Gaming Guru

Test Baccarat Mettle and Go for the Gold: A Baccarat Quiz

As an introduction to table games, it's hard to beat baccarat.

An inexperienced player can step up to the table and get the same low house edge as an old pro. There are no basic strategy tables to memorize, as in blackjack, nor does it take as large a bankroll as the combination of pass or don't pass plus free odds in craps.

It's a game high rollers love because the house edge is far lower than that on roulette, Caribbean Stud, Let It Ride or slot machines. For the same reason, it's a good bet for average bettors, but has never really caught on with the low-rolling crowd. That's partly because for much of its history in U.S. casinos it was restricted to high-limit rooms, inaccessible to the majority of players. It's also partly because many players like to make decisions, and there are few to be made here.

Baccarat is as easy as table games get, but there are a few ins and outs. Try the following quiz and see how much you know about baccarat, then watch for answers and explanations next week:

1. The winning hand in baccarat is:
1. The hand that totals closer to 9.
2. The higher-ranking poker-type hand, with three Aces being the perfect hand.
3. The lower-ranking poker-type hand, with Ace-2-3 being the perfect hand.
2. The major decision to be made by baccarat players is:
1. Whether to draw a third card or stop after two.
2. Whether to bet on banker, player or tie.
3. Whether to surrender half the bet after seeing two cards.
3. The house edge on baccarat:
1. Is lower than the house edge against a blackjack basic strategy player.
2. Is higher than the house edge against a blackjack basic strategy player.
3. Is about the same as the house edge against a blackjack basic strategy player.
4. The best bet in baccarat is:
1. Banker.
2. Player.
3. Tie.
4. They're all about the same.
5. The banker hand:
1. Wins a little more often than it loses.
2. Loses a little more often than it wins.
3. Wins as often as it loses.
6. The player hand:
1. Wins a little more often than it loses.
2. Loses a little more often than it wins.
3. Wins as often as it loses.
7. The tie bet is best made:
1. At any time.
2. Only when there has not been a tie in at least 10 hands.
3. Never.
8. Play at big baccarat table differs from mini-baccarat in that:
1. It moves more slowly, with players often dealing the cards.
2. It uses only a single deck of cards.
3. There is no difference.
9. Players get a better run for their money.
1. In big baccarat.
2. In mini-baccarat.
3. There is no difference.
10. Counting cards at baccarat:
1. Can swing the overall edge in favor of the bettor.
2. Can swing the edge to the bettor in certain rare situations.
3. Makes no difference because the player has no hit/stand decisions to make.

For more information about Baccarat: