How To Play Faro

This video tutorial will teach you how to play Faro.
This video will start by teaching you the general concepts of Faro, and is followed by the more detailed features of the game. This tutorial is perfect for beginning players, as well as, experienced players that need a refresher.
After watching, you will know the basics on how to play the card game Faro. All that is left to do is grab some friends and start playing!
This Faro tutorial will cover the following topics:
- The setup
- The objective
- How to play
- A review of the rules
Please leave a comment below if you need any additional information about the card game Faro, if you have any questions about the game, or if any aspect of the game was not clear in the video.
Thanks for watching!
Support the GatherTogetherGames channel by subscribing. If you found the video helpful please like and/or share it!
Gather Together Games is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for channels to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Shop now through this link to support this channel: amzn.to/2NVooDO

[@johnoates3001]

Tombstone brought me here

[@deadfingergarage]

Me also

[@iamthelizardking6239]

John Oates you’re sittin in my chair😉

[@adey88splace]

Me too.

[@inshoremaniyak2938]

Tombstone brought us all here

[@donnywilliamson5807]

InShOre MaNiYak Is that a fact? That's a fact.

[@Jaydoggy531]

The game is so famous in history that even Tchaikovsky's opera "The Queen of Spades" is based around it. It's amazing that a game so wide-spread is now almost entirely forgotten. Thanks for hearing the request! :D

[@704studio]

FYI, The Queen of Spades is a short story written by Pushkin in 1833, which was then converted into an opera in 1890.

[@Jaydoggy531]

@@704studio You are right. It is true that most opera plots were based on previous short stories, books, plays, or legends. I think the opera is probably more wide-spread than the original story. But you are right: Pushkin's credit should be where it's deserved.

[@nilktots6380]

guess it had to end at some point, lasted since the 18th to the late 20th century though iirc

[@jwhippet8313]

It's played in War and Peace, also. I think the European version is different, though; bc European decks have fewer cards.

[@Fast_Eddy_Magic]

It's not played in casinos because it's too fair: odd of winning are too high. They want games with a high win rate for the house.

[@PoultryBuffer]

I bet the rule of calling the 'dead bet' and a player taking another's bet led to a few gunfights.

[@fanmad-hg4nf]

It's like a card game version of roulette

[@klikitzsmith8416]

If roulette had card counting with a score board to make it easier

[@crystallight2]

The king of the gambling games of the old West. Thanks for this.

[@WildwoodClaire1]

Thanks for the intro. BTW, this game was a specialty of Wyatt Earp, who far more commonly earned his living as a Faro dealer than as a lawman (a job he only occasionally undertook while looking for something more remunerative). In his later years he was arrested multiple times for running illegal card games in California.

[@michaelcrump3110]

I needed this video so I can add Faro as a tavern game in my D&D campaign.

[@gabnsab]

I love historical novels and the characters often play card or dice games such as Hazard, Piquet, E-O, and of course, Faro. My current book is Faro's Daughter by Georgette Heyer where the main character is a Faro dealer. Thank you for showing me how this game is played.

[@jamesmaxwell7467]

Hi gabnsab here is the link to faro. Still, some more functions to be added but very playable right now www.buckthetiger.com

[@mary-celestericks5880]

Oh, I love that book--I enjoyed that one almost as much as the Grand Sophy. 😊

[@pickeljarsforhillary102]

Skin that smoke wagon.

[@KC.45]

And see what happens

[@conradseeto7506]

Roulette when you have no wheel

[@thewildwestgamblingshow8768]

Most popular game of the Wild West. Nowhere to be found today. Great video!

[@missygrossman225]

Very good video. I can't imagine keeping all of this straight, much less playing drunk and trying to keep it straight like the folks in the old west did.

[@johnnyj540]

That's why the game has pretty much vanished.

[@cbonilla10027]

I think this is much simpler overall than craps and that game still thrives.

[@tboda2621]

Simpler than craps?!???! No way!!!! I felt like I was sitting in first year algebra class. I remember the girls just taking notes like, uh huh, uh huh, and us guys looking at each other like the teacher was speaking Russian or somthing😳

[@mary-celestericks5880]

Regency romance author here. THANK YOU!!

[@crackinggoodtoast]

Thank you for getting straight to it without wasting time.

