Baccarat is commonly thought to have been introduced into France from Italy during the reign of Charles VIII of France and it is similar to other games such as Faro and Basset.

There are three accepted variants of the game: baccarat chemin de fer (railway), baccarat banque (or a deux tableaux), and punto banco (or North American baccarat). Punto banco is the version that you find in online and brick and mortar casinos and is a good bit different than the other two versions, as it’s completely a game of chance, whereas the other versions contain elements of skill.

Baccarat is typically played in special rooms apart from the main gaming floor, often in much nicer, elegant rooms. The game has historically attracted the highest of high rollers, which explains why baccarat is given a place of privilege in many casinos. Played at its highest stakes, high roller baccarat players can win and lose millions of dollars in the span of an evening, and in the past casinos have had their bottom lines significantly impacted by hot (and cold) baccarat players playing very high stakes.

• Baccarat Rules
• Baccarat Odds
• Baccarat Strategy