How to Play Chemin De Fer Baccarat l323j
In this article, I take a closer look at Chemin De Fer, also known as French Baccarat — a version of the game where players bet against each other rather than against the house. Unlike traditional Baccarat formats where it’s player versus banker, Chemin De Fer has one player act as the banker each hand, risking their own money against the others at the table. The casino doesn’t take part directly but earns a small percentage from winning bets as a commission.
The rest of the rules are similar to other Baccarat variants, but the player-controlled banker role adds a unique twist to how each round plays out.
Chemin De Fer Baccarat Rules 4ti4p
Chemin De Fer Baccarat is played with six decks of cards and typically accommodates 8 to 12 players at the table.
At the beginning of the game, the player seated to the right of the croupier is given the option to act as the banker. The remaining players are considered bettors and may only place wagers on the player hand to win.
If the selected player agrees to become the banker, they must announce how much of their own money they are willing to stake. If they decline, the option moves clockwise around the table until a player accepts the role.
Once the banker announces how much they are willing to risk, the rest of the players take turns placing their bets. If the total amount wagered goes beyond what the banker has offered to cover, the banker can either raise their stake to match the total bets or keep their original amount.
If they choose not to increase it, the most recent bets are removed one by one until the total matches the banker’s risk. Players who bet earlier are more likely to have their wagers accepted, which makes timing a small but important factor.
Chemin De Fer Baccarat is typically played with six decks and includes between 8 and 12 players. If the banker offers more than what the players at the table are willing to bet, I’ve seen land-based casinos allow spectators to in and place a wager to make up the difference.
How Each Hand Unfolds in Chemin De Fer 3j2p1b
Once bets are placed, the player with the highest bet acts as the player against the banker. If two or more players have the same highest bet, the one who placed their bet first decides the actions during the hand. I’ll break down what happens next below:
2 cards are now dealt, face down, to the player and to the banker.
They both now look at their cards in secret, not allowing the other to view their hand. The player can show the other players if they wish.
It is worth reminding you at this point that the scoring is the same as all other forms of Baccarat. Aces are worth 1 point, 10, and picture cards 0 points, and all numbers are of equal value to their pips. If the total is 10 or more, only the last digit counts. The aim is to get as high total as you can with 9 or 19 as this counts as 9 as well. The best hand possible.
If either has a hand worth 8 or 9 points, they turn the cards over and the hand ends. The highest total wins.
If neither the banker nor the player has an 8 or 9, the player now has a choice to make. Unlike in other versions of Baccarat, the player can choose whether or not to take the 3rd card.
However, there are rules which should be adhered to in the game as you act for a number of other players as well, and detouring from it can be frowned upon if you lose.
Player Rule in Chemin De Fer Baccarat 61a5r
| Total | Player Action |
|---|---|
| 0 to 4 | Draw a card |
| 5 | Draw or stand |
| 6 or 7 | Stand |
| 8 or 9 | Reveal cards – hand ends |
It’s usually only when the player has a total of 5 that they get to make a real decision, whether to draw a third card or not. This choice is made by the player in charge of the hand.
If they do draw, the third card is dealt face up so the banker can see it as well. While the banker also has the option to draw a third card, most follow an expected set of guidelines. There are really only a couple of situations where the banker has to make a judgment call. In the table below, I’ve outlined what typically happens in each case.
| Banker Total | Banker Draws | Banker Stands | Up to Banker |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 2 | Always draws | Never | — |
| 3 | If player 3rd card is 1 to 7 or 10 | If player 3rd card is 8 | If player 3rd card is 9 |
| 4 | If player 3rd card is 2 to 7 | If player 3rd card is 0, 1, 8 or 9 | — |
| 5 | If player 3rd card is 5 to 7 | If player 3rd card is 0, 1, 2, 3, 8 or 9 | If player 3rd card is 4 |
| 6 | If player 3rd card is 6 or 7 | If player 3rd card is 0 to 5, 8 or 9 | — |
| 7 | Never | Always stands | — |
| 8 or 9 | No 3rd card drawn | No 3rd card drawn | — |
If the Player stands, the Banker should draw a 3rd card with a total of 0 to 5 and stand on 6 or 7.
What Happens After the Hand Ends 3q2b57
Once all cards have been dealt, both hands are turned over and the winnings are paid. If the player has a higher total, all players whose bets were accepted are paid out at 1 to 1 from the funds set aside by the banker.
If the banker has the higher hand, the banker wins all the player bets less 5% which is paid to the casino.
In the event of a tie, the bets are left on the table and paid out the following hand when either the player or banker wins.
As you can see, being the banker means you can potentially win a higher amount than when you are a player, however, you do risk more in this position too as you are potentially betting against several players at any one time.
Once a hand has finished, the banker has the chance to remain as the banker for the next hand. They will need to risk more funds in order to do this or it on to the next player. It is considered bad practice in Chemin De Fer and French Baccarat to give up the banker position if you win after the 1st hand, players should have at least one opportunity to win their money back.
If the banker wins 3 or 4 times in a row, it is acceptable for them to allow the next player to replace them as the banker.
Chemin De Fer Strategy 256q2e
Chemin De Fer / French Baccarat strategy is mostly the same as in other versions of the game. In general, the player should draw a third card when holding a total of 0 to 4 and stand with a 6 or 7. A total of 8 or 9 is considered a natural, so no additional cards are allowed. That means the only real decision point comes when the player has a total of 5.
