The History of Baccarat: A Journey
The origins of this classy - and classic - card game are foggy at best, as there are many different debates as to where the history of baccarat originally started. Some say it comes from a game called Tarruchi, a game in the middle-ages where Tarot cards were the original cards used. Others point to the history of baccarat as being born from an Ancient Etruscan ritual, where virgins threw nine-sided dice to determine whether they would be a priestess, be completely excommunicated, or killed.
However, the history of baccarat, point of origin aside, is interesting, to say the least. It is one of the most widely played games in both real time casinos and online gambling websites, and sports a colorful past that has led to its continued popularity now.
Baccarat means "zero" in both French and Italian languages, with both countries having their share of supporters as to where the game really came from. This is reflective of the diversity of opinion concerning the origins of the history of baccarat.
As stated earlier, one of the more popular theories on the history of baccarat say that an Italian, one Felix Falguierein - a gambler, of course - invented the game in middle ages and played using Tarot Cards.
The other, the ancient Etruscan ritual, had blonde women untouched by the passions of love-making roll a dice with nine sides to determine her fate. Rolling the two highest numbers, eight and nine, meant that she would become a priestess. A six or a seven meant that she was to be banished from the religion, while rolling anything lower doomed her to walk to her death into the sea.
By the end of the 15th century, the history of baccarat becomes much clearer, appearing as a form of gambling popular among - and exclusive to - members the French high society before finding its way to a wider audience via casinos.
It is though its journey through the years and in the tables of casinos around the globe that the rules of baccarat were established - from the "Chemin de fer" of the French to the "European baccarat" made popular in England and then to the shores of South America, where it was discovered by Tommy Renzoni and made to debut in the infamous Dunes casino in Las Vegas in the mid 1900's, adopting rules formed from a combination of Chemin de fer and European baccarat.
Much like its ancestor, Chemin de fer, Baccarat remains a favorite among casino high-rollers. To attract more players, a mini version was made available to those who could not afford to have high bankrolls. The limits are lower here and the procedures are simplified. The same goes for online gambling sites, which offer players the chance to play classic baccarat - on a mini baccarat table - without them having to be a bigwig.