Chemin de Fer is possibly the most intimidating casino game around.
Walk by any table and you’ll see dozens (if not hundreds) of players avoiding it like the plague. But sit down at that table for five minutes and you’ll quickly realize why intelligent gamblers have been flocking to it for well over a century.
Here’s the thing…
Playing it is actually pretty simple. Especially once you get your head around these key strategies that beginners should know before stepping up to the table.
We’ll explain everything you need to know.
What Is Chemin de Fer?
Translated from French to English, chemin means “road” while fer means “railway.”
It’s named this for two reasons. Firstly, the game is relatively fast. Secondly, the card shoe gets passed around players (meaning it travels around the table like a train stopping at each station).
The chemin de fer card game originated in France towards the end of the 1800s. It quickly became immensely popular amongst the French aristocracy before being banned from casinos in 1837.
Obviously, people kept playing — otherwise we wouldn’t be talking about it today. It continued to grow in underground casinos all over Europe.
Players even kept it alive in America, where it was frequently taught to new players at illegal gambling houses.
Needless to say, chemin really hit its stride.
It’s also the game of choice for everyone’s favourite spy. James Bond proudly plays Chemin de Fer in Ian Fleming’s novels and across several films throughout the franchise.
From the original Casino Royale in 1953 all the way to recent releases like GoldenEye, the allure of this game has clearly resonated with some of Hollywood’s biggest names.
Needless to say…
Chemin de Fer can still be found at many European and Latin American casinos today. You won’t find it as commonly online though — the more straightforward Punto Banco version is much more popular for digital casinos.
How does Chemin de Fer work?
Players range from between 8-12 (depending on the casino), all sitting around an oval table.
Six decks of cards are then shuffled together into what’s known as a shoe. That shoe starts with one player (whoever has dealer privileges that session) and rotates around the table from there.
Here’s what happens on a player’s turn:
- The active Banker makes the first bet.
- All remaining players make their bets against the Banker.
- Both the Banker and active Player are dealt two cards face down.
- Both sides aim for a hand value as close to 9 as possible.
- Cards 2 through 9 are worth their face value. Face cards and tens are worth zero. Aces are worth 1.
- If the total is greater than 9, you only count the digit in the one’s place. For example, if you’re dealt a 7 and an 8, those cards total 15. But your hand value is actually 5.
If either player is dealt a natural (meaning either side gets an 8 or 9 on the initial deal), that round ends immediately.
Where chemin de fer starts to get really interesting is here…
Whereas bets made in Punto Banco can only hope for the dealer to make the right decisions, BOTH the Banker and Player can influence the outcome of each round in Chemin de Fer.
Both sides have the option to draw a third card. And who’s able to draw — as well as when they can draw — is where strategy plays a huge part.
Pretty neat, huh?
Strategies beginners should know
Alright, let’s get into it. Below are some of the most crucial strategies any beginner should know before buying in for their first hand.
Learn when to draw the third card
We mentioned it above, but it’s worth expanding upon:
- Always draw 0-4
- Always stand on 6 & 7
- All real decisions are made on 5
It’s perfectly acceptable to draw on a 5. Many players choose to stand regularly on 5s purely as a tactic to keep their opponents guessing. These players are known as a Douteur. Pronounced “DOO – tū – ruh.”
“Doubters” will often deliberately stand or draw to appear as unpredictable as possible to the active Banker.
As a beginner, you don’t need to worry about this. Make the mathematically correct play every time. As you get more confident at the table, using that extra bit of ambiguity on 5s becomes your next big hurdle to master.
Know when it’s your turn to be banker
Don’t sweat holding the shoe. Yes, the other players all get to bet against you. But that also means you get to make decisions with knowledge of those bets.
Whenever it’s your turn to be Banker, remember you have a built-in advantage. The Banker holds a house edge of just 1.06%, making it one of the lowest house edges of any casino game.
Play very tight as Banker. Only draw when the numbers say you should. Don’t feel pressured to “play aggressively” just because you’ve got both the dealer button and all eyes on you. Sometimes playing not at all is the best play.
Watch other players at the table (as well as their cards)
Chemin de Fer is a fantastic game for reading people. It’s partly why so many variations and player tactics have evolved over the years.
Take note of how aggressive the active Banker plays. Are they drawing on soft 8s every round? Are they scared to hit and prefer to stand whenever they can?
These tells won’t make or break your success at the table. But paying attention to certain habits will pay dividends as you get more comfortable with the game.
Banker vs Player: which bet is better?
This is a common question.
Plain and simple: betting on the banker is the better play, but you’re probably better off sticking with Player bets.
Here’s why:
The Player hand carries an expected value of -0.012351 while banker comes in at -0.010579. That means betting on the banker will net you slightly more profits over time.
However: there’s a 5% commission on winning banker bets. So if you pick banker and win $100, you’ll only net $95 after the casino takes their slice.
Make sense?
Remember how we said the reason Banker has a better house edge is because of the extra insight gained when it’s your turn? Well that commission represents the casino taking a little cut for allowing you that benefit.
Chemin de Fer bankroll tips
Nobody cares how good your strategy is if you’re throwing away your bankroll in reckless bets.
Here are a few tips to keep that from happening.
Have a set bankroll before you start playing. Decide how much you’re willing to risk at the table before you even take your seat. Once you hit that limit, you walk away. No questions asked.
It can also be useful to have a winning limit. Far too many players will continue betting after they’ve had a successful session. Avoid that. Decide how much you’d like to win before you begin playing, and stand up when you hit it.
The game plays very fast. That’s what makes chemin so fun. But it also makes it easier for your bankroll to burn through if you’re not careful. Play responsibly, and never bet more than you can afford to lose in any given round.
Sitting at the Table
There you have it: the fundamentals of playing Chemin de Fer.
Just remember…
Anyone can learn it. It’s not as intimidating as it first seems. And when you finally find yourself sitting down at that table, all these tips will come into perspective.
To recap:
- Chemin is a game played between players, not against the casino.
- The player dealing (known as the Banker) rotates around the table.
- Most decisions are made on whether or not to draw a third card.
- Strategy can influence who wins and loses each round.
- Bank on the Banker, but don’t forget about the 5% commission.
Alright. You’re ready.
Get out there and have some fun.
