Punto Banco is a variation of baccarat. This version of the game is popular among South African casino sites. The game is easy to follow and the rules are similar to the original game.
Punto Banco was first played in America and has become popular all around the world. “Punto” means player and “Banco” means bank refers to the hands that are dealt. We break down how the game is played and the rules you need to follow.
Whether you play Punto Banco online or at a land-based casino, you are guaranteed to have a good time. Here are the basic rules of Punto Banco:
The dealer is the main person handling all the cards. Punto Banco uses between 6-8 decks of cards.
Both the banker and the player are dealt two cards each at the beginning of the round.
A third card can be dealt with if neither the player nor the banker gets a hand value of 8 or 9.
The banker may be dealt a third card depending on the player third card value.
The game could end in either the player or banker winning, or the game being a tie.
Card Values
Just like the original version, the Kings, Queens, and Jacks carry the value of 0. The Aces are worth 1 point and the rest of the other cards carry their face value. The total value of a hand is the value of the first two cards that are drawn. If the final number is double-digit, ten is subtracted.
Other Variations of Punto Banco
Mini baccarat: In this version, the table is handled by one croupier. The table is similar to a blackjack table with the croupier dealing directly from a standard shoe.
Punto 2000/ Super 6: Players get paid their winnings on banker bets except when the banker wins on a 6. The house bet stands at 1.46%. The variation of baccarat is popularly known for its speed.
EZ Baccarat: Even money is played to both the winning player and banker bets except when the banker wins with a total of 7 after a third card has been drawn. The two additional options to this version are the Dragon 7 and the Panda 8. The Dragon 7 is when a certain bet of three-cards landing on a 7 on the banker’s side wins. The payout is 40:1. The Panda 8 is when a bet of three cards landing on an 8 on the player’s side wins.
