Imported from South America, this version of Baccarat is also known as mini-Baccarat. Unlike its cousins, Punto Banco is easy and fast to learn.
Minimum wager : 40 euros, though the table minimum can be decided by the inspector.
Number of players seated at the table : from 1 to 7.
Aim of the game : to bet on who, of the “punter” (“punto”) or the “bank” (“banco”), will get closest to 9 points with a maximum of three cards.
Before the game can begin, the croupier shuffles eight packs of 52 cards, has them cut by one of the players and places them in the shoe. He then removes the first card and sets aside as many cards as is indicated by the face value of this first card (if it happens to be a picture card, for example, he discards or “burns” ten cards).
For the game to begin, the player must place his wager on one of three possible bets : “banco” means that he is playing with the bank, “punto” means that he will play for the “punter” against the bank, “tie” means that he bets that the results of the bank and punter will be equal.
Before proceeding, you need to know the value of the cards as follows : the picture cards – also known as “bûches” – and the ten are worth 0 while all the other cards have their face value. To calculate your card total, you only take the final digit into account (eg. : 6 + 5 = 11, the total is therefore 1).
Once the bets have been placed, the croupier first deals a card to the “punter”, then to the bank. He then deals a second card to each. The punter’s cards are set to the right of the croupier, those of the bank to his left.
If the “punter” obtains :
• A total of 0 to 5, the croupier is obliged to draw a card.
• A total of 6 or 7, the croupier stays with his hand.
• A total of 8 or 9, the croupier lays down the cards and compares them with the bank’s hand.
The croupier then decides for the bank as per the drawing table below. You will have won if you bet on the hand which has the highest number of points
DRAWING TABLE
T : Tirer / Draw (the croupier draws another card)
R : Rester / Stay (the croupier stays with his hand)
PAYOUTS
“Banco” : 19 to 20 (even money – 5%).
“Punto” : even money.
“Tie” : 8 to 1.
Where to play Punto Banco : Casino de Monte-Carlo, Summer casino
