Mini-Baccarat is a smaller, lower-stakes version of Punto banco Baccarat. The origins of the game are disputed, and some sources claim that it dates to the 19th century. Other sources claim that the game was introduced into France from Italy at the end of the 15th century by soldiers returning from the Franco-Italian War. Mini-Baccarat is different in that it is generally lower limits than baccarat. It is also different in that the player does not get to pick up the cards, and the fact that the table is smaller in size. In Mini-Baccarat, cards have a point value: cards two through nine are worth face value (in points); tens, jacks, queens and kings have no point value (i.e. are worth zero); aces are worth 1 point; jokers are not used.
In original Baccarat the banker deals two cards to the “punters” (players) and to himself, face-down from the shoe. If anyone has a count of eight or nine, they should turn their cards face-up and win immediately. A count of six or seven means a player must stand. In case the count is less than five a player has to pull out the third card. The banker must draw to a point under three, stand with a point above six. He can do either with a point of three to a player's third-card nine or with a point of five to a player's third-card four. In other case, the banker should draw or stand as dictated by the most-favorable odds.
