Mini Baccarat: Bringing the Game to the Mainstream

The reason why Baccarat isn't as widely played as other card games has nothing to do with its playability, but more on the limits involved. Everyone wants to play the high class game but the stakes are too high.

Fortunately, for those who can't afford to gamble with $10,000 per hand, Mini Baccarat presents the ideal solution. This variant was introduced sometime in the late 1970s and was designed to make the game more popular with low limit players. Today most casinos have this game, and a lot of the online gambling sites also feature this variant.

Before you go out and play Mini Baccarat though, it's important to recognize that there are other changes that are implemented with the game, besides lowering the bets. While variations may exist among casinos, the list below can serve as general guidelines.

The first is that the table has been reduced in size. The "usual" can be quite large, sitting up to over a dozen players, and in most cases, even more. The one used in Mini Baccarat play is usually no large than those made for Blackjack. Also, while the high stakes game takes place in VIP rooms or the pit, here the table is often set directly in the middle of the casino floor, clustered with the other card tables.

Another difference between Mini Baccarat and the regular game is that there is only one dealer, who performs the role of the caller and the two dealers in the traditional game. This is possible because there are fewer players in action.

That being said, there are still some similarities between the two. The most important is that it is only the dealer that is allowed to touch the wagers after it is made (something that is followed in other games where you play against the house). Also the rules of the game still apply, depending on which variant it is based. In American casinos it is Punto Banco, and in Europe it is Baccarat en Banque or Chemin de Fer.

Playing online Mini Baccarat is also fun. The range of betting limits are sometimes even more varied than in casinos, and you also get to play more hands, and against different players from all over the world.

Those looking for nothing but a good time at the casino should take a look at Mini Baccarat. You not only get to win money with very little mental effort, but you also get to indulge in a game that was once reserved for aristocrats.