type of baccarat casino game, players have the option to bet on the banker, player, or a tie. Over the past few years, mini baccarat has gained a lot of popularity as well, as it’s very similar to the Punto Banco, but is played at a faster rate, due to fewer players participating.

How to play mini baccarat?

The mini-baccarat table game is quite similar to Punto Banco, with the only difference being that it is played with 7 players, instead of the 14 in the Punto. Also, just one dealer is required for the Mini Version of baccarat. Overall, Mini baccarat is very similar to the standard version but is more fast-paced than the standard one.

What is the difference between baccarat and mini baccarat?

Usually, Punto Banco is referred to as baccarat, as it’s considered the standard version of the game. Mini baccarat is the mini version of Punto Banco. It is played with fewer players, 7 instead of 14, and instead of the original 3 dealers, Mini Baccarat online requires just 1 dealer. In both variations, the player can bet on the Banker, the Player, or a Tie.

What is punto banco?

Punto Banco is the standard Baccarat game type. In this variation of Baccarat, there are up to 14 players and 3 dealers. There are 3 types of bets, on the Banker (Banco), which pays 19:20, on the Player (Punto), which pays 1:1, and on a Tie (Egalite), with a payout of 8:1.

How to play punto banco?

Punto Banco is one of the easiest types of baccarat to learn, as there are just a few rules that have to be remembered about when to draw or stand. In Punto Banco Baccarat Card Game tables, 3 types of bets can be placed; on the banker, the player, or on a tie.

How to play chemin de fer?

Chemin de Fer is a very popular type of baccarat that can be played online or in land-based casinos. Unlike in the standard variation of Baccarat, Punto Banco, in Chemin de Fer, players cannot place a bet on the Banker. The game is played by up to 12 players and the objective is again to get a hand value as close to 9 as possible.

What does chemin de fer mean?

Chemin de Fer comes from the French Baccarat casino game, which is played by 12 players, who bet against each other, not against the banker, as it is in the standard Punto Banco Variation.

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