When you step into the exciting and growing world of table games, you are bombarded with fantastic poker and blackjack options. Undoubtedly, these two table games offer the most variants. However, with massive technological leaps, things are quickly shaping up to where other elegant table games, like baccarat, are quickly catching up.
Online baccarat offers more rewarding variants than playing in person. So, where do you begin, and what are your options? From Punto Banco to Dragon Bonus Baccarat, this article highlights the amazing baccarat variants and tips to find the right one for you.
Hitting the Tables: Exploring Punto Banco Baccarat
Punto Banco, sometimes called Chemin de Fer in European countries, is the oldest baccarat variant. When you watch movies, chances are this is the baccarat game played. Like blackjack, the players go against the dealer. The baccarat playing round begins with the dealer passing two cards to each player and then two cards to themselves.
The aim is to get to a natural nine, or at least an eight, to win with the two cards. If that’s not the case after the first two cards, players can draw a third card or more if the playing hand is worth between 0-5 points. In baccarat, the tens and face cards all count for zero, while aces count as a point.
The banker can also pull or draw a third card, but only under specific circumstances. You don’t have to worry about busting because if the playing card value exceeds nine, the first digit in the number is dropped, and the second digit becomes your new value.
Punto Banco sets the standard for other baccarat games because it relies heavily on these three principle bets:
- The player’s bet: This is where the player bets on the player having the highest hand. The house edge is generally 1.25%.
- The banker’s bet: This is where the player bets on the dealer having the highest playing hand. The house edge is a more favorable 1.05%. However, many live dealers’ real money and sweepstakes games feature no commission. In this case, the house edge can drop as low as 0.5%, allowing winners to have more funds in their accounts.
- The tie bet: This difficult bet can pay 8:1 for correctly guessing that the player and the banker have identical playing hand values. However, the house edge in most cases is over 14%.
The safe bets for most players are the player’s and the banker’s bets. Besides the extremely low house edge, both of these baccarat bets pay even money.
Chemin de Fer: A French Classic
The staple baccarat game in France and Europe, and of course, in the James Bond films, is Chemin de Fer. This game is suited for many players at the table and usually plays with at least six card decks. Besides this, Chemin de fer features these top features:
- All the players take turns managing the shoe as the banker.
- The banker has more flexibility in choosing to draw or to stand.
- Features more betting strategies to boost payouts.
Given the unique nature of Chemin de Fer, more strategy and concentration are involved than in other baccarat games.
Other Exciting Baccarat Variations
Thanks to the continued rapid expansion of online casinos, baccarat has more access and choices than ever before. When playing at today’s amazing online casinos, you can expect these fascinating baccarat options:
Mini-Baccarat
Mini-Baccarat is an emerging option at many online casinos. For the most part, it plays like the traditional Punto Banco variant but with these additional features:
- It caters to a much smaller gaming audience, making the rounds go much faster.
- There is only one dealer.
- Usually doesn’t feature side bets.
Lightning Baccarat
Lightning Baccarat is easily one of the fastest-growing variants at today’s live dealer sections. This variant plays like Punto Banco with the added twist of having random winning multipliers and these other features:
- Enjoy random winning multipliers that can greatly enhance payouts.
- A unique setup and table design for more immersion.
- Loads of side bets.
Super 6
The Super 6 variant is growing at real money and social casinos. Social casinos are emphasizing Super 6 to involve more social media involvement and community gaming among their members. The Super 6 variant spices up the gameplay with the amazing features:
- The banker bet pays even money if they don’t win with a playing hand worth six points.
- For a playing hand worth six, the payout is lower at 0.50:1.
- Usually, it offers no-commission rules.
Baccarat Variations Compared: Which One Is Right for You?
To help you invest in the right baccarat game for you, here are some top tips to consider:
| Variation | House Edge | Number of Decks |
| Punto Banco | 1.06% for the banker’s bet | 6 to 8 |
| Chemin de Fer | 1.06% for the banker’s bet and 1.24% for the player’s bet | 6 to 8 |
| Super 6 | 1.46% banker’s bets | 6 to 8 |
| Lightning Baccarat | 1.06% for banker’s bets | 8 |
Hopefully, this is a starting point for getting going with the phenomenal blackjack variants. Across the board, most baccarat variants support a 14.36% house edge for the tie bet. Baccarat games, especially for digital variants that offer bonuses and side bets, can slightly lower the house edge.
Final Thoughts: Choosing Your Ideal Baccarat Variation
With so much technology, the possibilities for playing online baccarat continue to know no bounds.
For players on budgets, it might be helpful to focus on Punto Banco and variants that support no-commission so you can earn more money in the long run. Also, many online casinos offer worthy bonuses that apply to most baccarat variants.
