The history and origin of Baccarat
Have you ever wonder where baccarat originated? How did it become one of the world’s most exciting card games? Game scholars have long debated its exact origin, but up to now, it still remains in shadows.
Accordingly, theories that intend to unravel to roots of one of the world’s most played game. One theory traces back the origin of baccarat to an old Etruscan ritual. This ritual determines the fate of a blonde virgin through a nine-sided die. Each number etched on the sides of the die, has a corresponding consequence for the blonde virgin. These will determine whether she will become a priestess, be banned from any religious activity, or put to death by walking into the sea.
Another theory states that baccarat was invented by an Italian gambler, Felix Falguierein during the Middle Ages. Baccarat was then played using the Tarot card deck and popularly known as Tarrochi.
In 1490 A.D., baccarat was introduced to France and became the country’s favorite game. At first, baccarat was exclusive only to the French nobility. But when casino gaming was established, baccarat became available to French people of all walks of life. From then on, it is not uncommon to see a game of baccarat being played not just by the nobility of France, but also by the lower stratum of the French society.
And not only baccarat achieved prominence in France, it also spread throughout the different countries of Europe. Baccarat was introduced to England through a French variation of baccarat, “Chemin De Fer”. English people altered some rule and called it the “European Baccarat”, which also spread in South America.
Baccarat has found its way to Havana Cuba, home of the famous Capri casino. The popularity of baccarat became more established in the casinos around Havana until the Cuban government decided to shut down these casinos. But in the same decade, baccarat reached the American soils and became one of Nevada casinos’ most popular card games. It was believed that a man named Tommy Renzoni introduced baccarat in the United States of America. Later on, some rules and procedure were altered. They call this new version, the “American Baccarat”.
It seems that the development of the gaming world keeps on getting faster. Baccarat has greatly benefited from this improvements in casino gaming. Online versions of baccarat can now be easily downloaded in one’s personal computer. Casinos in across the states have also developed a baccarat game played using a table the size of a regular blackjack table. This version is called the “mini-baccarat”.
Baccarat has withstood the test of time. Its popularity never ceased to grow as centuries pass by. True enough, baccarat is card game that will continue to bring entertainment for centuries to come.
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