Baccarat is a game that has evolved as it moved across Europe, with variants including Chemin de Fer and Punto Banco. Baccarat is played in most casinos, often with variants, including Mini Baccarat, and is a game made popular in the movies, particularly in movies from the James Bond franchise. Here we look at the differences between Baccarat and Mini Baccarat. 

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Baccarat and Mini Baccarat

In both Baccarat and Mini Baccarat, two cards are dealt to the banker and player. The person closest to nine wins. In cases where the value of the player's cards exceeds nine, the first digit of the total is dropped. This means if the player has cards valued at 8 and 9 which totals 17, the 1 is dropped and the value becomes seven. If the value of the cards is less than five, a third card is dealt. 

Bets are placed on one of three options, a banker win, a player win or a tie. Payouts will vary depending on the results. In the standard Baccarat game, the dealer will receive the player cards and return them face up, announcing the totals. If the banker needs a card, the dealer will give this and repeat the process with the one who holds the cards. In Mini Baccarat, dealers play both hands without any input from others at the table, which is why the speed of Mini Baccarat is usually twice that of a standard Baccarat game.

Differences between Baccarat and Mini Baccarat

Baccarat

The standard version of Baccarat is played using eight decks of cards. All players can take turns to be the banker and the shoe is passed around in a clockwise direction, just like in poker or dice. The table usually allows for 14 players and three dealers to play. The middle dealer will be responsible for the cards and the two dealers sitting on the left and the right are responsible for paying winnings and collecting losing bets. 

The wagers in standard Baccarat are usually made by high-rollers and the game is taken very seriously. Players often follow the black-tie dress code which includes tuxedos and the game is hosted in an area cordoned off from the main casino floor. 

Mini Baccarat

The main difference between standard Baccarat and Mini Baccarat is that the dealer is the only banker with Mini Baccarat and they only have six decks of cards placed in the shoe, which stays with the dealer. Mini Baccarat usually has smaller bets placed in the game with a maximum of seven to nine players at one table.  There are usually several tables open on the main casino floor. Mini Baccarat also has a lower house edge than the standard game.

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