From what I’ve seen at the table, most players follow these guidelines out of courtesy and tradition, especially since they’re making decisions on behalf of others who placed bets.
If the player stands, the banker is expected to draw with a total of 0 to 5 and stand on 7. But if the player chooses to draw a card, the banker’s decision depends on the value of that third card. Here’s how I break it down when looking at the banker’s next move:
Player
| Banker | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | S | |||||||||
| 6 | S | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | S | S |
| 5 | S | S | S | S | ? | H | H | H | S | S |
| 4 | S | S | H | H | H | H | H | H | S | S |
| 3 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | S | ? |
| 2 | H | |||||||||
| 1 | H | |||||||||
| 0 | H | |||||||||
The only situations dependent on what the player did are when the banker is deciding whether to draw a third card:
If the player has a 5 they can choose to draw or stand, which affects the banker’s decision.
If the banker has a 6 and the player stood the banker may also choose to stand.
If the banker has a 5 and the player hit and got a 4 the banker might consider drawing based on that card.
If the banker has a 3 and the player hit and got a 9 the banker may decide to stand instead of drawing.
In the above cases, the banker should copy the player’s actions and stand when they stand and hit when they hit. From the player point of view, they should mix it up whether they stand or hit on a 5 to confuse the banker, this gives them the best chance of winning the hand.
Betting Systems 3x322m
Chemin De Fer Baccarat strategies, such as the Martingale System and Flat Betting, can help structure your wagers throughout the game. While these systems offer guidance, they carry risk since the odds are always slightly against the player over time. No strategy can overcome the built-in house edge.
Martingale System in Chemin De Fer Baccarat 5d1a5c
I started with a $10 bet and lost the first hand, so I doubled my bet to $20. I lost again and raised my next bet to $40. After a third loss, I was down $70 and had to bet $80 on the fourth hand. That hand finally won, recovering my previous losses and giving me a $10 profit.
Feeling confident, I reset my bet to $10 and started the cycle again. But after another streak of losses, doubling each time, I quickly found myself betting $160 just to recover. Although I eventually won that round and got close to even, the pattern repeated. After several cycles of this, I ended the session $50 down, despite some wins along the way.
The Martingale System can recover losses fast, but as this shows, a few bad streaks can make bets escalate quickly and leave you in the negative.
Flat Betting System in Chemin De Fer Baccarat 5954t
I decided to stick with a steady $10 bet for every hand, regardless of wins or losses. Early on, I had a mix of outcomes, winning two hands, losing three, winning one, but because my bets stayed the same, the swings in my bankroll were small. At one point, I was down about $40, but I resisted the urge to increase my wager and just kept placing $10 bets.
Over several hours, small streaks of wins helped me gradually climb back up. Since I wasn’t chasing losses or doubling bets like with other systems, I avoided big risks. By the end, I had stacked up enough small wins to walk away $80 ahead.
The Flat Betting System kept my bankroll stable and let me ride out the natural ups and downs of the game without taking heavy losses during bad runs.
Chemin De Fer Baccarat Odds and Houses Edge 40i6o
Chemin De Fer Baccarat has no fixed house edge like other Baccarat variants because players bet against each other, not the house. The only house commission comes from the casino taking a small percentage (usually 5%) from the winning banker bets. The edge shifts depending on who plays the banker and how often. The banker role statistically has a slight advantage due to acting second, but outcomes still rely heavily on decision-making and luck.
Below, I’ve outlined the typical odds and house edge values based on standard gameplay assumptions:
| Bet Type | Payout | Estimated Odds of Winning | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player Bet | 1 to 1 | ~49.3% | ~1.24% |
| Banker Bet | 1 to 1 (minus 5%) | ~50.7% | ~1.06% |
| Tie | 8 to 1 | ~9.5% | ~14.4% |
Chemin De Fer Baccarat Tips g6b6q
Below, I’ve outlined a few things to keep in mind while playing Chemin De Fer Baccarat:
Always check the odds at the tables. Some casinos offer better odds than others so check out our recommended casinos for where to play.
Quit when you are ahead. It is very easy to get caught up in the game and think you are unbeatable only to go on a losing streak and lose the money you won. Have a target before you start to play and stick to it.
Play with limits in mind. The casino will usually win in the long run. In theory, the longer you play the more chance you have of finishing with a loss.
Manage your bankroll. To ensure the best possible amount of fun, break your bankroll down into a good number of bets and stick to this amount.
Be mindful of table etiquette. In Chemin De Fer, your decisions can affect other players, so keeping the game respectful and orderly benefits everyone at the table.
Understand the third card rules. Knowing when a third card is drawn, and how it affects the banker’s actions, helps you follow the game more clearly.
Chemin De Fer Baccarat works best when you stick with one side. Jumping between hands can be confusing unless the banker changes.
Take your time as the banker. You’re risking your own funds, so don’t rush decisions. Stay calm and consider both player hands carefully before proceeding.
Know when to step down as banker. If you’ve won a few hands, it’s perfectly fine to let someone else take over. It’s not only polite, but it also reduces your risk exposure.
Observe how seasoned players handle their hands. Watching closely helps you pick up on unwritten rules and develop a sense for making smarter choices.
Chemin De Fer Baccarat works best when everyone follows the order. Wait for the banker to declare their stake before placing your bet to keep things fair.
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