[@oopsiepoopsie2898]

Thank you, I making a table top game based on the old west so I have been looking up all these old school games seeing how they play.

[@zugzwang29219]

With this video, I definitely see you as a master of card games

[@andrel679]

This is great, i might try to play this tonight with the family

[@marieantoinette8675]

This was the favorite game of the last Queen of France before the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette.

[@damienpatton1680]

Stendhal also enjoyed it now and then

[@wednesdayquake5358]

Well, it's a French game

[@bgilmore3]

@@wednesdayquake5358 Indeed, but in French, Faro is pronounced "Faro"....

[@tedc3895]

If I ran a casino I would start a game just for history's sake.

[@freakychick1978]

Cheating the game was too easy on the dealers end and most states/territories banned the game at some point. While it does encourage learning to count cards, you can imagine how someone with even basic sleight of hand dealing and paying out could easily manipulate the game especially since it didn't call for player coded chips. Bets were often moved or reduced and cards not placed on the table, dealt out in any order the dealers wished.

[@graceworley5017]

Thank you! Used to play this with a friend of mine and I'd completely forgotten how now that we've parted ways.

[@sswans9664]

Doc Holiday documentary made me curious about this game. Greetings from south Georgia. Thanks for explaining!

[@zarubaw]

This looks like a really fun game to play, hopefully it will make a come back.

[@ryankeyte2684]

My understanding is that casinos stopped it because the odds are not far enough in the houses’ favor.

[@reillywalker195]

@@ryankeyte2684 I can see that. Under the rules given in this video, the house's only real edge comes from pairs. A way for casinos to mitigate that would be to take commissions on winning bets much like for the banker hand in Baccarat. In that case, though, bets would need to be large enough to justify taking commissions.

[@hyenaloaf1858]

@@ryankeyte2684 that's only if it was played fair, and faro was never played fair.

[@mariannelisabeth]

Harrow brought me herre. Fascinated by the game, thanks for video.

[@smartapeproductions2139]

There are additional rules as follows for Faro 1. You can bet on the corner of the card this allows you to bet on two cards at once the card diagonally across from the conor bet is a two way bet a penny can only be used in single bets. There is another two way bet that is held in between to cards as well this would cover the card on the left and right of the placed bet. 2. you can bet in the middle of the of the 4 cards for a 4 way bet this would cover the top left and top right from the axes and bottom left and the bottom right the bet is placed in the middle of the for connors and this bet can not be used with a penny as it is not a single bet. 3. you can bet the high or low card this action will allow you to bet and the winner is determined by the facecard A is one not 10. This game was very popular in the western days and before that even sad to say it is not played today in casinos but if popular again that day may come once again and History of this game will once again allow it to be played for cash. When i deal this game for fun i usually require a $5 minimum bet. 4. You must buy chips from the dealer and the dealer calls no more bets before the hand is started and looks to see where all bets are placed before the cards are dealt you can move your bets only after the hand is over any movement before is cheating and we run a clean friendly game.

[@jamesmaxwell7467]

here is the link to faro. Still, some more functions to be added but very playable right now www.buckthetiger.com and a vimeo.com/444304030

[@mackenzieclews4506]

How is this not a commonplace game in casinos?? This looks fun

[@reillywalker195]

Its house edge is small, coming only from pairs and dead bets. Casinos today would want some way of increasing their edge if they were ever to bring the game back. Governments would also want measures in place to prevent players and dealers from cheating.

[@nihalkashyap4228]

The Queen of spades (Alexander Pushkin) brought me here.

[@thelonewolf8852]

I just got done with a ghost tour of the birdcage theater saw Wyatt Earp’s faro table tombstone brought me here

[@aboutbooks1843]

Cool game, I'd never heard of it before but was looking for a word to rhyme with sparrow

[@eveilslayer]

I had to look up this game because Its referenced in Tombstone, and I had no idea what they were talking about.

[@DanOC1991]

This game is mentioned a lot in the memoirs of Jacques Casanova

[@AwesomestGreatestMostestFunny]

Nice.

[@kynanpelletier1228]

Three, Seven and Ace

[@azukarzuchastux8066]

Joel 2:32 King James Version 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call

[@robertwilliamson6121]

150 years ago this game was popular all over the U.S., Canada and Europe. Maybe Australia also.

