Baccarat Glossary Of Important Terms

Baccarat GlossaryBaccarat is an international game, and as such, there are a variety of terms and phrases that stem from the game that can be difficult to understand. The terms range in origin from French to Italian and Spanish, which is why every player should get to know the most important ones before trying their luck at a baccarat table.

Here is a list of the most important Baccarat Glossary terms in alphabetical order;

  • Action

Action refers to the amount of money that a gambler wagers during a session.

  • Baccarat

Baccarat is thought to refer to the French word for “zero” and might have arisen due to the assignment of the number zero to all face cards, as well as the number 10.

  • Baccara

The term “baccara” is thought to be derived from the Italian term for “zero” and it is quite common for players to come across this term when playing the game of baccarat in Italy or the surrounding areas.

  • Banco

Banco is a Spanish term for banker or bank. During a game of baccarat, the dealer tends to be referred to as the “banco” and this is the person who not only runs the shoe and deals the cards, but it is also the one who plays the cards. In some variations of this game, the “banco” refers to the player who finances the gambling action.

  • The Banker

The banker is also known as the “banco” and this is the person who deals the cards, runs the shoe or plays the hands. When a player bets on the banker, they are given the best odds. There are many people who refuse to bet on anything but the banker, assuming it to be the smartest bet in a game of baccarat because of the odds associated with this game.

  • Bankroll

The bankroll is basically the amount of money that a player has to gamble with. In some cases, this money refers to the amount of money that a player actually has to spend on the game, while in other instances, it refers to the amount of money that the player has spent, in total, during a gambling session.

  • Banque

Banque is a variation of the game of baccarat and it consists of three different hands; the banker’s hand and the two hands belonging to the player. This game tends to be much more popular in European casinos than it is in American casinos.

  • Burn Card

The burn card tends to be played in all land based casinos. This is generally the card that is discarded after the deck has been shuffled, before the cards are about to be distributed.

  • Carte

The phrase “carte” is used in French casinos and is comparable to the English phrase “hit me”. Players will usually use this phrase to indicate to the dealer that they would like to be dealt another card.

  • Chemin de Fer

Chemin de Fer is another variation of the game of baccarat that is quite popular in France.

  • Coup

Coup is a French word and it is used to denote a round in the game of baccarat.

  • Croupier

Croupier is the French word for the dealer. Dealers tend to fill a variety of roles at the baccarat table, but the specific tasks assigned to them will depend on what sort of version of baccarat they happen to be involved in. When playing a game of baccarat in America, it is common to denote the caller of the game as the croupier, instead of the person who deals the cards. When playing mini baccarat, it is common for the dealer or the croupier to conduct all of the necessary duties for the commencement of the game, including controlling the movement of the game, dealing the cards, collecting funds and paying out any winnings.

  • Cut

When you “cut” a deck of cards, you are actually dividing the deck in half after you shuffle the cards. This is just an added measure that ensures the cards are properly shuffled.

  • Cut Card

The “cut card” is usually one manufactured from plastic and decorated in a solid color. This is the card that is usually used to cut a deck after the cards have been shuffled.

  • Dealer

The dealer’s responsibilities will differ depending on what form of baccarat you are playing. During most American versions of the game, both of the employees that stand at a baccarat table are referred to as the dealers. In this version of the game, it isn’t the dealer that deals out the cards; he usually collects losses and pays out wins. It is generally the banker that deals the cards in this situation.

  • Discard Tray

The discard tray holds the cards that are discarded or collected after they have been played.

  • Down Card

The down card is also referred to as the “hole card” and it is the one that is played face down.

  • Edge

The edge is another term for a statistical advantage. It is mostly used to refer to the house advantage in any particular game and it is often represented as a percentage.

  • Face Card

A face card is any card that contains a picture, such as the King, Queen or Jack. In a game of baccarat, all of these “face cards” have a value of zero.

  • Flat Bet

A flat bet refers to those wagering amounts that are played consistently, and without variation, by a player.

  • High Roller

A high roller is a term used to refer to someone who makes large bets.

  • House Advantage

The house advantage is also known as the house edge, and once again, it is the statistical advantage that the casino has over a player and it is usually represented in the form of a percentage.

  • Ladderman

The term “ladderman” is used to refer to an employee who oversees a game of baccarat. This individual is usually situated on a chair that overlooks the tables.

  • Le Grande

Le Grande, in French slang, is used to represent a natural 9.

  • Mini-Baccarat

Mini-baccarat is an American variation of this game that is not only played at a slightly smaller table, but is played by a different set of rules.

  • Monkey

This is a slang term for a ten or a face card.

  • Natural

The term “natural” refers to having a total of 8 or a 9 after the first two cards of the game have been dealt.

  • Palette

The palette is a tool that is used to move cards about the table.

  • Punto

Punto could be of a Spanish or an Italian origin and is translated as “point”. This is also a slang word for a baccarat player.

  • Shoe

The shoe is a tool in which the cards for a game of baccarat are stored. This tool could hold up to eight decks and they make it easier for the dealer to distribute the cards along the surface of the table.

  • Shuffle Up

Shuffle ups are utilized by dealers to try and make it more difficult for card counters to count their cards.

  • Standoff

A standoff is a term used to refer to a tie”.

  • Upcard

The upcard is an upwards facing card.

  • VIP

VIP is an acronym for “Very Important Person”. This is a term that tends to be used for high rollers.