Want to enjoy baccarat online, but think a smaller table with less people would be better for a beginner?
Thanks to mini baccarat, you can enjoy the same rules (for example, having a hand worth as close to the number nine as possible) on a calmer setup.
We’ll let you know more about this version of the classic casino game now.
Mini Baccarat Rules
There are three ways you can play a hand of Mini Baccarat. You can either play the Banker’s hand, the Player’s hand or the Tie. If you make a play for the Banker’s hand, you’ll only win if the Banker’s hand is worth more than the Player’s hand. Similarly, plays for the Player’s hand will only win if its point count is greater than the Banker’s hand.
The Tie is pretty self-explanatory too – if the Player and Banker hands have the same value, the round is deemed a Tie.
All winning hands receive even-money prizes, although winning plays on the Banker’s hand also incur a 5% commission too. Winning Tie hands are worth a prize of 8x.
The Player must always continue drawing cards on zero, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 unless the Banker already has a “natural” 8 or 9. This is when the Banker’s hand has a value of 8 or 9 from their first two cards.
The Player must always “stand” their hand on 6, 7, 8, and 9.
The Banker must continue to draw their hand on zero, 1, and 2 unless the Player already has a “natural” 8 or 9 themselves. The Banker must always “stand” their hand on 7, 8, and 9.
How the Mini Baccarat Game Plays Out
At the start of a mini baccarat game, the cards are dealt from the shoe by the dealer. The first two cards are the Player’s hand, with the remaining two dealt as the Banker’s hand.
The dealer then reveals the point counts of each hand. If either hand has a point count worth 8 or 9, their natural hand means they do not draw another card. If either hand doesn’t have a natural, a further card is drawn face-up. The hands are then played out in accordance with the mini baccarat rules on hitting or standing discussed above.
Mini Baccarat vs Baccarat: The Main Differences
What is mini baccarat offering that classic baccarat doesn’t? Although it’s essentially the same game, there are one or two differences.
Firstly, mini baccarat is played on smaller tables of up to seven players. As many as 14 players can play together on classic baccarat tables.
Secondly, the dealer handles every active card in mini baccarat. That’s unlike classic baccarat, where each player takes turns in being the dealer. The mini baccarat game also offers lower table minimums, lowering the barrier to entry if you fancy playing baccarat for the first time.
The rules and prizes are the same, but you can expect faster, more relaxed gameplay with mini baccarat.
Try baccarat right now at McLuck, where you can also find a big selection of other great social casino games.
