Casino Enterprise Management

With the increase in the domestic Asian market and the desire to offer additional live table games that don’t eat the operator alive through participation fees, more gaming executives are looking to Baccarat to fill their needs. With the decision to add Baccarat to the table game mix come additional questions. What size table should we use? Should we go with the full crew-served 14-spot table or a couple of the smaller 8-spot versions? What about whether or not the players get to touch the cards? If we market to Asian players, don’t they prefer handling—or should I say “squeezing”—the player/banker cards? What about “tie” bets? Maybe we should eliminate the area on the table where the “ties” are wagered, and if any of our customers have an urge to bet on a tie hand, we can use lamer buttons marked “tie.”

The problem now is where the executive goes to get this information. A quick review of Baccarat information has shown me a collection of out-of-date material written mostly in the ’70s and ’80s, or books written by players in an attempt to exploit the game. Maybe it’s time to write an article concerning the different factors involved in dealing the game of Baccarat. Maybe it’s time to give gaming executives useful information so they make the correct procedure decisions that will allow them to operate their game more profitably under present-day situations.

Arguments Regarding Table Size
Here are your common choices: the full-sized 14-spot table, the smaller “sit-down” 8-spot table, and the regular Blackjack-type table. First, when considering a full-size game, remember that it is a crew-served game similar to Craps. The game is manned by four dealers who rotate positions on the table. You have a “stick person” who controls the game and calls the cards, you have two “base” dealers who handle all the paying and taking on the two ends of the table, and you have one dealer on break. This style of Baccarat was an attraction in itself back in the ’60s and ’70s, with the dealers in tuxedos and the female “shills” in evening dress filling out that big, spacious game to make it look more inviting.

Well, unless you’re dealing to Arab sheiks or James Bond, you might strongly consider staying away from the more labor-intensive full table and opt for one of the smaller versions, which require only one dealer—and no “glamorous” female shills. Not only will the game be less expensive to operate, but you’ll find that the big players (maybe not the sheiks) do not mind playing on the smaller gaming area.

In addition, the smaller games are more easily protected. In the full version, it is standard practice to allow the players to handle the dealing shoe and deal cards during the play of the hand. This procedure causes a lot of incidences where players draw cards in error and subsequently the shoe becomes “busted,” with the cards no longer in their intended sequence. This becomes a detrimental problem when dealing to predominantly Asian players. Asians believe their fate is sealed once the cards are placed in the dealing shoe, and anytime the shoe sequence is “busted” by a card drawn in error, they feel their fate has been interfered with and may quit playing.

Midi vs. Mini
If you decide to go with the smaller game, you have to choose which type of table size to use. Do we go with the Blackjack-style tabletop that we already have in abundance or do we purchase the oversized sit-down type game that most casinos are presently using? Even though your Blackjack-style table is available to use immediately, I would advise you to spend the additional money and get the standard size Mini/Midi Baccarat table. The table is slightly larger, allows the players to sit lower and more comfortably at the table, and lets other customers watch the action on the more-visible table.

If you have opted to go with the larger, sit-down style table, your choices are not over yet. Now you have to decide how you wish the game to be dealt. Do you allow the players to touch the cards or do you only allow the dealer to touch the cards? The most common version of the sit-down style Baccarat games is Mini-Baccarat. In this version, the players are provided with the same game as the full table version, except they are not allowed to handle the dealing shoe or touch the player or banker cards. The dealer handles the entire procedure, dealing cards to the middle of the table layout, turning and calling the hands, determining the draw sequence based on the third-card rule, and calling the eventual hand outcome.

Mini-Baccarat is considered both safer and faster than the other sit-down dealing method, known as Midi-Baccarat. The procedures for dealing Midi-Baccarat allow the players to touch the player and/or banker cards depending on their size of wager placed on the two different bets. Commonly known as a “squeeze game,” because the players usually squeeze the cards in an attempt to build excitement over revealing the value of the first two cards and subsequent third card, Midi-Baccarat gives players the added feel of being on a full table game. This style of sit-down game is popular with Asian players. The Asian culture is “touch” oriented, and the game’s ability to let the bigger players handle the cards fits nicely into their traditional gambling customs.

There is a downside to offering a squeeze game: Players usually squeeze the cards in a manner where they get bent and twisted, and are not in condition to be used for subsequent games. Because of this situation, new cards need to be introduced after every shoe. In casinos with lower wagering limits and lesser play, continually changing the cards can become very costly. In any casino, the introduction of new cards can also be very time consuming and will decrease hourly hand production, which decreases revenue and hold percentage. In addition, because players get to handle the cards, the game is open for card marking (if the cards are used in subsequent shoes) and hand mucking (card switching).

It’s extremely important when deciding which Baccarat game you wish to deal to first consider the best game style needed to attract your desired Baccarat customer market. Then decide which method would be the best fit with your existing casino operation.

