The wombat says: Baccarat by Switch Studios is a new Microgaming table game title. And, like many online Baccarat games nowadays, it is played with Punto Banco rules. As James Bond’s game of choice, it’s usually associated with refined tables, high rolling casinos and ladies in low- cut cocktail dresses. But now, you can play at home in your jammies ( if you like…).
Well, you can go to the gee gees as well in your jim jams on Virtual Horses from Leap Gaming, so I guess I shouldn´t be too surprised.
This game is fast. If you are the sort of player who enjoys a table game like Rapid Roulette, it should be right up your street.
Look and Feel
So, what can you expect from this brand spanking new version?
Well, Switch Studios have created a brand new engine for its casino games – that comes with crisp graphics, an intuitive interface, and some awesome sound effects to give you the best experience possible.
The play is set on a dark red baize, with traditional gold markers for your cards and your chips, and it also features a Card Squeeze mechanic that allows players to authentically pick up, rotate, and flip their cards – with accompanying sound effects.
You’ll also see more standard features like a customisable scorecard, statistics, and Turbo Mode if you want to move your play along a bit.
Sadly, there’s no music background playing, which this wombat did miss as it helps create atmosphere. Instead, all you can hear is the satisfying flick of your cards as they turn over. The sound reminded me of our Blitz Blackjack High Roller game, but I think that´s because I was only on it a minute before I wrote this.
Game Play
New to Baccarat? Here’s a quick tutorial: In this game you must bet on who you think is going to win a hand before the play starts. The winner is the player who gets as close as possible to the number 9 – and you can bet on the Player or Banker to win or a tie. Baccarat is played with a 52-card deck.
In the Switch Studios version of Baccarat, the play follows the Punto Bano rules, and here are the highlights:
– Game is played with 8 decks of cards
– Players’ first cards are aways dealt before the bankers’
– You’ll find there’s a 5% commission on winning banker bets (so if you bet £10 and win you will get £19.50)
– 10, J,Q & K are worth zero.
– If both hands tie, but you didn’t place a Tie Bet – your bet is returned to you.
– Bets cannot be placed on Player and Banker at the same time.
– Chip values go from £5 to £200 credits.
Card Values
Would you believe there are no double-digits allowed on a baccarat table? Let us explain; 11, 12 or 13, are counted up using the second number in those figures (so, 1, 2 or 3, respectively). Plus, any of the cards, that are valued as 10 in most games; the Ten, Jack, Queen and King, are actually counted as zero in Baccarat, meanwhile the Ace is counted as 1.
Side Bets
In this version your side bet options are for Player Pair Bet and Banker Pair Bet. They will pay out 11:1.
Conclusion
Baccarat is the classiest casino game around (which is why 007 plays it) and this hi-tech version from Switch Studios is just like playing the real thing. It’s time to try baccarat yourselves Wombat fans! Just grab a tuxedo before you do – as they won’t let the riff raff play…
The name’s Wombat. Furry Wombat.