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Punto Banco: All You Need to Know

Punto Banco, also known as North American Baccarat, is a card game which is a variant of the more commonly known, baccarat. Punto Banco pits player (punto) against banker (banco); these are simply the names of the two hands played in the game, rather than a punter competing against the house. Punters sat at the table bet on which hand they think will win, the player or the banker. They can also choose to bet that the two hands will tie, or egalité.
The highest value that a hand can achieve is 9, with the lowest being 0. Two cards are dealt to each hand face up, and the values are counted. Cards 2-9 are worth the number on the card, i.e. a 2 is worth 2 points, and so on. 10, jack, queen and king are all worth 0, and an ace is worth 1 point. The two cards are added together based on these values, and the second digit of this sum is taken as the point value of the hand. So, for example, a 5 and a 4 would add up to 9, so the value of the hand is 9. An 8 and a 4 would add up to 12, so the value of the hand is 2, taking the second digit of the sum of the cards.

The sum of the players first two cards determines whether the hands stand or if more cards are drawn. If either hand is worth 8 or 9 points then the round, or coup, is over and is declared as either a player win, banker win, or egalité. If the player has 6 or 7 then they stand, if they have 0-5 then they draw a third card. In either of the latter two cases, the value of the players hand determines whether another card is dealt to the banker, varying depending on the given scenario. A winning player bet pays out even money, a winning banker bet pays out at 95% of even money, and a winning tie bet pays out 8-1.

Unlike other variations of baccarat, punto banco is based solely on luck, with the outcome being determined only by the cards drawn, and no element of skill or strategy. Punto Banco in casinos is often a high stakes game, so maybe familiarise yourself with the game online or with some friends before you dive right in.

Speak The Language – Popular Punto Banco Terminology

Punto Banco is a popular card game which is actually quite similar to baccarat in some respects. It is played on a semicircular table and up to twelve different participants can play in a single hand. Interestingly enough, it is said that most versions of baccarat played within North America are likely to instead be Punto Banco.

 

Game Play

Six or eight decks of shuffled cards are used. They are placed within a “shoe” so that players will be able to deal the cards themselves during their turn. As in many other games, each card represents a specific value (aces are one, tens and face cards are zero and all numbered cards correspond to their own quantities). Once each player receives a total number of cards, the casino can play the hands as they are or opt to draw more from the shoe. The object of the game is for the players to get as close as possible to a total value of no more than nine. Also, the players can also choose which seat to sit in (as this will affect the cards which are received). It should finally be noted that Punto Banco (literally “Bank Player” in Spanish) offers one of the best house edges in gambling.

Terminology

The terminology of this game is as interesting as the action itself. So, it proves wise to take a look at some of the most common phrases. These will include:

Banker bet: betting that the banker will ultimately win.
“Carte”: the term used when a player wishes to receive another card.
Croupier: dealer.
Le Grande: a French term literally meaning “The Big”. This occurs when a hand totals nine points.
“Petite”: a hand that totals eight points (“petite” means “small” in French).
Cheval: the rule that a player can bet on two hands. Note that he or she must win both.

This is a brief description of the game of Punto Banco. By learning the basic strategy and terminology, the next winning hand may be just around the corner!

The Definitive Guide to Punto Banco

Punto Banco is a hugely popular card game that gets players totally hooked. It is a game of chance which is dependent on the cards the player receives. This means that players have just as much chance to win as anyone else, because no skills or form of strategy is necessary. The winning hand will be either the Player’s or the Banker’s. The winning bets depend on the casino, however in most cases, 1-1 (even money) is given for Player’s bets. The house edge is quite low at approximately 1%.

 

The game is very similar to Baccarat, except that there are not any optional plays, and there are fixed house rules as to how the cards are dealt. There is a shoe (which houses four, six or eight pre-shuffled decks. A card sized piece of plastic, which is usually yellow, is included in the shuffling, and is the sign which shows the shoe’s last coup.

The aim of the game is for players to bet on the winner of the two hands given to the players and the bank. The winner is the one who has 9, or the closest to it. This is calculated when the card values are added together, and the last digit is used as the accepted number.

The different rules for the players and banker mean that if in the beginning, the player has between 0-5 as a total card value, he is eligible to draw another (third) card. If his total is 6 or 7, then he has to stand. If the player only has 2 cards, then the banker has to follow the same rule as the player, and has to regard only his own cards, and the 0-5 and 6 or 7 card rule applies. There are more complicated rules if the player draws a third card.

If at the end of the deal, if the Player and the banker have scored the same value, it is classed as a ‘tie bet’, which is awarded with 8-1 odds. In this instance the bets on both sides stay active for the following game.

If you want a game of Punto Banco come on down to Les Croupiers. We’re happy to serve both first timers and experts.