Shuffling
The most important factor in designing a shuffle sequence for Baccarat is this: The shuffle does not have to be as complete and extensive as the shuffle you are required to use in Blackjack. Because Baccarat is not subject to attack from card counting or forms of shuffle tracking, the shuffle can safely utilize a simple, single pass recipe. All a prolonged and redundant card shuffling procedure will do is cost you hands per hour and lost revenue. There are a couple procedures that are currently used in relationship with Baccarat that need to be relegated to the scrap heap.

Eliminate Card “Lacing”
Lacing went out of style with the ’70s. The lace was an added feature during the shuffling process that was supposed to instill fairness in the shuffle with the players at the table (remember, in days gone past Baccarat shuffles could last as long as 15 minutes). The lace accomplished nothing worthwhile for the safety or protection of the game and, in fact, gave unscrupulous dealers an avenue to arrange “spied” cards in the deck. The old adage was, “If you’re lacing, you’re placing.”

Limit Card “Washing”
The effectiveness of the washing process has been totally overblown in the past several years. When shuffling a single deck or small group of cards, washing is not as effective as using a “riffle-box-riffle-strip-riffle” sequence. Not only is washing ineffective, but it’s extremely time consuming. The procedure does, however, have merit when introducing several new decks into the game. Washing a number of decks together will help spread cards throughout the six- or eight-deck combination, but do not beat this process to death. Limit the time spent washing the cards to less than 30 seconds. When washing cards, anything more than 30 seconds of continual mixing is a waste of time and money. Wash the cards quickly, stack them up, and then immediately start the remainder of your shuffling process. Remember, the wash should only be utilized during the introduction of new playing cards. If you currently use the wash on your Mini-Baccarat games after every shoe, you stand to make more money—lots more money—if you lose this process of the shuffle procedure.

Use a Quick Shuffle
Once again, please use a quick shuffle process to mix the cards. Do not waste time with multiple-pass shuffles. Because Baccarat cannot be defeated through shuffle tracking, don’t mess around with multi-pass shuffle combinations. Keep the shuffle sequence simple and try to get the entire process done in about 60 to 75 seconds, depending on the number of decks used.

Many locations have gone to using a “batch” shuffling machine to speed up the shuffle process. The batch shuffler has been widely accepted by players as well, so there is limited customer resistance to worry about if you’re considering switching from the manual to the automated process. The use of shuffling machines also offers the executive another incentive: game protection. With the rash of false shuffle scams in Baccarat lately, the shuffling machine is the ultimate deterrent to false shuffle cheating loss. This situation becomes “win-win.” You make more revenue by increasing the number of hands dealt, and you place a safeguard on your table that prevents the most common form of Baccarat cheating.

Even if you use a batch shuffling machine, don’t be lulled into complacence. Make sure the dealer doesn’t dilly-dally during the card transfer period; the two decks need to be exchanged and the game ready to deal in less than 30 seconds (don’t include the time the dealer needs to satisfy commission debt).

Consider Pre-Shuffled Cards
If you opt to use the full Baccarat table or the Midi-Baccarat game, you probably will also decide to introduce new playing cards after every shoe. This process in itself can be extremely time consuming. Opening the new decks, the card inspection, the pre-shuffle card wash and the shuffling process could take more than five minutes to accomplish. Many casino operators have gone to the process of bringing “pre-shuffled” cards into the game. The pre-shuffling of cards is a process unto itself.

In many cases, the casino designates a secured and monitored area known as a “card control room” where they can safely pre-shuffle. The process begins when an employee opens the desired number of decks, which they inspect front and back to guarantee card order, composition and card back quality. Then they place the cards into a batch shuffling machine, which mixes the cards. In some instances the casino may opt to wash the cards prior to inserting them into the shuffling machine, but because the cards aren’t being washed on the table, the cost of any extra time is only reflected in the cost of labor used in the card control room.

Once the cards are shuffled, they are placed in a machine that counts the cards. This machine guarantees that the correct number and exact composition of cards are in the pre-shuffled batch. This machine will also issue a paper tape printout with the time, date and card number verification. The cards and this tape printout are placed into a transparent container that is sealed and signed by the card control room employee responsible for pre-shuffling the cards. The containers are stored in the card control room and used as needed on a first-in, first-out basis.

Pre-shuffled cards may also be purchased through the playing card manufacturer. Most major manufacturers provide this service for their customers at a slightly increased fee per deck. The process the manufacturers use is similar to the process you may use if you decide to pre-shuffle in-house. By purchasing a portion of your cards pre-shuffled, you can forego the costs of staffing and providing security for a card control room.

Dealing
The process of dealing cards in Baccarat is quite clear: Two cards are dealt to the player’s hand and two cards are dealt to the banker’s hand. Next, the dealer will decide whether or not a third card will be drawn and, if so, to which hands. Finally, the dealer will compare the hands and determine which hand wins and loses, or if the hands tie. Although simple, the process can be fine-tuned to increase revenue and provide players with a better gaming experience. Following are some suggestions that will optimize your Baccarat game’s performance.

