Chemin de Fer - or European baccarat - is a very popular game in many European countries as well as Australia. The basic goal of the game is the same as in American baccarat; players must score a hand as close to nine as possible.

European vs. American Baccarat

In American baccarat, players always bet against the house; the house is always the banker. This way, players only need to be concerned about beating the house's hand to win. In European baccarat, the role of the banker rotates around the table in a clockwise manner with each player - and the house - having an opportunity. Because of this, the players may have to bet against other players, against the house, or even against themselves at times. Many players favor European baccarat because it adds an element of excitement to one of the most popular casino games of all time.

Role of the Casino and Banker in European Baccarat

In American baccarat, the house is always the dealer and the banker. In European baccarat, this role rotates. For this reason, the casino only provides players with a table, cards, and a dealer. The majority of gameplay is left up to the players, but the house still takes an average of five percent of all of the players' losing wagers. This money is often seen as compensation paid to the casino for providing a baccarat venue. Each player also has an opportunity to play the banker; even in this case, the banker is responsible for paying out winning bets and cashing in on the other players' losses.

European baccarat is by far one of the most popular baccarat variations in the world. Although it is not common in the United States and Canada, European and Australian players flock to European baccarat tables and online casinos.