European Games

Many casino players will be Europe-bound this summer, therefore a preview of European games and rules is offered for your education. Bonne Chance!

European Rules & Games: Knowledge of the French language, specifically numbers is beneficial.

Punto Banco: similar to American baccarat, but some of the names change: shoe=sabot. player hand=punter. dealer=croupier and is in charge of the game, representing the punter. Tie bet pays eight times the stake and may not be more than a quarter of the maximum stake. The first card brought out by the croupier and turned over determines the value of cards forthcoming before the first game of a new shoe begins; if face card=10 unturned cards are discarded, 7 shows=7 unturned cards discarded, etc. Makes card counting a little more difficult. All cards are dealt face up, unlike Chemin De Fer -- face down.

Chemin De Fer: European version -- you cannot bet on banker or player, you must be one or the other, therefore the casino has no direct involvement in the game. The bettors wager amongst themselves, similar to American poker. The player who is acting as the banker by making the largest bid retains possession of the shoe, places his/her bid, (currency) in the middle of the table, and is responsible for all losing bets with their own money, as well as collecting all winning bank bets while betting the banker hand. The other players can now bet against all (banco), or any portion of this money. The highest bidder is now dealt the player hand. There is no tie bet in this game, however similar to the American version, no money changes hands when there is a tie. The casino takes a 5% commission, or rake, as in poker, on all winning bank hands. In return the casino provides a croupier as referee, table, and necessary equipment. Third card rules are different from the American version, and your bankroll requirement, especially if you want to play banker, is definitely higher.

Baccarat Banque, or Baccarat a Deux Tableaux (Double Table Baccarat): Dealer or croupier acts as Banker, deals all the cards, and banks all bets. Dealer stands in the middle of two tables joined in the middle and deals two player hands, one hand to each table, then 2 cards for Banker hand. Players always bet on the Player hand paying even money, or bet both tables by placing their bet on the line dividing the two tables. Card and table rules are the same as Chemin de Fer. This game is usually privately run with a cut going to the casino. This is not the best baccarat bet to make, generally the person making the most money is the individual who puts up the bankroll to run the game.

30/40-Trente & Quarante: simple French card game called Rouge et Noir (red and black) played with 6 decks of cards offering 4 bets: rouge, noir, couleur inverse, all paid even money. Aces=1, face or courtcards=10, others=face value. Two hands are dealt, each row must exceed 30, not over 40. First card row is black, second red, and the winning point payout is the one nearer to 30, or lower hand. If the first card dealt in the first row is the same color as in the winning row, the color bet wins, or if first card is of the opposite color, inverse bet wins. A tie is a push, however if both rows equal 31, then bets only lose half the value.
Player may then divide their bet, or wait for next deal where bet will be free if it wins; the same as the "en prison" rule for roulette.

The most popular European game is roulette and so it should be with a single zero wheel cutting the house advantage in half to 2.63%. Enjoy your European travels and 'break the bank at Monte Carlo'!

Gayle Mitchell is the author of Casino Gambling Made Easier books, Ebooks, booklets & the Slots Trilogy.