Baccarat is an old game with clearly defined rules that are not all that hard to master, as well as lots of strategies that can be either implemented or disregarded depending on player need. It has terms and phrases, some of which might be incomprehensible to newbies and old hands alike. With that being the case, here is a comprehensive online baccarat glossary that covers everything about this game.
Online Baccarat Glossary Simplified
Action- when the game begins, hands are played and money wagered
Baccarat- used when referring to the game name or alternatively the worst hand of two cards with points.
Baccarat en Banque- aka Chemin De Fer. This is a more complicated baccarat version that’s mostly played in European casinos.
Banco- Spanish for the banker.
Banker Bet- this refers to one of three betting options found in baccarat. The payout is even money, the house edge on the bet is 1.17%, and a 5% commission is applicable on all wins.
Bankroll- how much money a player came with, which is to be used in playing baccarat or any other casino game.
Banque- a baccarat version that’s often seen in American casinos.
Burning- when the top 3 or 6 cards are removed once the cards have been shuffled and before the game begins.
Callman- aka croupier. This casino employee is tasked with turning cards over, calling out points and can determine gameplay using baccarat third card rules.
Card Counting- a strategy used by players when they keep a mental count of all the cards that have so far appeared during gameplay in order to know when the odds swing in their favour.
Carte- French for the card. Used when asking the dealer for a card.
Chemin De Fer- see Baccarat en Banque
Cheques- special chips used in baccarat solely for the appearance of exclusivity
Commission- in baccarat, this is the fee charged on winning bets and applies to the banker bet. The commission here is set at 5% and works to counteract the rather low house edge present on some bets.
Coup- French for a single round of baccarat
Croupier- see Callman
Dealer- these are usually found in the biggest casinos and consist of a couple of casino employees who stand at both ends of the baccarat table, with the croupier being set in the middle. The dealers never touch the cards and are tasked with handling both the bets and money.
Discard Tray- this is an actual tray. In live casinos, it holds either discarded cards or cards that have been dealt.
Down Card- a face-down card dealt to the player
Face Cards- refers to cards like the Jack, Queen King and all suits whose worth is 0 in baccarat
Flat Bet- when players tirelessly and continuously wager a bet for round after round
Hand- the cards that are dealt and then played in a single baccarat round.
High-roller- players who consistently wager huge sums.
House Edge- an inbuilt casino advantage on all bets
Ladderman- this is a casino employee tasked with overseeing the baccarat table in any live casino
La Grand Natural- the perfect winning hand, consisting of a pair of cards that are worth 9 points when combined
Le Petit Natural- the second best baccarat winning hand, made up of a pair of cards that when combined are worth 8 points.
Mini-Baccarat- a much smaller baccarat version, with much lower betting limits, and a maximum of 7 players.
Natural- when the two initial cards of a player total either 8 or 9, which is a perfect winning hand.
Palette- a wooden implement that’s used in live casinos by a croupier to position and re-position cards.
Pit- the roped-off area where truly high stakes baccarat for the highest rollers are played
Player Bet- one of the 3 main bets available in the game. The house edge here is 1.36% and the payout is even money
Punto- a Spanish term that refers to the player bet. It originated in Argentina
Punto Banco- a Spanish term used in reference to modern baccarat. It was first used in casinos located in Mar del Plata, Argentina
Shills- using a very desirable female casino employee to persuade onlookers to play casino games
Shoe- an automated dealing box from which the cards are taken by the dealer, the player making the biggest bet, or a computer depending on the baccarat version being played
Tie Bet- one out of the 3 available betting options in baccarat. It pays 8:1 and has a house edge of 14.2%
Vigorish- the commission percentage applied to win bets
Upcard- a face-up card that can be seen by everyone
Hope the Online Baccarat Glossary helps you to play an informed game of Baccarat.