As you walk through the casino you pass a quiet room where the furnishings appear to be a cut above the rest of the casino.

You get closer and notice there is an attendant who has to remove a thick velvet rope in order for people to enter. All the people in the room are wearing formal clothing. There is even a bar and cocktail waitress for that room only. A special club? No, a Baccarat room. These separate areas devoted to Baccarat give the impression of high rollers and large amounts of money changing hands. For non players of the game, these areas tend to be intimidating with impressions of huge bets, men in black tie and women wearing formal gowns - real James Bond stuff, except he played Chemin De Fer, a close relative of Baccarat.

These two games developed in fifteenth century Europe with Baccarat as a banking game and Chemin De Fer as a non-banking game. The main difference between the two is players of Chemin De Fer compete against each other while players of Baccarat, as played in Las Vegas, compete against the house.

Chemin De Fer is a guts game and usually played in this manner. Several players sit around an oval shaped table. The player with the largest stake is the "bank", although there are tables that rotate the "bank" as poker rotates the deal. Each players may bet part of the "bank's" stake, with the one who makes the largest becoming the "player". All the bets can only total as much as the "bank's" stake. If one player wants to go head to head with the "bank" he says, "Banco," meaning he wants to bet against the entire stake of the "bank".

The "bank" deals two cards for the "player" from a shoe and two cards for himself. Each may take one card. The game is won by the person who's score is closest to 9 by adding the cards together (tens and face cards are zero) and taking the far right number. For example, if you have 5 and 7 (5+7=12), you have a 2, not a great hand so you take a card, getting a King (zero, no help) or maybe a 7 for a score of (5+7+7=19) of 9. The house makes its money by taking a percentage of the winnings. This game is played in the casinos of Europe and the Caribbean (and I suppose other places) for big bucks. How much skill is involved depends on how well you can calculate the odds on getting the card you need from looking at two cards.

Baccarat came to the USA in the early 1900s from the casinos in Havana, Cuba. It was not a big money maker for the casinos when it was introduced to Las Vegas around 1958, as they lost close to $250,000 on its first night. It is popular with high rollers and has a certain snob appeal. Although several people can play at a traditional table, only the house and the person determined to be the "player" get cards. All players are free to bet on the "player" or "house". On some tables you may bet on the "player" or house getting an eight, nine or a tie between them.

It is similar to Chemin De Fer, except it is the players versus the house, not players versus other players. The only decisions that can be made by the people playing are how much to bet and who to bet on, the player or the bank. The cards are scored the same by adding up the cards and taking the right hand number as the final score. Whether or not to take a card is determined by the rules, not the player.

Rules:

If the player has: a 0,1,2,3,4 or 5, the player takes a card. a 6 or 7, the player takes a card. an 8 or 9, this is a natural winner and the bank cannot draw.

The house

having a 3 takes a card when the player draws a 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10 and stands when the player draws to an 8

having a 4 takes a card when the player draws a 2,3,4,5,6,7 and stands when the player draws to an 1,8,9,10

having a 5 takes a card when the player draws a 4,5,6,7 and stands when the player draws to an 1,2,3,8,9,10

having a 6 takes a card when the player draws a 6, 7

having a 7, stands

having an 8 or 9, natural, player cannot draw.

If the player does not take a card the house stands with a 6.

There may be some minor variations to these rules, depending on where the game is played.

If you bet on the player and win, you win even money. If you bet on the house and win, you win even money but get to pay a 5% commission to the house. Over the long run the casino should win 1.25% of the money bet on the "player" hand. If there is an advantage in betting the house hand, it is minute.

If you just wish to sit and bet without too much thinking involved, Baccarat is as good a choice as any other game. Unlike Blackjack, your decisions can not improve your hand but then you can not ruin it either. The cards are shuffled after each hand so the odds of winning or losing one hand are as good as the next or the one before.

Parlay players like Baccarat because of streaks in a game that they consider pretty close to an even bet. Like roulette, Baccarat seems to attract system players. These players think that by keeping track of dealt cards and hands they be able to see a pattern that will determine future cards or hands, allowing them to know which to bet on. Some casinos provide pads of column lined paper to make it easier to keep track of what has been dealt.

Now, let us get back to that Baccarat room. No matter how nice the tables, how plush the chairs, how the people in there are dressed, there is no social pedigree required to enter. The only requirements are room at the table and enough money to play. If the minimum bet is not posted - ask. If you can afford it, the rope will be raised and it will be you that others will be in awe of while they walk through the casino. Be warned that the minimum bets in these rooms are usually more than the average minimum bet of the Blackjack tables in the casino.

For those who find the minimum bet to be more than their budget allows, or they do not care for the snob appeal of the Baccarat room, many casinos have Mini Baccarat tables, much like and usually near the Blackjack tables. The rules are the same as those in the Baccarat room but the minimum bets are lower. New Baccarat players feel less intimidated at these tables and the dealers should be happy to answer questions.

Like any other game in the casino, you should have a good working knowledge of how it is played and decide on your money management before you sit down to try your luck. Remember, if the casino did not expect to make money with this game it would not be there. Only play the money you have budgeted for gambling and, win or lose, you will have enjoyed your joust with the Baccarat table.

Good luck!