Stick to a Set Draw Placement
In the Mini-Baccarat game the dealer should always deal the cards so their draw order placement stays the same from hand to hand. Standard dealing procedures dictate that the first card and the third card drawn will always be dealt to the player’s hand. It’s also important that the player cards are turned over and exposed in a manner leaving the draw order intact and easily noted when viewing their exposed table placement. This is also true for the banker hand. For example, the player’s cards need to be exposed in a manner that leaves the third card positioned when exposed to the left and the first card immediately to the third card’s right. The banker’s card would then be positioned and exposed in a similar manner. The banker’s hand would receive the second and fourth card of the deal. The second card would be positioned and exposed to the left, with the fourth card positioned and exposed to the second card’s immediate right.

By maintaining a fixed placement procedure, both the floor supervisor and surveillance can quickly determine the ranked card representing the first, second, third and fourth card drawn from the shoe. This information is extremely important if analyzing the card sequence when watching for top-card information or false shuffle sequences.

Any third card drawn also needs to be positioned in a specific manner. Any third card drawn to the player’s hand will be placed diagonally to the right of the player’s first two cards. Any third card drawn to the banker’s hand will be placed diagonally to the left of the banker’s first two cards. In addition, the winning hand needs to be indicated clearly so that both the floor and surveillance understand the outcome. The dealer will indicate the winning hand by pushing the first card of the winning hand slightly forward.

Always Call Out the Cards
Baccarat is not just a visual game; it’s also a vocal game. The dealer needs to call out the order of the draw so the players know the exact totals of the hands during the draw, whether or not the dealer needs to draw a third card, the total needed for the banker hand to win if a third card is drawn to that hand, and the total of the winning hand. The following verbiage is an example of how the hand should be called out vocally by the dealer: “Player shows five … banker shows three … card to the player hand (draws a four) … card to the banker hand, draws to ‘tie’ nine … player hand wins nine over five.”

By calling out the hand in the previous example, the dealer has alerted all players at the table to the draw totals of both the player and banker hands, that the player then the banker hand will draw a third card, what the banker third card draw in this situation needs for a tie, and then the final outcome and score.

The cards need to be called during all decisions. This includes times when the player’s ethnic background may prevent him or her from understanding what the dealer says. I like to refer to dealers who either only call out the winning totals or say nothing at all as the “no frills” Baccarat game.

Move the Game Along
The most important aspect of dealing a live game is the speed at which it is dealt. The dealer needs to move the game along in an attempt to gain the most decisions possible during the game’s period of operation. Dealers need to be trained on how to move the game along at an acceptable pace, but at one that does not rush the players to a point where the game becomes annoying. Players are likely to slow down the pace of the game during the bet wagering period. This is due to the players who are trying to analyze past hand results and decide which hand— player or banker—is more likely to win.

On many occasions, players participate in gamesmanship with other players by wagering or changing the wagering positions at the last moment. This late wagering strategy leads to the dealer waiting out the players at the table before dealing the cards. Sometimes table gamesmanship will slow the game down by as much as several minutes per hand. This situation will diminish revenues on the Baccarat table through lost decisions and can become quite detrimental to the profitability of the game. Management must prepare for this by developing a standard strategy for reducing wait time during the wagering process.

Several casinos in the Far East use timers to indicate to the players when they can no longer place or change wagers, allowing the dealers to proceed with the game. I understand one casino sets its time to 15 seconds. Once the dealer picks up the previous hand and places the cards into the discard holder or bowl, he or she starts the timer, and the players have 15 seconds to establish their wagers.

Cards Drawn in Error
What is your procedure for handling a third card that was drawn in error? Burn a number of cards along with the errantly drawn card? If this is your procedure, it could be perceived as a negative by your Asian customer. If you burn the card drawn in error and then draw a number of additional cards, you have just created a situation that is very sensitive with your Asian players, known as a “broken shoe.” Asian players are very superstitious. They feel that once the cards have been shuffled and placed in the shoe, the order of the cards represents their gambling fate. If cards are drawn out of order, their fate has been disturbed, and they may be reluctant to wager on any more hands dealt from the broken shoe.

How do you prevent a broken shoe situation? The solution is very simple. If a third card is drawn in error to the player hand, the banker hand must take that card if a third card is needed. If the third card is not needed or a third card is drawn on a banker hand, the card is used as the first card (player hand card) on the next hand. First card knowledge is quite important in Baccarat and the customers at the table could gain a huge edge over the casino with this knowledge. To prevent this unprofitable situation but maintain the sequence of the cards, the hand is played out with no one allowed to wager. Thus, the shoe is “unbroken” and the customers satisfied.

Please see the August 2008 issue of Casino Enterprise Management for “The Finer Points of Dealing Baccarat, Pt. II,” which will discuss the importance of the “tie” wager, banker wager commissions, and ideas and suggestions for improving game protection.

As a former Nevada Gaming Control agent, casino operator, professional card counter and present gaming consultant, Bill Zender has been involved in various areas of gaming and hospitality since 1976.  He can be reached at wzender@lastresortconsulting.com.