Pragmatic Play’s New Seotda Baccarat Goes Live
If you’re an experienced online baccarat player, you’ll know that most variants keep the basic rules of the game the same and add features such as side bets, different speeds, or alternative table designs. However, Pragmatic Play’s new Seotda Baccarat is rather different, as it replaces the cards and scoring system completely.
The game combines the familiar betting format of baccarat with Seotda, a traditional Korean card game played with Hwatu cards. You still bet on whether the Player or Banker will win, but instead of trying to get closest to nine with standard playing cards, the winner is decided using Seotda hand rankings. The result is a baccarat game that will feel familiar when you first look at the table layout, but very different once the cards start being dealt.
How Does Seotda Baccarat Work?
Seotda Baccarat uses a 20-card Hwatu deck rather than the standard shoe containing eight decks of regular playing cards usually used at baccarat tables. There are two cards representing each month from January through to October, and each has its own number and value. At the start of each round, you can place the usual baccarat bets on Player, Banker or Tie. Player and Banker then receive two cards each, and whichever side has the higher-ranking Seotda hand wins.
One major difference is that there is no third-card rule. Both sides receive two cards, and that is the end of the deal. This makes the rounds considerably faster, and the game allows you to play up to around 120 rounds per hour. The 20 cards are also shuffled during the betting period before every round.
Understanding the Seotda Hand Rankings
The biggest adjustment for regular baccarat players is learning how the hands are ranked. The three most valuable cards in the deck are known as Bright Cards and are marked with the symbol 光. They are found on the 1, 3, and 8 cards. When two Bright Cards appear together, they form the strongest hands in the game. The 3/8 Bright Pair is the best possible hand, followed by the 1/8 and 1/3 combinations. Below the Bright Pairs come ordinary pairs, starting with 10/10 and working down to 1/1.
There are then several special Seotda combinations before you reach the more straightforward point totals. When a hand does not form one of the stronger combinations, its value is generally determined by adding the card numbers and using the final digit. Therefore, nine is the strongest ordinary point total and zero the weakest, as in regular baccarat.
There are a couple of further complications, including special hands capable of defeating certain pairs or Bright combinations, and as a result, it might take you a little more time to learn the rules of Seotda Baccarat.
However, you do not need to make any decisions after placing your bet. The game automatically compares the two hands and determines the winner. This means that from a practical point of view, you are still simply deciding whether to back Player, Banker or Tie, and you can pick up the more nuanced rules as you play.
Bright Cards and Side Bets
Pragmatic Play’s new game also includes several side bets. Player Pair and Banker Pair allow you to bet that the selected hand will contain a matching pair. There are also Player Bright and Banker Bright bets, which win when the corresponding side receives a Bright Pair. These Bright bets offer payouts of up to 80:1, so there is a chance of some big payouts. Just keep in mind the house edge, as the side bets do not pay out often.
The game also looks very different from a normal baccarat table. The small and colorful Hwatu cards are very distinctive, and the studio and dealer uniforms have a Korean-inspired design. Baccarat players who need support with problem gambling can find help and resources through the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).
There is no doubt that new Seotda Baccarat is rather different and is one of the more unusual baccarat variants available online. It may take you a little time to get to grips with Pragmatic Play’s new game, but if you are looking for an exciting new baccarat variant, then it will be time well spent.
