Baccarat Appendix 6

Last update: Mar. 9, 2010

The page covers various variants of commission free baccarat I have seen or heard of. Here is a list:

• EZ Baccarat
• Commission Free Baccarat — U.K. variant
• Commission Free Baccarat — Amsterdam variant
• Commission Free Baccarat — Philippines variant
• Commission Free Baccarat — Singapore variant
• Commission Free Baccarat — Mystery variant

On July 3, 2004, at the Plaza in Las Vegas I observed a no-commission baccarat game called EZ Baccarat. In April, 2008, I saw it at the Paris casino in Las Vegas. In November, 2008, I saw it at the Barona casino in California. Two people told me they saw the game in 2010 at the Canterbury Park casino in Shokopee MN.

The rules followed standard baccarat except on the banker bet: (1) all wins pay even money, and (2) if the banker wins with a 3-card total of 7 then the banker bet will push. In addition, there is a "Dragon Bet" on a three card winning banker hand of 7 points that paid 40 to 1.

The following table shows the possible outcomes of the banker bet, based on six decks. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 1.02%

With a probability of winning of 2.2535%, the house edge on the Dragon Bet is 7.61%.

Commission Free Baccarat — U.K. Variant

This variant of baccarat follows the conventional rules, except a winning banker bets pays even money, except 1 to 2 (half) on a winning total of six. The house edge on the player and tie bets are the same as regular baccarat. The house edge on the banker bet is 1.46%. This game is called "Punto Banco 2000" in England, and just "Commission Free Baccarat" in the United States.

The Pala casino in San Diego offers two side bets in this game, the Lucky Bonus and 3-card 6.

I have an unconfirmed report that in the Philippines they offer Commission Free Baccarat, except they pay 2 to 1 on the Banker bet, if the Banker gets 7, and the Player has 4. Other Banker wins pay 1 to 2. The table below shows a house edge of 1.23% on the Banker bet.

I have an unconfirmed report that in Singapore they offer Commission Free Baccarat, in which Banker wins of 8 pay 1 to 2. The table below shows a house edge of 4.07% on the Banker bet.

I have had two reports that in Amsterdam they offer Commission Free Baccarat, in which Banker wins of 5 pay 1 to 2. The table below shows a house edge of 0.93% on the Banker bet.

I once heard of baccarat variant where both player and banker hit on 5 or less. Sorry, I don’t know the name or where it can be found. Here are the full rules.

1. Banker or player 8 or 9 is a natural, neither hand draws.
2. Both banker and player stand on 6 and 7, draw on 0 to 5.
3. All wins pay even money except winning 3, which is a push.
4. Ties push

The following tables show the possible outcomes of either banker or player bet.

The lower right cell shows a house edge of 1.54% on both banker and player bets.

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