EZ Baccarat Explained: What it Is, Rules, Strategy, and How to Play
Baccarat was one of the three games available to the first casino players in history. At French casinos in the early 20th century, gaming options were limited to boule (roulette), petits chevaux (mechanical horse racing), and Chemin de Fer (baccarat). As the first casino card game, baccarat is a fun and accessible classic you can enjoy at Seven Mile Casino in Chula Vista.
A History of Baccarat
The earliest version of baccarat was a variation of other card games that French sailors learned at various ports in Asia and Europe. Baccarat was an aristocratic game for socializing; Chemin de Fer featured players staking the bank or contributing to the pot by reaching into their pockets to pay for losses. One player had to operate as banker and dealer, and the role rotated around the table after each round.
In modern baccarat, no real banker sits at the table because the casino is the house, so the players are wagering instead of staking or going out of pocket. Essentially, each player bets on one of two dealt hands, and the closest to nine is the winner. This is the contemporary baccarat casino gameplay mechanism; however, the rules differ between gaming jurisdictions.
Seven Mile Baccarat follows the rules approved by the California Bureau of Gambling Control for EZ Baccarat, a dynamic version with a twist on the wagering and card face values.
How to Play EZ Baccarat
If you’ve never sat at a casino card table before, baccarat is the perfect place to start because the dealer handles all the gaming math for all players. Seven Mile Baccarat is not only fun but also easier to get into than blackjack or poker. You are playing against the house, and the dealer keeps count.
Your goal is to get a card value total closest to nine. When totals go into double digits, the first digit is dropped. If you are dealt a five and a seven for 12, the first digit (1) is removed, and your total is two. You have two betting options: Banker and Player, so you are fundamentally a spectator allowed to wager on gaming outcomes.
Baccarat Card Values
There’s always beauty in simplicity, which is why many players are drawn to Seven Mile Baccarat. Cards from two to nine retain their numeric values. The 10, the jack, queen, and king are worth zero. The aces are worth one (1).
Baccarat Rules
Your first move is to simply place your chips on “Banker” or “Player,” sit back, and let the dealer do the rest. All wagers are resolved after the hands are dealt. Each hand offers four major outcomes:
If the Banker Hand Wins
You get paid even money (one-to-one) on your Banker bet. For example, a $10 bet wins $10. All other bets lose.
If the Player Hand Wins
You get paid even money (one-to-one) on your Player bet. All other bets lose.
If It’s a Tie
If both hands have the same total, the Tie bet pays eight-to-one. If you didn’t bet on the Tie, your Banker and Player bets are a “push,” meaning nobody wins or loses, so your chips are left intact after the hand.
The Dragon 7 Bet
This happens when the Banker hand wins with a total of seven using exactly three cards; for example, (2) + (4) + ace. If you bet on the Dragon 7, you win a 40-to-1 payout. Your Banker bet is a “push” while Player and Tie bets lose.
EZ Baccarat Strategy
A little money management can go a long way when playing Seven Mile Baccarat. Stick to the Banker bet for the best value; it wins roughly 45.8% of the time. Your odds of winning the Dragon 7 are approximately 2.2%, which are better than most bingo and lottery games.
Ready to try your luck at the casino for yourself? Be sure to play EZ Baccarat at Seven Mile Casino, San Diego’s premier casino.
