The History of Baccarat

Baccara means "zero" in Italian. The name for Baccarat is derived from this root and likely comes from the fact that, in the card game, face cards and "tens" are worth nothing. It might also be a reference to the worst possible hand in baccarat - "zero". It is thought that the earliest version of baccarat originated in the mid 1400s and was played with tarot cards by a man named Felix Falguierein. This gambler called the game "tarochi". Note that the game does give the banker a slight edge. Thus, it would give a gambler popularizing the game a way to generate profits with minimal risk.

It was during the reign of Charles VIII of France in the late 1400s that the game crossed the border into France, perhaps partly as a result of a French military incursion into Italy during this time. The nobility were enamored of the game, and so it acquired a certain luster. Later the game, in France, would be called "Chemin de Fer". In French to English this has been variously translated as "Iron Way", "Street of Fire", and "Rail Road". Most authorities agree that it has to do with the way the deal or "banco" of the game travels around the table.

From France the game spread to England and then to the Americas. It became quite popular in Cuba when that country became a gambling resort for most of the North American continent. There it was called "Punto-Banco" for the two hands that were played. When Fidel Castro took over the island, gambling operations were shut down. It was at about this same time that gambling took off in Las Vegas in the United States. The game was played in the Dunes casino and is said to have been introduced there by Tommy Renzoni, but lost so much money for the house on its debut that the owners shut it down.

Eventually, it took off in Atlantic City, and then spread to other casinos across the country looking for upscale and exclusive clientele. Baccarat has always been played by high rollers, and has been seen as a game of class and panache. It is often seen in the background in movies where expensive wardrobes and flashing jewelry are a part of the scenery.

Although the basics of the game have remained the same over the centuries, baccarat, chemin-de-fer, or punto-banco, all have varied slightly. Generally, the difference has to do with who funds the banco, how many hands are played at a time, and who can decide whether or not to request a card.

Next Page: The Rules of Baccarat