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Combining the suave sophistication of a live casino environment with the rapid pace and close control of online baccarat, live baccarat games represent the ultimate casino experience. What's more, with a house edge of just 1.06%, it's among the most lucrative games on the casino floor.

This overview will help break down how to play the game, describe variations to the classic format you may encounter as well as explain the various special features on offer at the top online casinos. Armed with the know-how of live dealer baccarat, you are sure to enjoy you're gaming experience.

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Terminology

Like all refined card games, baccarat includes a unique lexicon addressing various nuances of the game. A basic understanding of these commonly used terms will go a long way in learning the fundamentals of the game and its live-dealer variant. Here are some common terms to familiarise yourself with:

Shoe | The container from which cards are dealt.
Dealer/Banker | The individual dealing the cards. In some games, one of the players may be nominated as dealer.
Croupier | The casino employee(s) running the table.
Baccarat | A score of zero.
Le Grande | A score of nine.
Natural | A score of eight or nine from your first two cards.
Coup | A round of play including a player hand and a banker hand.
Banco! | A term used when a player bets their entire bankroll, equivalent of "all in" in poker.

Rules

Most variants of baccarat will progress the same aside from a few more rare ones you're unlikely to encounter. The most common progression of baccarat begins when players join a table of up to 12 people. Bets can be laid either on the bank (dealer), which pays at 0.95/1, the player, which pays 1/1, or a tie, which pays 8/1 or 9/1.

Each player is dealt two cards each, and two are dealt to the bank. The cards are revealed and each hang added up, with cards two to nine counting at face value, Ace at one and all others at zero.

The right hand digit of the total sum is the player's score. For example, a nine and a six would score five. Depending on the totals, a third (and fourth) card may be dealt to any player. The winner is the player with the closest score to nine.

Variations

Like other popular casino games, baccarat experiences a wealth of variations and adaptations. Here are a few of the most prominent variants:

Midi Baccarat | The most common form of baccarat, midi is usually played using standard rules, eight decks of cards in a shoe and with very wide or mid-range betting limits.
Mini Baccarat | Sometimes played using fewer card decks, mini baccarat makes up for a slightly higher house edge with an accessible table layout and very low limits to help acclimatise new players to the game.
VIP Baccarat | Like midi baccarat, but with much higher limits, more elaborate tables and a faster pace to appeal to experienced players.
Chemin de Fer | Rarely encountered but occasionally available, this version of baccarat allows the player to decide whether or not they want a third or fourth card dealt, rather than relying on house rules.
Side Bets | Additional bets placed separately from your main stake. At Bet365, for example, players can place a side bet for the chance to win large progressive jackpots. Other casinos allow side bets on a pair, or on small or big hands.

Special Features

There are lots of other elements that make each live baccarat offering uniquely appealing, but they broadly break down into three key areas: table experience, console data and console functions.

The table experience is dictated by a number of customisable factors. Betfred, for example, offer HD video streaming, while other providers offer customisable camera angles. Sound options and the chat window may also be customised with numerous providers, to tailor how you interact with the dealer and other players. Some casinos, including bet365, let you choose between European and Asian croupiers.

Console data also varies between providers. Some will offer a detailed history of previous hands, others will give useful statistical graphics, such as how many times a card or hand has appeared, while others offer a notepad function so you can track things for yourself.

Finally, live baccarat sites offer numerous different console functions to help players develop their strategy. For example, autoplay or rebet buttons allow rapid and consistent bet placements, and timers enable players to accurately calculate earnings (or losses) per hour – vital for effective bankroll management.