Basics of Chemin De Fer Baccarat
The original French version of Baccarat
This version of Baccarat was first introduced to France and is still the version that is popular there. The name Chemin de Fer (way of iron) came about because the cards were originally placed in an iron box.
Six full decks of cards are used and they are generally of the same pattern and shuffled together. The players take seats around the baccarat table where a basket is in the center for the purpose of disposing of used cards. The position of the players is determined by a draw. The person who draws the first place is seated on the right hand side next to the croupier, and the rest follow in succession.
The croupier shuffles the cards first, and then passes them on giving each player the right to shuffle in turn. When they have made a complete circuit of the table, the croupier again shuffles, and, having done so, then offers the cards to the player on his left, who cuts. The croupier places the cards before him and, taking a manageable quantity from the top, hands it to the player on his right, who for the time being will be the dealer, or "banker". The other players are "punters".
The dealer places the amount he is disposed to risk directly in front of him. At this point the players "make their stakes". Any punter, beginning with the player on the immediate right of the dealer, has the right to say "Banco", meaning to "go bank"; or to play against the banker's entire stake. If no one takes this opportunity, each player places his stake before him. If the total staked by the seated players is not equal to the amount in the bank for the time being, other persons standing round may stake in addition. If it is more than equal to the amount in the bank, the punters nearest in order to the banker have the preference up to such amount, the banker having the right to decline any stake in excess of that limit.
The banker proceeds to deal four cards face down. The first, for the punters, to the right and the second to himself, then the third for the punters, the fourth to himself. The player who has the highest stake represents the punters. If two punters are equal in this respect, the player first in rotation has the preference. Each then looks at his cards. If he finds that they make either nine, the highest point at Baccarat, or eight, the next highest, he turns them up, announcing the number aloud, and the hand is at an end. If the banker's point is better, then the stakes of the punter become the property of the bank. If the punters' point is the better, the banker (or the croupier for him) pays each punter the amount of his stake.
The stakes are made all over again, and the game proceeds. If the banker has been the winner, he deals again. If not, the cards are passed to the player next in order, who then becomes banker in his turn.
If neither party turns up their cards, this is the same as admitting neither has eight or nine. In this case the banker is required to offer a third card. If the point of the punter is baccarat (i.e., cards totalling ten or twenty, equivalent to 0), one, two, three, or four, he accepts by replying, "Yes", or "Card". A third card is then dealt to him, face up. If his point is already six or seven, he will, also refuse the offered card. To accept a card with six or seven, or refuse with baccarat, one, two, three, or four (known in either case as a false draw), is a breach of the established procedure of the game, and brings down upon the offender the wrath of his fellow-punters. In some circles he is made liable for any loss they may occu, and in others is punishable by a fine. At the point of five, and no other, is it optional to the punter whether to take a card or not. Noone has the right to advise him on his decision.
The banker now has to decide if he will draw a card himself. This is a decision he can make partly by the cards he already holds, partly by the card (if any) drawn by the punter, and partly by what he may know or guess of the punter's manner of play. If the punter has hesitated over his decision, the banker may be pretty certain that his original point was five, and as the third card (if any) is exposed, his present point becomes equally a matter of certainty. The banker, having drawn or not drawn, exposes his cards, and receives or pays as the case may be. Ties neither win nor lose, but the stakes remain in play for the next hand.
The banker is not permitted to withdraw any of his winnings, which go to increase the amount in the bank. Should he wish to retire, he says, "I pass the deal." In this case each of the other players, in order of rotation, has the option of taking it, but he must start the bank with the same amount at which it stood when the last banker retired. Should no one wish to risk that high a figure, the deal passes to the player next on the right hand of the retiring banker, who has the choice to start the bank with an amount as he sees fit, the late banker now being regarded as last in order of rotation, though the respective priorities are not otherwise affected.
A player who has "gone bank", and lost, is entitled to do so again on the next hand, providing the deal may have passed to another player.
When the first supply of cards is exhausted, the croupier takes a fresh handful from the heap before him, has them cut by the player on his left, and hands them to the banker. To constitute a valid deal, there must be no fewer than seven cards left in the dealer's hand. Should the cards in hand fall below this number, they are thrown into the wastebasket, and the banker takes a fresh supply.
excerpted from wikipedia.org
