7 of Best Variants of Baccarat

The popularity of the best variants of baccarat across online gambling sites and brick-and-mortar casinos is something no player could argue about. You can play baccarat almost everywhere across the globe. There are different versions of the game you can try. In this article, we’ll go through the most common among them.

The simple rules and the high odds are the primary reasons why baccarat is an attractive game. The rules of the different variations hide some differences, but most versions are just as easy to learn as the original game.

Most casinos today offer at least a handful of baccarat variants, meaning that you’ll be able to choose something different. Before you pick one, make sure you’ve read the rules and you’ve picked the best strategy. There isn’t a lot of competitive advantage to have when playing baccarat, but everything you can you to have the edge counts.

Things You Should Consider About Modern-Day Baccarat

Baccarat may be a simple game, but its different versions add a bit of complexity, alongside more thrill, excitement, and bigger wins. Let’s look at some specific baccarat games that may grab your attention.

Progressive Baccarat

The progressive baccarat tables you’ll find at some physical and online casinos are attractive because of the progressive wager they feature, as the name suggests. The potential payout you’re looking at can be very high. It’s incomparable to the usual winnings most basic variants of baccarat offer.

The Triple Match Return is one of the progressive baccarat variants to try out. Naturally, the game does not offer a competitive RTP percentage, but the thrill players seek is worth it in this case. There are big wins to chase when playing this game.

As the name suggests, to win at Triple Match Return, you need to have 3-3-3 of diamonds. If you have this hand and you’ve put a wager on the progressive side bet, then the current jackpot is yours.

Live Dealer Baccarat

This version is similar to the basic baccarat variant in terms of rules. There are differences to consider, but they are related mostly to the technical details related to payouts, for example. Yes, live dealer baccarat games follow the same gameplay as the ones dealt at land-based casinos unless there’s a difference that comes from the casino’s rules and regulations. Still, these differences mostly affect other aspects of your experience, and not the game itself.

If your concerns are related to the speed of the game, then you need to know that a live dealer baccarat game is slower than most of the best variants of baccarat you could opt for. The reason is simple: the live dealer waits for all the players to make up their minds and bet accordingly. As a result, you may be encouraged to steer toward online baccarat variants. Most of them rely on RNGs and are a faster and easier alternative to access. The best part is that the experience you get is as close to a visit to a brick-and-mortar casino as possible.

Commission and Non-Commission Baccarat

These two types of baccarat tables are very different from one another. The commission baccarat tables require you to pay a percentage of your winnings, meaning that the house has a guaranteed profit when the banker’s bet is successful. This profit depends on the number of players, but each of them pays a 5% commission.

Non-commission baccarat tables have a 1:1 payout, meaning that there’s no commission you’d need to pay otherwise.

How and Where to Find Different Variants of Baccarat?

Finding a specific variant of baccarat that you want to play is not that difficult, but it can take some research, regardless if you’re looking for a land-based venue or an online casino. Brick-and-mortar casinos usually offer a greater variety of baccarat games, but some gambling sites are not far behind in terms of diversity.

Punto Banco and Mini Baccarat are among the most common variants of this casino game, and you’re likely to find them in many casinos. The biggest gambling sites and venues usually feature Chemin de Fer and Baccarat Banque. There are less common baccarat variants you’ll find in remote locations.

You can always start with a local land-based casino, or pick some of the top-rated online casinos. This is a good way to explore a handful of variants of baccarat. Gambling sites make this very easy, as you could play the type of baccarat you want while on the go. A few clicks should get you there.

The Best Variants of Baccarat | Introduction

The known variants of baccarat are too many to list in a single article, so we’ll introduce you to 7 of the most common ones. In our opinion, they’re the best variants of baccarat in existence, and they’re all worth the time and effort.

Punto Banco

Punto Banco is surely among the top 3 variants of baccarat in terms of popularity and availability. You can find it in many casinos across the globe, and there’s no wonder about that, as the game is exciting because of its main rule. In Punto Banco, you and the rest of the players wager against the dealer, making it somewhat similar to blackjack. This betting rule is encoded in the game’s name (Punto stands for Player, and Banco stands for Bank).

