Chemin de Fer
Chemin de Fer is the older French form of baccarat in which players take turns acting as the banker and may choose whether to draw a third card — making it the rare baccarat variant with genuine player decisions.
| Origin | France |
|---|---|
| Banker | Rotates among players |
| Decisions | Players choose whether to draw |
| Vs Punto Banco | Punto Banco is fully casino-banked with fixed draws |
Players bank the game
In Chemin de Fer the role of banker passes around the table rather than being held by the casino. One player banks a round and the others bet against the bank, and the casino simply takes a commission and referees. The name — French for ‘railway’ — reflects the shoe passing along the table like a train.
Why it involves skill
Unlike Punto Banco, where every draw is dictated by fixed rules, Chemin de Fer lets the active player and banker decide whether to take a third card in certain situations. Those choices introduce a small element of skill and bluff absent from the modern casino game, which is why the historic French version is still prized by purists even though Punto Banco dominates casino floors today.
Frequently asked questions
How is Chemin de Fer different from baccarat?
Players take turns banking the game and can choose whether to draw a third card, whereas Punto Banco is fully banked by the casino with fixed drawing rules.
Is Chemin de Fer still played?
It is far less common than Punto Banco but survives in some European casinos and private games, valued for its element of player decision.
Sources
- Published Chemin de Fer rules
- Histories of baccarat