A Closer Look at Baccarat Variations

Baccarat is probably one of the casino card games with the most variations on offer. Baccarat is probably one of the casino card games with the most variations on offer. Let’s take a closer look at Baccarat variations and what it offers you in terms of odds and entertainment.

Baccarat Variations: Double Fortune Baccarat

This game is played like ‘normal’ baccarat, except with 1 red and 1 blue 8-deck shoes. The dealers deal a hand from each type at the same time. You can wager on the outcome of both or either shoes. Furthermore, there are proposition bets on the outcome of both blue and red shoes. If 1 shoe runs out of cards before the other, proposition bets will not be allowed until both shoes have been exhausted. This game offers the same odds on the player, banker, and tie bets as in normal baccarat.

Lets look at the two proposition bets of double fortune baccarat variations. The 1st proposition bet is the Double Fortune Pairs. Only the 1st 2 cards of both player and the banker hands are used to decide the outcome. This will give you a house edge of 3.45%.

Baccarat Variations: 3 Card Baccarat

Many Macau casinos offer 3 Card Baccarat. This baccarat variations game is played with a single card deck. As with normal baccarat, face cards count 0 points, and others count according to their numerical value. The dealer deals 3 cards each to both the player and dealer hand every time.

The highest hand consists of 3 face cards. Afterwards, the hands are scored as per usual, and the hand with the most points wins. If the hands have the same amount of points, the hand with the most face cards will win. If both hands have the same amount of face cards and points, then the hands will tie.

Baccarat Variations: Commission Free Baccarat/Punto Banco

This baccarat variations game follows the normal rules, except that it awards a winning banker bet even money (except 1:2 or half on a winning total of 6). The house advantage on the tie and player bets are the same as conventional baccarat. The house advantage on the banker bet is 1.46%. This game is simply called “Commission Free Baccarat" in the US or "Punto Banco 2000" in England.

One of these types of baccarat variations offered in Singapore takes no commission but a banker win of eight pays 1:2. This has a house advantage of 4.07% on the baccarat banker bet.  A friend of mine also told me about a casino she visited in Amsterdam that paid one to two on banker wins of five points. This would result in a banker bet house advantage of 0.51%. Another baccarat game in the Netherlands pays 1 to 1 for a banker bet, except a winning five pays one to two.