Baccarat is a card game in which players wager on either the Player or Banker hand, hoping for the highest total when all pips (clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades) are added together. A staple at casinos worldwide – with James Bond even featured often playing it in movies! – this prestigious version can often be found at high-end casinos.

Traditional games of Poker utilize six decks of cards that are mixed and shuffled together before being distributed randomly to the players around an oval-shaped table. If your bet on the Player hand wins out, your stake pays out 1:1; otherwise a sum equal to your bet plus 5-percent commission may be collected as winning banker bets are won. A third card may be drawn if both first two hands tie. All bets must first have been placed before any third card may be drawn if needed.

Macau has become an epicenter for Baccarat thanks to the presence of celebrity players like Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Additionally, Asian casinos are now regularly hosting Baccarat tournaments; and it has seen tremendous growth internationally as well. Baccarat is considered among the most intricate casino games, popular among high rollers such as Chinese and Southeast Asian players alike.

Before playing baccarat, there are a few key things you should keep in mind. First and foremost, understand that it is a fixed odds game; betting on Banker loses all your money; betting Player doubles them because its house edge is lower.

Tie bets pay 8-to-1 and may seem attractive as an option, but an experienced gambler I consulted advised against this move as it provides no protection against Banker getting nine points.

Not to be forgotten is that baccarat tables are configured such that each box holds two cards, with only three possible outcomes: either player wins, banker wins or tie. When played between banker and player, their aim should be to reach nine as close as possible for optimal player results.

Final consideration should include being aware of the superstitious aspects of Asian baccarat. Numbers 4 and 14 are traditionally unlucky, leading some Asian players to avoid those spots on the table layout. As a casino executive, this should be taken into account when making change for Asian customers with $100 bills or chips; perhaps replacing “4” with 5″ may make your customers more at home when using 100 bills or chips from that culture. You could make other adjustments like this to help Asian customers feel welcome at your establishment as well.

Hong Kong summer heat can leave us wanting to retreat indoors for comfort with books and popcorn, but there’s a much better solution – take a dip in one of these stunning pools to cool off while taking advantage of some of the city’s most stunning sights at once!

Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) operates public swimming pools across Hong Kong, many with facilities like splash pools and water slides for children. Entry charges generally fall between HK$17 during weekdays and 19 on weekends/public holidays for adults; children aged 3 or under enter free. To keep track of opening times of these pools visit their website which also features an interactive map showing all available ones.

W Hong Kong’s WET pool offers an extraordinary display of colours, shapes, and textures when the sun shines bright. Situated 211 meters above the city and offering stunning city views from above. Additionally, there are indoor and outdoor jacuzzis as well as an al fresco bar lounge offering exceptional cocktails or light lunch options before or after your swim.

Ma On Shan Swimming Pool, overlooking Tolo Harbour, will surely leave an impressionful impression. Boasting not only its main pool but also smaller training and teaching pools as well as a toddler pool featuring whimsical water installations such as mushroom- and tree-shaped fountains, it stands out among many pools in Hong Kong. But what truly stands out here are its four waterslides – two are said to be amongst the fastest in town!

Monthly membership to public swimming pools costs HK$300; concession rates are available for students and persons aged 60 or above. You can purchase these tickets at the LCSD website or MTR ticket vending machines (Tel: 833686868; M-F, 6:30am-8.30pm). Octupus cards may also be accepted – just make sure there’s enough credit on them before entering!

Those looking to pamper themselves further will find several hotels offer impressive pools. In our next issue, we will showcase some of these pools! Don’t miss out – stay tuned!