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**Baccarat: A Brief History and Rules**
In the 15th century, due to racial and class differences between nobility and the poor, France developed a game similar to baccarat called "Chemin de Fer." Unlike baccarat, both the banker and player could draw a third card. In 1959, Chemin de Fer made its way to the United States, evolving in the process. In the 1960s, it was introduced to Macau by Tommy Renzoni and renamed baccarat, gradually becoming a globally recognized gambling game. Additionally, the banker in baccarat holds about a 1% advantage in expected value, making it one of the fairest gambling games.
**Rules of Baccarat**
In baccarat, there are three outcomes: banker, player, and tie. "Banker" and "player" refer to the two participating sides, and for added entertainment, there's also the option of a "tie" outcome. Players can bet on the banker, player, or tie, with the highest bettor having the right to reveal the cards.
At the start of the game, the baccarat dealer uses eight decks of cards (one card set), shuffling, stacking, and cutting the cards to ensure fairness.
The dealer first deals cards to the player, then to the banker. Both receive two cards, with the option to draw a maximum of three cards according to specific rules. Finally, the hands of the banker and player are compared, and the side with the higher total points wins.
**Baccarat Drawing Rules**
| Total Points of Two Cards | Player's Drawing Rules | Banker's Drawing Rules |
|--------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
| 0 | Draw one card | Draw one card |
| 1 | Draw one card | Draw one card |
| 2 | Draw one card | Draw one card |
| 3 | Draw one card | If player's third card is 8, no draw; otherwise, draw one card |
| 4 | Draw one card | If player's third card is 0, 1, 8, or 9, no draw; otherwise, draw one card |
| 5 | Draw one card | If player's third card is 0, 1, 2, 3, 8, or 9, no draw; otherwise, draw one card |
| 6 | No draw | If player needs to draw (total points 1-5) and the third card is 6 or 7, draw one card; otherwise, no draw |
| 7 | No draw | No draw |
| 8 | Natural, no draw | Natural, no draw |
| 9 | Natural, no draw | Natural, no draw |
**Conclusion**
In reality, there is no guaranteed method or strategy to crack baccarat. Claims of foolproof strategies are mere bluffs. Players need to apply basic math and statistical knowledge, feel the atmosphere of the casino, and devise appropriate strategies. Most importantly, it's crucial to control greed, maintain rationality, evaluate the gambling situation from different perspectives, and avoid blind actions or excessive bets driven by the desire to win. |
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