If you constantly read blogs and websites about online gambling, it’s easy to focus on the brand new things. Many software providers do their best to be as innovative as they can be. To spice up existing games with new rules, or by adding new elements, like blackjack multipliers. This isn’t a bad thing, either. These steps are necessary to make sure these classics stay fresh.
What is Squeeze Feature in Live Baccarat?
However, if you always focus on what’s new, it can be easy to forget the history of these games. Baccarat, blackjack and roulette have existed in some form or another for hundreds of years! They were games first played by the nobility, which then spread into wider society. Just as we learned the rules of these new games, we also picked up their many superstitions and traditions! One of them being squeezing cards in baccarat.
What is Baccarat Card Squeezing?
The general idea behind squeezing the cards is simple. Players believe that squeezing the outside edges of the card gives them better odds of getting a lucky card. Afterwards, brick and mortar casinos adopted the idea and ran with it. After all, slowly unveiling the card on each game round meant players would stay at the table for longer. They’d play more and order more drinks and snacks.
When did this tradition start? Honestly, we’re not sure! Like all superstitions, it started with a bold claim, which just happened to pay off one time. From there, the rumour mill took hold. Now, hundreds of years later, squeezing the outside of baccarat cards has made its way into the digital space. We can’t say anyone at livecasino24.com ever expected that to happen!
How Does Squeezing Work?
The squeeze starts at the top of the card. Tug at its two upper corners to cover the number, while revealing the card’s suite: spades, hearts, diamonds or clubs. As you draw further with your fingers, you’ll start picking up on additional details. If you see parts of a picture, then you have a J, Q or K. All of these are valued at zero in Baccarat, meaning you can end the squeeze early. It clearly didn’t work this time!
After squeezing more than a third of the card, you should have an idea of what you’re holding. If you still can’t see anything, you’ve probably got an ace in your hand. Otherwise, it’s time to slowly start turning the card around. You still use your thumbs to cover the numbers, while slowly revealing the symbols. It creates a lot of suspense, especially if you’re split between drawing a nine or a ten!
How much of this process is rebuilt in Live Baccarat will depend on the game you’re playing. Some offer a much more limited version. Others, like Evolution Gaming’s Live Baccarat Squeeze, have the dealer go through the whole thing. You can find separate versions that allow you to do the squeezing yourself, too!
Should You Squeeze?
It depends on what you want from your baccarat round. For punters in a rush, it’s definitely one of the worst possible features! Each round is delayed due to the dealer or the players slowly unveiling the dealt cards. If you want to squeeze a few rounds of baccarat before leaving your house, definitely avoid it.
However, if you want to add a bit of flavour to each round, then we definitely recommend it! If the dealer knows how to squeeze baccarat cards properly, it can be incredibly tense! Watching the card slowly unfold anxiously. Feeling all your emotions build up until you leap from happiness or slump back in your chair out of rage or sadness. That an online casino game can evoke such emotions is amazing to see!
