St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-18
RACCARAT.
Uotc 1t Is Piayed-Is 1t q Gan,eoof Chance
or Skill?

or Skill?
Baccarat has been discussed in a London
police court. The players are asked whether
it is game of skill or chance. They opine
to the former view Yet, if any mathema-
tician were called, he would conclusively
show that as regards the banker it is game
of mixed skin and chance; but as regards
the player. says Truth, game OF pure
chance. To prove this, it IL only necessary
to explain what the game is. The banker
sits at the middle of long table. The play
ers sit to his right and left. The banker has
six packs OF cards before him all shuf1ed to-
gether. He deals card to the right, anoth-
er to the left, and one to himself, all with
faces unexposed. Then he renews the OPP
Grafton. Thus he has two cards, and the
players right and left have two cards. His
next step is to look at his two cards. Tens
and court yards count for nothing. If the
pips on his two cards when added together
make either eight or nine, he shows them.
The players then look at their cards; which
ever side has neither eight nor nine pays
the banker the amount staked. If one s'de
has eight, and the banker has nine, that side
loses; if one side has the same point-eight,
or nine, as the case may be-as the banker,
the coup is annulled. If the banker has
eight, and one or either side has nine, that
side is paid by the banker. Here, therefore,
We have q pure chance. It is exactly even
betting whether the banker wins stake
from either side, or whether either side wins
a stake from the banker. II the banker, on
looking at his cards, perceives that the pips,
when added together. do not make eight or
nine, he says: 81 give cards" Each side
Zone player on each side takes up the cards
and represent all the players on the side)
looks at the two cards dealt to it, If the
pips on the two cards make Lime or eight,
the cards are shown, and that siGe wins. If
one or both sides have neither eight Of nine:
the banker says: "Win you have card?"
1t is optional to take one or not, the object
being to get as near to the nine as possible.
Thus, for instance, if the pips on the two
cards make up four, a card would be taken,
because by so doing it is probable that
point nearer to nine would be reached: If the
pip make up seven, no card would be taken,
because the probabilities would be that the
seven would become one, two, or three.
This third card thus given is exposed
that is to say, the banker sees what it is.
Now, let us suppose that the banker has CIV
en- US two cards right and left, and two to
himself, that neither he nor either side has
eight or nine, and that each side has asked
for card, that one side has been given an
ace and the other side three. The banker
looks at his cards, and having the right to
take one card decides whether he shall do
So Let US suppose that his own two cards
make up four. He sees that he has given to
the players an ace and a three. He would
say to himself: "The odds are that the side
with the ace has less than four, and that the
side with the three has more than four. If
remain without taking card shall lose on
one side and win on the other" He there
fore draws card, or does not draw one, ac-
cording to whether the stakes are higher on
the one side or the other. This requires that
sort of quickness in calculation which may
be termed skill; therefore skillfui banker
will often win where one without skill would
lose. To the banker consequently the game
is one of mixed skill and chance. But the
player draws or refuses to draw upon one
general calculation applicable in all cases.
He does not see what the banker has. 1t is
plain, clear calculation whether he will get
nearer to the nine or find himself further off
from nine by drawing card. To this he
perhaps answers: 81 see some people draw
when they have five, whilst others do not
| draw; therefore, I have to exercise my in
telligence, i. e., my skill, in deciding wheth-
er ought to drive at FIVE" The reply to
this nonsense is that tbs by n means difficult
to calculate whether player ought to draw
at five or whether he ought not. Either
it is an advantage or disadvantage, or it is
| neither the one nor the other. I never gave
myself the trouble to make the calculation,
nor do intend to make it now; but it is by
no means difficult one, and once made, it
| is obvious that either all players ought to
draw at five, or they ought not, and that
| therefore there is no room for individual in
telligence-i. e., skill. Baccarat, therefore,
| is an absolute game of chance to the player,
and game at which skillful banker may
obtain an advantage over the player. This
| is as absolutely certain as that two and two
make four. A magistrate therefore, who is
| asked to decide upon this question should
not trouble himself about the loose imagin
ings of gamblers, but should lay down the
mathematical fact, according to the gospel of
| Cocker.