Baccarat is, without a doubt, one of the most beloved casino games of all time. A favorite in the Far East, it found its way into US casinos and gambling sites alike. As baccarat became a global obsession, gamblers sought to modify it in various ways.
That’s why you have Punto Banco baccarat, Super 6, Chemin De Fer, and many other versions. But one variation seems to catch on faster than others – midi baccarat.
Our readers have been asking us about it, so the HowToCasino team felt it was only right to deliver. In today’s guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about this game. Once you’re done, you’ll know how to play midi baccarat, online or otherwise.
Midi Baccarat Bets and Basics
This particular variant is usually played with eight decks, all of which are placed in a shoe and shuffled after each hand. There are two ‘sides – the Player and the Banker. The goal of the game is to see who will come closer to the number nine. To win, you can either get a natural hand (8 or 9) or have a score that’s 4 or more points higher than the other party.
Cards from 2 to 9 are equal to the numbers on them, while tens, face cards, and any combinations are worth 0. Aces are worth 1. When the sum of two or more cards is greater than 10, the first digit is dropped. For instance, if you have a 3 and a 9, it’s a 2 instead of a 12.
When you’re playing, you don’t actually do anything other than preparing your bets. You can wager money on the Player, the Banker, or a Tie. If you bet on the Player and won, you’ll get double your wager, i.e a 1:1 payout. The same goes for betting on the Banker, except the house keeps 5% of your winnings as commission. Ties are obviously the rarest, and thus pay 8:1.
How Does Midi Baccarat Work?
Each midi baccarat hand starts with four cards drawn from the shoe. The first and third cards are the Player’s hand, while the second and fourth are the Banker’s cards. In land-based casinos, the hands are faced (revealed) by the players with the largest Player and Banker bets at the table, respectively. Online casinos just show the cards on the screen.
Keep in mind that you can only place bets before the cards are faced. Once the dealer says ‘no more bets,’ the hand commences. If either the Player or the Banker gets an 8 or 9, it’s called a ‘natural.’ In this case, no further cards are drawn.
If it’s any other number, further cards will be dealt, which will eventually lead to an eventual victor.
When Can You Stand in Midi Baccarat?
When the player has 6 or 7 and stands, the banker always draws on 0 through 5 and stands on 6, 7, 8 and 9.
The Banker must always draw on 0, 1 or 2, and proceed with one of the following outcomes:
- The Banker draws a third card if their first two add up to 3 and if the player gets 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 9. In case the player’s third card is 8, the Banker stands.
- If the Player’s third card is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 and if the Banker’s sum of cards is 4, the Banker draws a third card. They stand on 0, 1, 8 and 9.
- The Player drawing a 4, 5, 6 or 7 as a third card results in the Banker drawing one too, but only if the total of their first two is 5. If there’s a 0, 1, 2, 3, 8 or 9, the Banker stands.
- Again, if the Player draws a 6 or 7 as a third card and the dealer has 6 in the first two, they can draw another one. If the Player gets 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 or 9, the Banker stands.
- Bankers always stand if the total of the first two cards is 7.
- For natural 8s and 9s, the Banker stands and the Player is forbidden from drawing more cards.
What’s Dragon Bonus in Midi Baccarat?
Aside from the main trio (Player, Banker and Tie), there’s also a side wager you can take up. That’s right – midi baccarat actively uses the Dragon Bonus side bet. To be able to place it, you need to have a previous bet for the upcoming hand, and it mustn’t be a tie.
While the main bets focus on the outcome, Dragon Bonus allows you to bet on the exact win margin between the Player and the Banker. Here’s how this wager pays:
- Natural winner – 1:1
- Natural tie – push
The following are for non-natural hands only:
- Win by 9 – 30:1
- Win by 8 – 10:1
- Win by 7 – 6:1
- Win by 6 – 4:1
- Win by 5 – 2:1
- Win by 4 – 1:1
How to Win at Midi Baccarat?
This particular baccarat variant is beloved because of its fast pace and lack of constraints. As such, players can enjoy it through a multitude of different strategies. What’s the ‘best one depends on your goals, preferences, and experience level. The most important thing is not to chase your losses and not to worry too much.
That’s the beauty of midi baccarat. Once you’ve placed your bet, you can sit back and relax while you watch the cards unfold. There are no stressful decisions or improvisation like in blackjack. That’s why HowToCasino loves this particular baccarat variant. It takes the base game to a different level and provides more opportunities to win. Try it out!