[@sergiocasillas6757]

“Just wanted to let you know you’re sitting in my chair”

[@bernardopena1601]

In my small South Texas town there is am abandoned building with a big sign outside that appears to date before the 1940s that says "FARO" hopefully the sign gets preserved before the next storm knocks it down.

[@704studio]

Queen of Spades by Pushkin

[@piyusht46]

The tray, the seven and the ACE…!!!

[@user-ze6yk4sd5g]

Looks fun

[@bjaquez6]

Very interesting game

[@user-fw8wt4qo3o]

Thinking about warlock.

[@dianemcq64]

How many chips does each player start with? It seems the bank needs chips of its own to pay out with too. If both the winning and losing cards are identical, the banker takes half the chips on that card. But what happens if there are 1 or 3 chips on that card?

[@gregorystorey6425]

Deadwood brought me here.

[@lutang]

It's like a combination of Craps and Roulette.

[@kartaros002]

When will be next game?

[@ThePretzelHead]

What kind of advantage does the house have? Besides players mistakes

[@necrophoenixofc43studios74]

If a pair comes up the dealer takes half the bet regardless this would be the only edge but in the old days the house cheated. A lot.

[@stevenjohnson2273]

At most 2%.

[@dianemcq64]

How many chips does each player start with? It seems the bank needs chips of its own to pay out with too.

[@ganymede242]

War and Peace brought me here.

[@flaviablazincu1973]

I'm here because of E. T. A. Hoffman's book, The Devil's Elixirs ✨

[@Fast_Eddy_Magic]

"Murdoch Mysteries" brought me here.

[@jimmymac1958]

I don't understand how someone bets on the order of the last three cards. Can someone explain that to me? Thx

[@michelmantion3446]

Yup...tombstone brought me here too🤣

[@DavidMartinez-rk6fd]

A question in case of the same rank win and loosing card are, an i bet only one chip with the same numbered-card Do i lost half chip or none chip? 2:11

[@rtintera]

Pushkin brought me here

[@MrEhu3]

Wait, explain this to me. if it starts off with spades being shown then how is it that there are still spades in the deck?

[@reillywalker195]

The video maker took the spades out of a second deck of cards for the sake of this video. Dedicated Faro boards with images of cards printed on them were made specifically for betting on Faro back in its heyday.

[@DrRandomStranger]

ETA Hofmann brought me here.

[@philrivera1163]

Only suckers buck the tiger's odds all on the house

[@SettingsGear]

Late comment but how is Ace lower than 3?

[@ketchuploverful]

Faro ain't poker

[@reillywalker195]

The ace is low in most card games that aren't trick-taking games or Poker variants.

[@stetg19]

bidgerton brought me here

[@myice-creamdreams3421]

journey ranger - "wild facts and forgotten photos of the wild west" brought me here...

[@faroisnthere589]

damn I'm getting played

[@kingchicago9307]

Wyatt Earp

[@conradseeto7506]

What kind of cards are those? Aladdin?

[@GatherTogetherGames]

They are custom made Gather Together cards

[@mattr.1887]

1:08 What is the point of showing everyone that first card? And what happens to that card? Is it just put aside for the entire game?

[@tommycash4080]

Correct. It’s called a “burn card” or “soda” as they called it in the old west. It’s a dead card that’s put aside for the entire game.

[@reillywalker195]

The point of the burn card or soda card is to prevent cheating. Whereas a player could mark or otherwise peek at the top card of the deck and take advantage of that knowledge, "burning" the card by discarding it takes away any such advantage.

[@ExBeeOne]

Western Legends brought me here. Well, the expansion anyway.

[@lorigale99]

kinda like roulette

[@BroscoWankston]

seems like it'd be really easy to count especially since all the cards that have been drawn are visible...

[@charleyd479]

Not sure that would equate to counting cards....maybe that's just viewing them. :-)

[@danielyuan9862]

Counting cards here is useless because whatever cards that are in the deck are just as likely to be the losing card as the winning card. It's very elegantly designed.

[@reillywalker195]

​@@danielyuan9862Counting cards is useful for avoiding dead bets, but you're correct otherwise.

[@michellecollie774]

nice you can just lay out the cards and not need a felt.

[@kellymccance1962]

At the front of the video talks about " a 52 card deck and 13 additional? " I'm stumped here!

