Baccarat is a game that has been around for centuries. It’s one of the most popular casino games in the world and is believed to be quite complicated, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The general rules are really simple, and it looks much harder than it actually is. There are many myths surrounding baccarat, some true and some false.
There are many myths about baccarat online, some of which stem from years past when it was mostly available only at live casinos. Today we will look at ten of the most popular myths and attempt to dispel them.
Myth 1: Baccarat is just a game of chance. Nothing more than pure luck.
Many people that are used to playing other casino games believe this, especially those who have never played baccarat before. And nothing could be further from the truth!
Although it might seem like all you need to do is pick which side the winning card is going to fall on, it is actually a lot more complicated than that. You have to make many decisions as the game progresses if you want your bet to be successful.
Myth 2: In online baccarat, any hand with a value of eight or nine wins – just like in live games.
This is not true. Over the years, casinos have realized that when using a standard deck of 52 cards, it is unlikely that you will get hands with eight or nine out of them besides when they are in sequence (for example, 8-9-10). So now, in online baccarat, the rules require that one card be dealt with each hand after the initial two cards are dealt.
These additional cards have no value, so if, for example, you receive a five and a six, with your opponent receiving an eight and a nine – then even though your total score is fifteen, the game will not allow you to win this hand.
Myth 3: You cannot split eights and nines.
This is also incorrect. You can split eights and nines in online baccarat, but be aware that if you do so, your bet will only count for half of the original amount. This myth could originate from live casino play where it is not allowed to split eights and nines because they will create a hand with an ace in it, which according to the rules, is not allowed.
You can split any other pair or triplet in baccarat online (aces and twos, fives and tens), but be aware that if you do so, your bet will only count for half of the original amount.
This myth could originate from live casino play where it is not allowed to split aces and twos, five and tens or any other pair or triplet because they will create a hand with an ace in it, which according to the rules, is not allowed.
Myth 4: You can place multiple bets throughout the game if you want to increase your winnings.
This is not true. You can only place one wager per hand, and that’s it – and even this will not be accepted if you want to play using a mobile device because there isn’t room for it on the screen.
Myth number 5: It is possible to place bets after the cards have been dealt.
This is not true either. You cannot bet on anything that has already happened, including which player will win the hand or whether the dealer will end up winning (this is why it is important to always keep track of the cards).
Myth number 6: It is possible to place bets after another bet has been placed.
This myth possibly originates from live casinos where it is allowed to make such a bet (if you can find someone willing to take your wager anyway). In online casinos, however, the rules are different, and once you place a bet, it cannot be changed.
Myth number 7: Baccarat is only for high-rollers.
While it’s true that baccarat tables require a minimum bet size of $25, this game is available to anyone who wants to play online. Players can wager as much or little as they like; the only difference is the amount they win or lose.
Myth number 8: You must play online baccarat with three hands.
This is certainly not true – it is actually possible to play with only two hands, but most casinos will require you to play with three.
Myth number 9: When the dealer gets a natural eight or nine, all players lose.
This is incorrect – if the dealer gets an eight or nine, then they need to stand on their hand and not draw any more cards (a natural in this game simply means getting an ace plus a king). However, if you have a hand with an eight or nine in it, then the game ends right away, and your bet will be lost.
Myth 10: You can beat the house by counting cards.
If you believe that baccarat is like blackjack and can be beaten by counting cards, this is another common misconception about online baccarat. While casinos are required to provide patrons with an average return on their bets, these are based on large volumes of bets, not individual hands.
Takeaway
The great advantage of playing at an online casino is that you can find out all of the rules before you play and never have to worry about breaking the rules by accident. This is one game where knowing the rules in advance will stand you in good stead because it would be very embarrassing to win your bet only to be told that it doesn’t count because you broke some rule along the way.
