According to more or less reliable sources, Baccarat is a game that comes from Italy, although there is some evidence that suggests it actually originates from France. In any case, Baccarat can be regarded as an international pedigree and as such, it shares many phrases and terms borrowed from Italian, French, Spanish, etc.
It is important to note that despite the fact that Baccarat has long been available in English speaking countries, the original terminology was substituted by English equivalents.
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In fact, no one is obliged to know the terminology of the game by heart, but if you want to enhance your chances of winning and be able to understand what the dealer and the other players say to you, you should be knowledgeable about the most widespread terms and slang used during a game of Baccarat.
Some of the terms, mentioned below, apply only to land-based Baccarat. You will probably notice that some of the words can be confusing as they have double meanings or they are just instinctively understood as meaning something else.
Baccarat
This is the worst hand in Baccarat. The word Baccarat itself means zero. If you or the bank have a total of 0, this is known as Baccarat.
Banco
Banco is the Spanish word for bank or banker. As for the game of Baccarat, the dealer is sometimes called the banco.
Banker Bet
This is one of the three possible bets you can choose in Baccarat. The house edge is really small and if you win you will be paid 1:1. However, you have to keep in mind the 5% commission deducted from winning bets. Yet, the majority of players claim that the banker bet is the best bet in terms of odds. Banker can also refer to a casino staff member who is in charge of running the shoe, dealing the cards and making sure your game runs smoothly.
Banque
Banque is a Baccarat version, popular mainly in casinos throughout Europe. It comprises of three hands including one banker hand and two player hands.
Bankroll
The amount of money you intend to spend on gambling purposes.
Burning
Right after shuffling and before the start of a new game, the top three to six cards are discarded.
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Caller
A member of the casino staff responsible for the cards on the Baccarat table.
Carte
The term is derived from French and it is used for requesting yet another card from the dealer. Carte is the French equivalent of “Hit me”.
Chemin De Fer
One of the most popular Baccarat variations, also known as European Baccarat. Chemin De Fer is intended mainly for high rollers. In this variation, one of the players is in charge of dealing the cards, taking all bets, and playing the bank. Chemin de Fer is also known as “Railroad”.
Commission
Baccarat is a game known for the really low house edge, but winning bank and player bets are subject to a 5% commission.
Coup
Yet another term of French origin meaning a round of Baccarat comprising of a banker hand and a player hand.
Cut
Cut means do divide the deck of cards in half once the cards have been shuffled. Then, the cut deck is combined again.
Cut Card
This is a special plastic card used for cutting the deck once the cards have been shuffled.
Dealer
The staff member responsible for card drawing. Depending on the Baccarat variation you choose, players themselves may take turns and act as dealers. If you visit a casino in America, you will see that there are two dealers positioned at opposite sides of the Baccarat table. In American Baccarat, the dealer is in charge of collecting losing bets and announcing winning ones.
Discard Tray
The discard tray is available not only in Baccarat but also in other table games. It holds all cards that have been played or discarded for some reason.
Down Card
A card turned face down. Sometimes the down card is also called a hole card.
Dragon Bonus
Some casinos allow players to make side bets. As for the Dragon Bonus, it is a winning one if a chosen hand wins by at least four points.
Face cards
All cards, that have portraits on them are called face cards. This includes Jacks, Queens and Kings of any suit.
Fading
Fading is a term used for placing bets. However, it is applicable only to the land-based Baccarat games.
Flat Bet
The punter places the same amount no matter if the hand is a winning or a losing one.
House Edge
The advantage the casino has over the player. Basically, the house edge is the margin built in order to ensure a profit for the casino regardless of the outcome of the hand.
Ladderman
One of the three dealers who runs the game of Baccarat.
La Grande
The best hand in Baccarat, which translated from French means The Big One. It is referred to as a natural Baccarat totaling nine.
La Petite
Translated into English, La Petite means The Little One. This is a natural Baccarat, totaling eight.
Marker
Marker is a piece of paper you have to sign in order to borrow money from the casino. When a player says he wants to pay off his markers, it means he would like to pay back the borrowed amount.
Mini Baccarat
A smaller version of the full-size Baccarat table that can host up to seven players at once. The variation is also known for the more reasonable table limits and therefore, Mini-Baccarat is the variation of choice of mass players. In online Mini-Baccarat, the cards are dealt face up, but if you play at a land-based casino, they will be dealt face down. What makes Mini Baccarat so popular is the accelerated game action.
Monkey
A slang used for a face card or a ten.
Muck
Eight card decks containing 52 cards each and used at the start of the shuffling.
Natural
When the two cards you have been dealt total either eight or nine.
Palette
A long wooden stick the croupiers use for moving cards during the game of Baccarat.
Player
The term can be a bit misleading as most people would think it refers to the participants in the game. However, this is one of the three available bets in Baccarat. Player bets pay 1:1 and the house advantage is a bit more than 1%. Player bets are opposite to banker bets. The person playing the game is called a Punter.
Pass
A win.
Punto
A player.
Punto Banco
Punto Banco is one of the most widespread Baccarat variations on a global scale. It translates Player Banker and it is also the other name of the game of Baccarat.
Push
A bet that is neither a winning nor a losing one is called a push. The amount one has wagered is held over for the next round.
Run
Another side bet option allowing you to bet on a series of hands.
Shills
A member of the casino staff, who is in charge of luring players to engage in a game of Baccarat.
Shoe
An automatic dealing machine that eliminates the chance for accidents related to manual dealing. The shoe contains six or eight decks used for the game. If you play Baccarat online, the shoe will be represented on the table and the cards will be dealt from it.
Shooter
The bank.
Shuffle Up
The term is used to refer to the early shuffling of the cards by the dealer.
Skill
A joke used to indicate that a player has a good run.
Standoff
When both, the player and the bank are joined in a tie.
Table of Play
The rules according to which the participants in the game can receive a third card.
Tie
One of the three possible bets. If a hand ends a tie, the player and the banker get their bets back. If you wager on a tie and you win, you will be paid 8:1 or 9:1. However, tie bets have a house edge of more than 14%.
Upcard
A card turned face up.
