One of the reasons the game of Baccarat is popular worldwide is because of its variations. There will always be one you would like. And while the base game itself is fun to play, its variations are equally exciting. One of them is the Punto Banco card game.
Punto Banco’s unique gameplay contributes to why it is one of the most loved variants. Today’s casino news focus is the game of Punto Banco. We discuss how it was developed and what is unique about it.
Punto Banco Card Game: Deal Excitement While Chasing the Nines
Punto Banco is one of the card casino games created in the order of Baccarat but with a unique twist. You play it with two hands: the “Punto” (Player) and the “Banco” (Banker). The goal is to guess which hand, the Player or the Banker, will have more valuable cards.
The Punto Banco card game started in Italy as far back as the 15th century. It, however, became popular with the French in the 19th century. In the middle of the 20th century, its fame spread to South American casinos and later to the United States.
In the 1950s, Tommy Renzoni brought Punto Banco to the United States. It became really popular, and lots of rich people started playing it. Now, you can find it in casinos worldwide, like the Draw High Low game.
Aim of the Punto Banco Card Game
The nomenclature, “Punto Banco,” means “Player-Banker”. The name represents the two main betting choices in the game. As a result, the aim of playing the online casino Punto Banco card game is to guess which hand will have more points: the Player or the Banker.
Instead of controlling the cards or how the game is played, you place bets on what you think will happen. Players can choose from three different outcomes to bet on. There is the player bet, the banker bet, and the tie bet. You’ll predict whether the player or the banker will have the higher hand. You can also predict if it will be a tie.
The game follows the 52 factorial deck of cards, which makes the game fair.
The Punto Banco Card Game Gameplay
Punto Banco is a game with a specific set of rules and steps. Let’s take a look at its gameplay process.
Betting
Players choose what to bet on: the player, the banker, or a tie. Two cards are dealt to the player face up while the dealer gets his cards face down. Participants check the card values to figure out the values of the Player and Banker’s hands. Aces are worth 1 solid point. Cards 2 to 9 have their number value. 10s and face cards (King, Queen, Jack) are worth 0 points.
After the initial cards are distributed, the game rules come into play. Below are some of them.
Player’s rule
- If a player has card values from 0 to 5, the player receives a third card automatically.
- If a player has card values of 6 or 7, the Player stands
- If a player has card values from 8 or 9, the Player stands, and the round is finished.
Banker’s rule
The banker gets a third card when the following happens.
- When the banker has a total of 0, 1, or 2
- When the banker has 3 points, and the player has less than 8 points.
- When the banker has 4 points and the player has 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 points.
- When the banker has 5 points, and the participating player has 4, 5, 6, or 7 points
- When the participating banker has 6 points, and the player has 6 or 7 points
The Banker stands
- When having 6 points, and the Player has 6 or 7 points from two cards
- When having a total of 7, 8, or 9.
The overall gameplay is simple. But, if you prefer dice games, you can learn how to play Farkle, an exciting game.
Punto Banco vs Other Variants
Though you might be learning how to play Baccarat, knowing what makes Punto Banco different is also essential.
Less Player Control
According to many online casino reviews, unlike other Baccarat versions, players can’t decide how the cards are dealt or if more cards should be drawn. Focus on placing bets and guessing what will happen next is all that needs to be done.
Drawing Rules
Punto Banco has rules for when extra cards are drawn for the Player and Banker’s hands. These rules are what we have highlighted above.
Commissions
In this game, when a player wins a Banker bet, they must give a little of their winnings to the casino. It is usually around 5% and is called a commission. The casino does this because the Banker bet has better odds.
Final Thoughts
The Punto Banco card game is one of the most exciting baccarat variations you should try today at Vegas Aces Casino. It has unique gameplay that makes playing fun. You’ll find numerous options at our casino, like the Baccarat Betsoft game.
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