The goal for the players in Punto Banco is to reach a hand that’s close to 9, but higher than what the banker has. If you get there and you don’t go bust, then you are in the money. In Punto Banco, cards are valued in the same way as in the basic baccarat variant. Face cards are worth 0, and Aces are valued at 1 point. The rest of the deck of cards have their original value.

When it comes to betting options, you can choose to wager on the player or the bank, but you can also bet that the result will be a tie. Winning player bets have a 1:1 payout, while bank bets have a payout of 95:100. Tie (Egalite) bets have an 8:1 payout.

Mini Baccarat

Mini baccarat is one of the best variants of baccarat you’ll find at most venues in Las Vegas, but it’s also relatively popular across online gambling sites. The game is an optimized version of the classic version. Mini baccarat requires 8 card decks. The betting options are similar to the ones Punto Banco offers.

Except for the three basic bets, there’s an option for side bets. They can get you the so-called Dragon Bonus. It’s a nice option to take advantage of. You’ll receive a payout in case your hand wins by at least a 4-point advantage, or if the hand is “natural”. In this game, the only task that needs to be fulfilled by the dealer is mixing the card shoe.

Chemin de Fer

Chemin de Fer is easily one of the best variants of baccarat, and it’s also one of the oldest ones in existence today. Baccarat has been around for centuries, and it seems that Chemin de Fer is nearly as old as the original.

The players who prefer this version mostly like the fact that there’s no bank involved. The game is so popular that it’s even been featured in several movies. Players bet against each other, making the game a preferred choice.

When you join a Chemin de Fer table, you’ll see that players take turns acting as the banker. The rotation is clockwise and follows the same direction – to the dealer’s right side. The dealer places a bet as well, and you have the option to wager everything against that bet. You can bet otherwise, of course.

Dragon Tiger

Dragon Tiger is one of the simplest variants of baccarat, meaning that it’s a perfect way for rookie players to start learning the game. The game requires two cards, one of which is dealt to the so-called Dragon, while the other is dealt to the Tiger. All you need to do is guess which of the two cards has a higher value.

It sounds simple, but it’s very exciting to participate. This variant originated in Asia, hence the name and roles. Payouts follow the 1:1 pattern, and the average house edge is 3.73%. Tie bets have a whopping 8:1 payout odds, but the house edge is nearly 33%.

Baccarat Banque

This is one baccarat variant that serves as an alternative to Chemin de Fer. There’s a dedicated bank included in the gameplay, hence the name. In fact, Baccarat Banque is one of the oldest variants of this game to feature a bank.

The main difference between this variant of baccarat and the rest is that it’s played with three card decks, which is significantly less than the other versions, some of which require eight card decks.

While somewhat similar to Chemin de Fer, Baccarat Banque has a notable difference compared to this variant: players never play against each other. They take turns in an attempt to reach the right hand that would defeat the banker. The one player that takes the role of the banker doesn’t have to cover the rest of the players’ bets.

Macau Baccarat

Macau has become one of the hotspots for casino players from all over the world. The region has developed a local variant of baccarat, which is exciting and attracts a lot of players. Baccarat brings most of the revenue from Macau’s gambling industry.

Baccarat has always been one of the most popular games in Macau casinos, and this is why Macau Baccarat exists in the first place. The game will remind you of Punto Banco, but there are differences. When you join a Macau Baccarat table, you will play heads-up against the dealer in an attempt to have a hand that’s close to 9 with just two or three cards.

European Baccarat

While Punto Banco is more popular in the U.S., there’s a variant of baccarat that’s more popular across the pond. European Baccarat is different in an exciting way. It gives you the chance to decide to either stand your hand or request another card from the dealer. The banker also has the chance to get a third card.

The casino covers the banker’s hand in European Baccarat, which is another difference worth mentioning. The rest of the players can’t wager in cases when the banker’s bet has been met by player bets.

The Conclusion

Chances are, there will be at least a few baccarat tables at every land-based casino you walk in or every gambling site you log onto. Choosing either of them is never going to be a mistake, as long as you know the differences between the variant you’re about to play and the classic game.

Knowing how the best variants of baccarat work will allow you to have the right strategy and to make the most of your game. Some versions of this legendary game are simple enough to make the perfect beginner’s choice. Following the rules and enjoying the game is all it takes to feel the magic of baccarat.