Among the oldest and most distinguished card games in Europe, Chemin de Fer (French for “The Railroad”) is the forerunner of modern Baccarat. Originating in France during the 19th century, the game became a favorite of aristocrats and bankers, prized for its formality and slow tension.
It was called The Railroad because the shoe — the device holding the cards — moved around the table like a train, passing from player to player. Unlike casino Baccarat, Chemin de Fer is a player-banked game: the house takes no part except to provide the table and oversee play.
A Brief History
Chemin de Fer evolved from Italian baccara games brought to France in the late 1400s. By the 1800s, it had become a fixture in French salons and later in Monte Carlo’s private rooms. The modern casino variant, Punto Banco, simplified these rules for house banking — but Chemin de Fer remains the purist’s version, emphasizing etiquette, risk, and player judgment.
How to Play Chemin de Fer
1. The Setup
- Played with six decks of standard 52 cards, shuffled together.
- Up to 12 players may sit around an oval table; only two hands are dealt per round — one for the Banker and one for the Players collectively.
- The banker role rotates clockwise each round. The person acting as banker wagers their own money against all other players combined.
2. The Object of the Game
As in Baccarat, the goal is to get a hand total closest to nine.
- Aces count as 1, cards 2–9 keep their face value, and 10s and face cards count as zero.
- Only the rightmost digit of the total counts (so 14 becomes 4, 18 becomes 8, etc.).
3. The Deal
- The banker deals two cards to themselves and two cards to the Player hand (representing all other bettors).
- If either hand totals 8 or 9, that is a natural — the round ends immediately.
- Otherwise, the Player side decides whether to draw a third card, following custom-based rules (or personal choice).
- The Banker then chooses whether to draw, after seeing the Player’s decision.
4. Drawing Rules (Traditional Guidance)
Though the banker and player may technically choose, centuries of etiquette have produced standard expectations:
- The Player draws on totals of 0–4, stands on 6–7, and may choose on 5.
- The Banker, after seeing the Player’s action, uses judgment but often draws on 0–5 and stands on 6–7.
These conventions maintain the game’s pace and social balance.
5. Comparing Hands
After all draws:
- The hand closest to 9 wins.
- Winning wagers on the Player side are paid 1 to 1 by the Banker.
- If the Banker’s hand wins, the banker collects all Player bets.
- A tie (égalité) leaves wagers standing for the next round.
6. The Banker’s Rotation
After each round:
- If the Banker wins, they may keep the bank and continue.
- If the Banker loses, the shoe passes to the next player clockwise. This rotating responsibility — and the personal money at stake — gives Chemin de Fer its distinctive tension and name.
Etiquette and Atmosphere
Traditionally, Chemin de Fer is played with elegance and restraint — soft-spoken play, formal dress, and courteous betting. Players often touch the shoe lightly when drawing, a ritual trace of its salon origins.
Though rare in modern casinos, the game endures in Monte Carlo, Deauville, and certain London clubs, prized as the most cerebral form of Baccarat — a contest of nerve as much as luck.
In essence: Chemin de Fer is Baccarat in its purest state — a slow, graceful exchange where the players themselves become the bank, and every card drawn is a decision made among equals.