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This strange, deeply dramatic process is universally known in the casino world as "squeezing" the cards, and it is the absolute soul of high-stakes Baccarat.

To an outside observer, this slow, destructive manipulation of casino property seems entirely pointless, especially since Baccarat is a game of pure, unalterable luck.
The Illusion of Control in Baccarat
Baccarat is a game requiring absolutely zero intellectual skill; the player makes no decisions other than choosing to bet on the "Player" or the "Banker."

For a VIP risking $100,000 on a single hand, the five minutes spent agonizingly squeezing the final card is the exact entertainment they are paying massive sums to experience.
The highest betting player at the table is historically granted the exclusive, honored right to squeeze the cardsNo matter how hard a card is squeezed or bent, the actual printed mathematical value never changesCasinos enthusiastically allow this destruction because the massive VIP bets easily cover the cost of replacing the ruined decks Reading the Pips on the Edge
The player slowly peels back the absolute very top edge of the card, completely covering the actual corner numbers with their thumbs.

If they see three pips ("three legs"), the card is a 6, 7, or 8, which is exactly what a Baccarat player desperately wants to see.
The Financial Reality of the Squeeze
In any other casino game, like Blackjack or Poker, physically bending or damaging a card is a severe offense that will result in immediate ejection from the property.

To the casino, the cost of replacing a $2 deck of cards is mathematically insignificant compared to a whale casually betting $200,000 per hand.
Visual Clue (Sideways Squeeze)Number of "Legs" (Pips)Possible Card ValuesBlank (No Pips visible)Zero LegsAce, 2, 3Solid Line across the topPicture Card10, Jack, Queen, King (Worth 0)
If you ever find yourself holding the cards at a high-stakes table, take your time, build the tension, and squeeze them for all they are worth.