Why Do Baccarat Players Bend the Cards?

Updated: 27.10.2024, 12:41

4 min read

Baccarat is a simple game. Once you’ve placed your bet on Banker, Player, or Tie (if you’re feeling extra daring), it’s in the dealer’s hands. There’s no trick or strategy to make your bet win or lose. But, for many players, it’s a whole different story. So, why do baccarat players bend the cards? Let’s find out!

Understanding the Basics of Baccarat

Baccarat, often said as “bah-ka-rah,” has been popular in casinos across Europe and Latin America. Surprisingly, despite how it looks, it’s likely the easiest online casino game you’ll come across.

Rules of the Game

In baccarat, you bet on the hand you believe will get closest to nine. Nine is the best hand. Cards with a value of ten are worth zero, and ace cards are always one. If the total goes over nine, the second digit counts.

The shoe holds eight decks of cards and moves around the table, player to player, counterclockwise, whenever a player’s hand wins. This gets everyone involved in the game.

Historical Overview of Baccarat

The story goes that baccarat started in Italy around the 1400s, thanks to a man named Felix Falguiere or Falguierein. He named it after the Italian word for “zero” because tens and face cards counted for nothing.

From Italy, baccarat travelled to France, where it became known as Chemin de Fer (“Chemmy”). King Charles VIII and his people loved it. Baccarat was really popular among French nobles for ages.

Baccarat also made its way to England, where Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, learned how to play it. Thus, baccarat gained its famous spy player.

The Psychology Behind Bending Cards in Baccarat

Many gamblers understand that squeezing cards won’t magically improve their baccarat skills. But, then why do baccarat players bend the cards? It’s because faith and confidence in the ritual have more impact than some of us realise.

Psychological Influence on Players

Gamblers often mix the baccarat squeeze ritual with other tricks to try to change the game’s result. Some even blow on the cards, hoping to whisk away unwanted numbers and get that lucky win.

Another idea is that the squeeze ritual makes baccarat more thrilling. Unlike online poker or craps, Baccarat doesn’t demand much from players. The squeeze ritual gives players a sense of control and lets them feel like they can impact the game’s outcome.

Superstition and Rituals in Gambling

Despite all the drama and tension at the table, bending or rubbing cards won’t magically alter their value, right? Well, it’s all about belief. Many players are superstitious, especially when it comes to baccarat. Scott Milburn, in charge of table games at Macau’s City of Dreams, once told CNN that some players almost seem to think they can change a card’s outcome with their squeeze.

The Impact of Card Bending on Game Play

At a typical baccarat table, cards are dealt face down. A chosen player gets to see their hand, but it’s not quick. The croupier bends the card’s edges to show only the suite symbols. The card’s number remains hidden by a thumb. This gives the player a clue about the card but not its exact value. For instance, two suite symbols across the top and three down the side could be a 6, 7, or 8.

Effects on Game Outcome

While bending, players can use their body language to hint at the card to others. Once revealed, the cards are handed back to the dealer.

Casino’s View on Card Bending

Unlike many other gambling superstitions, the baccarat squeeze tradition has shifted to live dealer online casinos. Various game developers, like Evolution Gaming, have adopted this ritual. These games copy the Macau-style baccarat style and involve the dealer slowly showing the cards via live stream to an audience of players.

Cultural Significance of Card Bending

The bending tradition mostly stems from Asian influence. This doesn’t surprise us, as Asian cultures often lean towards superstition. It is thought to offer favourable odds and good fortune and aid in predicting the game’s results.

Differences in Card Bending Practices Worldwide

Methods range from a simple bend-turn-bend-flip to a slow, deliberate rubbing and bending motion or squeezing something in or out of the card. This is likely the origin of the term ‘card squeeze’. Once the first card is squeezed, the focus shifts to the second card. If a third card is needed, it undergoes the same squeezing ritual.

How Culture Influences Gambling Practices?

In many countries, gambling has a rich history, so it blends indigenous traditions with modern entertainment culture. Even now, traditional games aren’t just fun for many people—they hold spiritual and social importance. Games such as baccarat hold local values and beliefs, and this is shown through its increasing popularity.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Many casinos either shred or drill holes in the squeezed cards. Since baccarat cards get bent frequently, they can also be thrown out. Casinos destroy them to prevent players from recovering them and using them for cheating.

Casino Policies on Card Damage

Mostly used by Asian players, the technique is often prohibited at brick-and-mortar casinos. These venues often reuse cards and don’t want them damaged. However, the dealer might rotate the cards, especially at low-limit tables.

Fair Play and Gambling Ethics

Bending cards is a trick some players use to peek at their value and gain an edge. But it’s against the rules and could get you kicked out of the game. Plus, famous casinos now have cameras on baccarat tables that catch any sneaky moves.