If you were to look at the names of Baccarat and MiniBaccarat, your first instinct would be that they’re the same game, just that one of them is smaller than the other. You would be right in some respects, but there are also other differences between the two games. These differences offer both positives and negatives for players, so it’s important to know the difference when you’re choosing a game to play. We’ve gone over both games to help you find out which game is the best for you.
What do they have in common?
It really depends on where you’re playing the game. Generally speaking, if you’re playing baccarat or mini baccarat at an NJ online casino then the game will be almost the same. That is because online casinos generally tend to focus on the dealer carrying out all instructions. It means that essentially, all online casino versions of baccarat are mini baccarat.
The general rules of how to win are the same. So, the aim is to get as close to 9 as possible and for players to bet on whether the winner will be the banker, player or if it will be a tie.
So, what are the differences between the two versions of the game?
Differences
The first major difference between baccarat and mini baccarat is the size of the shoe. In baccarat there is an 8-deck shoe involved, mini baccarat has a 6-deck shoe. This will obviously make a difference to the potential house edge. Generally speaking, the fewer decks in the shoe, the lower the house edge.
The second major difference is the way that the game is played. Baccarat is normally for high rollers. This means that it will have dress codes in place, high limits and a large table. During the game, the shoe will be passed around the different players at the table. Each one will get a turn being the banker. While optimal baccarat strategy has to be followed, each player is still given the chance to act as the banker.
Mini baccarat has a much smaller table, doesn’t tend to have dress codes and has smaller wagering limits. This means that it is open to a much wider range of players. On top of this, it’s just the dealer that acts as the banker on every game. So, players just place bets, they don’t actually get involved with the playing of the game.
This means that mini baccarat is certainly a much more accessible game than standard baccarat. But if you want to play the game that you’ve seen in the movies, then baccarat is the game for you. However, if you’re a pragmatic player, because mini baccarat tends to have a lower house edge, then this game makes much more sense.
Whichever version of the game that you choose to play, make sure to look over the rules before jumping in. There’s nothing worse than trying to bet on a game that you don’t fully understand, and baccarat can be quite difficult to grasp for first time players.