Baccarat Terminology

Common Baccarat Terms

If you familiarize yourself with the basic terminology used in baccarat play, you will enhance your enjoyment and competency in the game. Without a working knowledge of baccarat terminology, understanding basic game rules and strategy can prove difficult. You may also miss out on some of the more enjoyable aspects of playing baccarat online, including player chat and participation in baccarat communities.

The below baccarat terms refer to basic words used during baccarat play. Baccarat slang words and terms are merely popular terms similar to the ones you will find in other venues. While it is not necessary for you to memorize the entire baccarat glossary, it’s a good idea to become familiar with a few of the game’s most common terms.

Several online casinos post their own variations on game glossaries so as to inform players of the language endemic to their particular site. Use the OPA baccarat glossary to your advantage and you will become a more informed and competent online baccarat player.

Baccarat Terminology

B
Baccarat
This term has two separate and distinct meanings. Besides being the name of the game, it also refers to the worst possible hand or cards you can have, with a total tally of zero.
Baccarat Banque
A popular European version of the game in which participants can only wager on the “player” hands.
Baccarat Chemin de Fer
The oldest form of baccarat in which the shoe is passed around the table.
Banker
One of two playing positions in the game. The banker is generally the dealer and acts after the player position is done.

Bankroll
The total amount of money that any participant has available for wagering.

C
Cheval
A variation of the game in which participants are given the option of playing two hands.
Coup
A French term that refers to a single round of the game of baccarat.
Casino Edge
The advantage that the casino holds on any bet in the casino parlour. In baccarat, the casino edge is approximately 2.86%, while the casino edge for mini-baccarat is approximately 2.24%. This is a calculation of the online casino’s expected long-term profit from any game or specific bet within the game. Because baccarat provides for a low casino edge, some casinos charge a commission against some baccarat bets.
Croupier
In land casinos, these are the casino employees that serve as dealers.

D
Draw
The action that occurs when the rules of the game dictate that another card should be added to the player or the banker hand.

F
Flat Bettor
A bettor who makes the same wager on every round of the game.

G
Go Bank
A term to denote a wager against the full amount of the banker’s stake.

H
Hand
The cards that are dealt to a playing position during a single round of the game.
House Advantage
See “Casino Edge” above.

L
Ladderman
The casino employee who oversees the action at the baccarat table.
Le Grande
A French term to denote the best possible baccarat hand – a total of 9.

M
Modulo 10
This term means that the digit in the tens space is dropped. For example, if your hand has a face value of 13, then the 1 is dropped, leaving you with a hand value of 3. All baccarat hands are calculated according to this system.

N
Natural
A hand total of 8 or 9 comprised of the initial two cards.

P
Pallet
To the traditional baccarat player, this paddle is a recognizable and distinctive part of baccarat history. It is a flat wooden paddle that is used by the Croupier (See above) to move cards and chips on the baccarat table.
Punter
This term refers to paying participants in a game of baccarat. In baccarat, since the term “player” refers to a type of hand, participants in a game of baccarat are referred to as punters.

S
Shoe
The holder of the several decks of cards that are employed in the game of baccarat.
Stand
This means that you accept the value of your cards and refuse the option of taking additional cards. It can also refer to a participant’s decision to leave the baccarat table.

T
Tie
A bet wherein the banker and player hands have equal value. Even though this wager pays off well, it is not a wise bet because of the odds of occurrence.