The croupier shuffles the cards, and then passes them on, each player having the right to shuffle in turn. When they have made the circuit of the table, the croupier again shuffles, and, having done so, offers the cards to the player on his left, who cuts the cards. The croupier places the cards before him, and, taking a manageable quantity from the top, hands it to the player on his right, who for the time being is the dealer.
The dealer places before him the amount he is disposed to risk, and the players make their bets. Any players are entitled to say "Banco", meaning to "go bank," to play against the whole of the banker's stake. If no one does, each player places his bets before him.
The banker proceeds to deal four cards face downwards: the first, for the players, to the right; the second to himself; the third for the players, the fourth to himself. The player who has the highest stake represents the players. If two players are equal in this respect, the player first in rotation has the preference. Each then looks at his cards. If he or she finds that they make either nine, the highest point at Baccarat, or eight, the next highest, he turns them up, announcing the number to everyone else, and the hand is over. If the banker's point is the better, the stakes of the players become the property of the bank. If the players points are better, the banker pays each player the amount of his bet.
The players set their bets again and the game continues. If the banker was the winner, he deals again. If otherwise, the cards are passed to the player next in order, who becomes banker in his turn.
Baccarat is a card game similar to