Welcome to Chemin de Fer, the most popular variation of baccarat before Punto Banco took over the scene.
Until the 1940s, Chemin de Fer was the most popular baccarat game in places – and with good reason.
Curious? Here’s what you’ll discover:
- What Chemin de Fer is
- How to play this baccarat variation
- A key Chemin de Fer strategy
What is Chemin de Fer?
The origins of baccarat are murky, but we do know that it was present in Europe during the 1800s. Back then, baccarat was played differently from the relatively modern Punto Banco, which came from a Havana casino in the 1940s. Instead, when the French played baccarat, they played Chemin de Fer.
The game itself is played at a traditionally oval or bean-shaped table with up to twelve players.
However, Chemin de Fer baccarat variation combines this game’s core with banker dealing rotation among players. The banker vs player format still remains, but the banker is also a player and the player hand represents everybody else at the table. There’s no professional dealer, so it depends on everyone knowing and enforcing the rules during play.
How do You Play Baccarat Chemin de Fer?
To start, one of the players is chosen to be the banker, who also deals cards. They deal four cards face-down – two cards for the banker’s hand, two cards for the player hand shared by the rest of the table. This role passes counterclockwise as the game progresses.
Next, the banker puts chips down first.
Then each player must declare if they’re going to ‘go bank’ by matching the banker’s chips. Only one player can do this.
- If nobody takes up the offer, then play continues around the table as normal.
- Players may only play an amount up to the total amount staked by the banker. If the combined play goes over, the remaining players can’t participate in that round. This is to stop the banker from going bust and being removed from the game.
The player that declares the most chips down represents the player group. The designated player looks at the player hand, while the banker checks their own hand. The hand is immediately turned up if an eight or a nine is present. If not, the player decides to add a third card. The banker then does the same.
After that, the hands are turned over, all is revealed, and the hand closest to nine wins:
- If the player hand wins, then all the players win their plays with chips from the bank.
- If the banker wins, then the players’ chips go to the bank.
- If it’s a tie, chips stay on the table for the next hand.
At this point, the banker can withdraw and any player can voluntarily become the new banker by putting the chip equivalent of the bank down. If nobody takes this offer, the responsibility must pass to the next player, as previously described.
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The Pros and Cons of Chemin de Fer
Each casino game variant has its pros and cons, and Chemin de Fer is no different here.
Advantages of Chemin de Fer
One of the most obvious advantages of Chemin de Fer is that it encourages player interaction and competition more than a Punto Banco table. Some players might not appreciate this, but if you prefer the competitive edge of a poker table, then Chemin de Fer may be your way to play baccarat.
Another great advantage is its strategy. In Punto Banco, the dealer automatically draws a third card under certain conditions. In Chemin de Fer, both the banker and the nominated player make this decision themselves, after looking at their cards. Savvy players can gain an advantage over inexperienced players here by knowing when to add that third card or not.
Disadvantages of Chemin de Fer
That said, Chemin de Fer’s gameplay can be quite demanding for players. Every player needs to know how to play baccarat, but they also need to know how to play the banker. At higher levels, each player also needs to know when to draw a third card, as they can each find themselves in the nominated player position. The barrier for entry is higher than Punto Banco.
Chemin de Fer also puts bankers in a perilous position – they can lose most of their chips if their banker hand is particularly weak. This is part of the fun for Chemin de Fer players, as each player will get their turn at being the banker, but it’s a gameplay element that doesn’t exist in Punto Banco.
Chemin de Fer Strategy
While many aspects of Chemin de Fer are set by common baccarat rules, there is an element of strategy when the player and the banker decide to draw third cards. Note that at many tables, they restrict the banker to drawing a third card only if the player stands and the banker hand is worth less than five.
The strategy comes in when it’s time to draw that third card. Much like blackjack, players can memorize card values and use them to make the best decision. This never guarantees a win – you never know what card you’ll get – but it can give you the best possible odds of beating the banker. Also remember that the nominated player will determine the success of other players’ plays, so there’s a lot of pressure on the player to make the right decisions.
Below you can find a grid showing when the player should draw that third card. Remember that you cannot see the banker’s cards at this point, so the table is much simpler than blackjack strategy charts. These are your options:
- S = Stand (don’t draw a 3rd card)
- D = Draw a 3rd card
- YC = Your Choice, depending on your risk tolerance and strategy
| Player Hand Value | ||||||
| 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| S | S | YC | D | D | D | D |
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Try Baccarat Today at McLuck
Now you know how to make the most of Chemin de Fer baccarat, a variant rich in history that still packs a punch.
Ready to give this strategic baccarat variation a go? Or do you prefer to try Punto Banco, Banque or No Commission?
Head over to McLuck social casino and put your knowledge to the test with the help of our social casino guides.
FAQ
What Does Chemin de Fer Mean?
Chemin de Fer is French for ‘railroad’. This baccarat variant was likely given this name due to its fast-paced action, as trains were the fastest mode of transport at the time.
Does Chemin de Fer Have Play Limits?
Since a player acts as the bank, the other players can’t put more chips down than the bank has. As a result, most tables will have lower and upper limits on how large the bank can be. In turn, this limits how many chips players can put down in one round.
Can I Play Chemin de Fer Online?
Due to the nature of the game, you won’t find Chemin de Fer at many online casinos. If it is present, most establishments adapt Chemin de Fer to follow Punto Banco-style rules, making it easier. This means the house acts as the banker, losing the player vs player dynamic. True Chemin de Fer is still available at brick-and-mortar casinos in Europe and Latin America.
