Punto Banco

General Description of Punto Banco

Punto Banco is one of the European versions of baccarat.

Six, seven, or eight 52-card decks without jokers are used. The game is played at the table with a particular layout. Players can occupy any free space with a box numbered from one to sixteen.

Only the croupier can deal the cards. He acts on behalf of the casino and plays the role of a banco.

The aim of playing Punto Banco is to predict the winner (either a player or banker) and make a bet on one of them or a tie.

Values of all cards and hands in punto banco are similar to standard baccarat rules.

Players can make any of the three available bets:

1. on the banker (banco),
2. on the player (punto),
3. on a tie (egalite).

The bet size is limited to the lower and upper limits of a given table. Bets are made on the box located near the seat of the player.

Punto Banco Gameplay

At the beginning of each round, the banker deals cards to the player and himself. Cards are dealt in turn, starting with the player. Then the player's cards are evaluated. The game can finish after that immediately, or the player can draw a third card, according to the player's rule. Then the banker enters the game. He can either draw a third card or stand.

After that, the player's and the banker's hands are compared.

• If the player wins, the banker pays for the Punto and Egalite bets and collects Banco bets.
• If the banker wins, Punto and Egalite bets lose, and Banco bets are paid (a 5% commission fee goes to the gambling house).

At different casinos, users can wager using chips and real money, which primarily depends on local traditions.

Punto Banco Basic Strategy

The strategy for punto banco does not differ from the recommendations adopted for other types of baccarat. It is more beneficial to make a Punto bet. Users should avoid Banco and Egalite bets in all cases.