[@tombcg51]

The 13 additional make the "playing board" for placing your bets on only.

[@MrSanteeclaus]

Dealers used 2 decks the table had a permanent layout of the cards. Cards were shuffled and placed face down in a deck sized holder. I think this video maybe missing some of the technical stuff with it. I built a table 25 years ago. I had to get advice from a gentleman who was a Hollywood technical advisor. Even then I was a bit confused. Personally I like 5 cars stud.

[@reillywalker195]

@@MrSanteeclaus In Faro's heyday, permanent Faro boards marked with each rank were often used in lieu of an additional deck.

[@dmurphy9341]

Talked too fast. Casted to TV and unable to slow down when video is being cast only can adjust speed when watched from device.

[@dmimz7691]

I don’t see where the house has the advantage?

[@reillywalker195]

The house collects any dead bets not reclaimed by players as well as half of all bets placed on pairs-i.e., when the losing and winning cards are of the same rank.

[@stevodakine1]

Why doesn't Vegas have this game?

[@reillywalker195]

Faro's house edge is low, coming only from pairs and dead bets. Because of its low house edge, dealers of Faro would often cheat to ensure players lost more than they won.

[@pip12111]

"Only suckers buck the tiger"

[@jongrossardt7542]

New movie out tomorrow (The Last Son) should show some Faro being played in the background in saloon scenes.

[@KC.45]

I said Poker is an honest trade.

[@stevensmulowitz8461]

only fools buck the tiger

[@craterglass]

Oh Johnny, I apologize. I forgot you were there.

[@alr9967]

You may go now

[@TheTruth-on5zx]

Johnny Tyler madcap where ya goin with that shotgun

[@TheVoidIsBees]

I'm only here because of The Magnus Archives

[@samueldecelles6646]

Look like roulette

[@HooyahPeacock]

What's the house advantage lol

[@reillywalker195]

Pairs and dead bets.

[@michaelgarcia4117]

this shit crazy

[@nenadnedovic9246]

Jesus so many rules no wonder there were shoot outs. Lol

[@millar426]

That combined with fishing line under a chip, & card dealers dealing two cards at the same time.

[@frankbarron1907]

I thought it was pharaoh.

[@FrameDrumAndFlute]

I don't see how the house has an advantage, or is this not a bank game?

[@ducttape82]

That’s probably one of the reasons it died out. The games were often rigged to ensure the house made enough money off of them.

[@reillywalker195]

The house's advantage comes from pairs and, if the dealer can identify them before anyone else, dead bets. It's small and unreliable, hence why the house often cheated to make it more profitable.

[@valentinius62]

But the stuss version was very lucrative and garnered the attention of gangsters. Look up the story of Kid Twist Zweifach, Harris Stahl and "The Bottler" for instance.

[@argonwheatbelly637]

Buckin' the Tiger? You're a daisy if you do.

[@chrisjaybecker]

Only a fool bucks the tiger.

[@WillDogJones1]

Ace is higher than 3

[@joshuadenny6731]

please come to my house and bet large.

[@gulfrelay2249]

@Bob Brock Ace is 1.

[@Intoxicatedmeta]

Ace can be 1 or essentially the highest face card

[@SettingsGear]

Thank you for making that comment now I know

[@margiecarol2944]

Huh?

[@JesusHernandez-dd9lo]

!!! Cheap !!! ??? Comment court civil ??? !!! Cheap !!!

[@TonyqTNT]

Is it true Poker was invented after the Western Part of the United States???

[@JesusHernandez-dd9lo]

!!! Cheap !!! ??? Comment civil court ??? !!! Cheap !!!

[@johnclinete6193]

Hard to cheat.

[@tedc3895]

I was in a 1 to 5 stud game one night. 7 guys . None of us knew anything about how to play faro. The pit boss was an older guy who had been in casinos his whole life. He didnt know either.. I wonder what year it died out. Maybe in the depression. I don't know. I am a black Jack player. It it is the only one I can make any money at. Stud to me is a social game. I play all nite and in the long run break even. The drag sucks the money out of the game.

[@scottgoodman8993]

I wonder if the switch from large size cents to small cents made cheating easier? That happened in the 1860's, though large cents circulated after the civil war.

[@unragazzonormale8732]

Deadwood brought me here