Dealing baccarat involves a specific set of rules and procedures. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to deal baccarat:
- Understand the Basics: Familiarize yourself with the rules of baccarat, including hand values and how the game is played. Baccarat is typically played with eight decks of cards.
- Prepare the Table: Set up the baccarat table with the necessary components, including the shoe (card dispenser), the player and banker betting areas, and the commission box.
- Shuffle and Prepare the Cards: Shuffle the decks of cards thoroughly. The cards can be placed in the shoe or dealt from a dealing shoe. Make sure all players at the table can see the cards being dealt.
- Take Player Bets: Start by announcing “Place your bets” and allow players to bet on either the player’s hand, the banker’s hand, or a tie. Once all bets are placed, no further bets are allowed.
- Deal the Cards: Begin dealing the cards, starting with the player’s hand. Deal two cards face-up to the player and two cards face-down to the banker. Repeat this process for each hand.
- Determine Additional Card Draws: Based on the total value of the player’s and banker’s hands, additional cards may need to be drawn. The rules for drawing the third card are predetermined and depend on the total value of the first two cards for each hand.
- Calculate Hand Totals: Add up the values of the cards in each hand. Face cards and tens have a value of zero, while cards 2-9 are counted at face value. If the total exceeds 9, only the second digit is considered (e.g., a hand with a total of 15 is counted as 5).
- Determine the Winning Hand: Compare the player’s and banker’s hand totals. The hand with a total closest to 9 wins. If the totals are the same, it results in a tie.
- Pay Out or Collect Bets: Depending on the outcome, distribute winnings to the players who correctly bet on the winning hand. Collect losing bets from players who did not predict the correct outcome.
- Continue to the Next Round: After settling the bets, gather the cards, reshuffle if necessary, and proceed to the next round of play.
It’s important to note that there may be slight variations in baccarat rules and procedures depending on the specific casino or establishment. However, these steps provide a general guideline for dealing baccarat.