Baccarat History: From Early Ages Till Today

Origins

As well as any other casino game, baccarat has its own rich history of development though this baccarat history is still not very clear. Most likely, that this game was popular in China at the beginning of our era and the Chinese called this game to be Pai Go (Make a Nine in Chinese). As we know, the objective of the modern baccarat game is the same - to get nine points out of 2 cards dealt; so, it is believed that baccarat migrated from China to Italy where it got its name from its worst card combination of zero points (baccarat means zero) and was played by using tarot cards.

Felix Falguerein

This Italian gambler is believed to be a father of baccarat history and modern baccarat itself: he created the rules of the game and made it to be a very popular in the Italy of the 14^th century. The legend is that Felix created the game after the well-known myth about Etrustan ritual:

Every virgin lady had to throw a nine-sided dice to determine her future, and the number of points she got determined her destiny.

If she got 8 or 9 points she would become a priestess; if the number of points were 6 or 7 she would stay alive but had no right to come to a temple; but if a virgin had less than 6 points she would jump into the water from a mountain and end her life in such a tragic way.

Obviously, Felix Falguerein had taken this myth as a basement for baccarat rules we have today: 8-9 points are the best variant of this game which brings a victory to a player; 6-7 points give a player at least one more chance to win, but less than 6 points hardly give such an opportunity.

France

In 15^th century baccarat migrated from Italy to France where it became very popular card game for noble gentlemen; the king of that period, Charles VIII brought baccarat to his country where it was split into two variations - Chemin de Fer (actually, French variant) and European baccarat which later continued to develop in England.

Though baccarat was considered to be the game of only aristocratic world, it quickly found its popularity among the middle class of people thanks to illegal gambling casinos (saloons).

England

It was a moment when baccarat was prohibited to play in France and all its admirers played this card game illegally. During this time baccarat began to develop its popularity in England: people discovered baccarat for themselves thanks to Queen Victoria's son when his game partner was involved in troubles with baccarat card game. People began to play baccarat just to enjoy the game and for fun though certainly some of them played for money, for big money indeed.

America

Well, certainly, America could not stay indifferent when some new card game appeared: in the end of the 19^th century English colonists brought baccarat to the USA. And though it developed and gained the popularity very slow because of blackjack (this card game was extremely popular in America at that time), it found its fans but anyway continued to be in a shadow of blackjack till the 1950s.

Modern Era of Baccarat

American casino owners did not forget about baccarat when decided which games would be played in their casinos. They changed the rules of the game a bit in order to make it more pleasant and attractive for players, and this moment had given a birth to American baccarat in the second part of 20^th century. But European gamblers did not want to accept this baccarat variation and continued to play Chamin de Fer and European baccarat; that is why many casinos had all three baccarat variants for players to gamble.

Americans did not stay calm about it as they liked baccarat very much; so, they changed its rules a little bit more and Mini-baccarat was born in such a way.

Today baccarat's history continues to develop thanks to the Internet era (today you may even play slots online), and this card game definitely has something more to surprise its players with.