How To Play
Baccarat is an exciting game of pure chance. While it’s portrayed as formal and elegant in the movies – James Bond’s favourite! – it’s actually an easy, slow-paced game that’s great for new players; there’s no strategy or skill needed. Plus, Baccarat offers some of the best odds in the casino.
Check the complete guide on How to play Baccarat.
Breaking down Baccarat
Before you play, it's good to know the elements of the game and what they're called.
The Table
There are from seven to 14 seats for players, depending on the version of Baccarat, and a dealer’s area. No matter how many players are seated, only two hands of cards are dealt: the Player’s and the Banker’s. Players don’t get their own cards; each has their own betting area.
The Three Betting Areas
Each player will find three bet boxes, one each for Player, Banker and Tie, above their number on the felt table top.
The Dealer
The dealer begins the game by dealing the cards. The dealer stands in front of the players at the centre of the Baccarat table in order to reach every place on the table.
The Commission Box
The dealer takes a 5% commission on winning bets on the Banker’s hand. In full Baccarat, a long rectangle filled with numbers, located next to the bank, is called the commission box, and is used to keep track of all commissions. On other Baccarat tables, a commission circle is next to each individual betting area.
Each number represents a player, and every time a player owes commission, the dealer will mark it until the player is ready to pay and leave the table.
How Baccarat cards and points work
Points calculation in Baccarat is different from most games. A unique rule in Baccarat is that nine is the highest score, and the value of a hand can’t be higher. Here’s how the cards work and how the points add up:
Picture Cards & Tens
Picture cards and Tens are each worth zero points.
Other Numbered Cards
Cards numbered from 2-9 are worth their face value.
Aces
The ace is worth one point.
Adding up points
Once the points value reaches a double digit, the second digit will automatically become the value of the hand.
With this rule, for example, 10 is worth 0, 11 is worth 1, 12 is worth 2, and so on. After the total points reach 10, simply drop the first digit and that’s the score of the hand.
So a hand of a 9 and 6, which adds up to 15, becomes a 5-point hand. Only a bet on the hand that’s closest to 9 will win.
4 Steps To Play Baccarat
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1Start with a game plan; set a budget in advance and stick to it.
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2Place a bet: bets are placed before the cards are dealt. Choose to bet on one of three options: Banker’s hand, Player’s hand or a Tie.
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3Know how a round works and how the cards are dealt: in ordinary play, a total of two cards are dealt for each of the Banker’s and the Player’s hands. Learn when a third card will be drawn.
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4Understand a winning hand: Once the hands are played out, the winning hand is the one closest to a total of 9 points.
1. Start with a game plan
Set a budget
Baccarat is an exciting game, and you don’t want to get carried away. Decide how much you want to spend in advance. Treat this as money you’d spend on a night out, not expecting to bring it home.
Don’t bring credit cards
To make sure you only spend what you bring, use cash and leave the cards at home.
Set a win limit
It’s no fun to be up and then lose it all. Decide in advance when it’s time to walk away. Some players set this at the point when they double their money.
2. Place a Bet
Baccarat is a guessing game, so players must place bets before the cards are dealt. Choose to bet on one of three options:
Banker's Hand
A winning bet on this hand pays even money, or 1 to 1. For example, if you bet $10 and win, it pays $10, minus the 5% commission.
Player's Hand
A winning bet on this hand also pays even money.
Tie
A winning bet on a tie pays 8 to 1.
3. How a Round Works
Know How Cards are Dealt
Know How Cards are Dealt
Once the bets are placed, a total of four cards are dealt on the table: First, the dealer slides out a card and places it in the Player box.
The next card is placed in the Banker box. This is repeated so that each box has two cards.
Natural win
When is a third card drawn?
Natural win
If the points total is 8 or 9 for either the Player’s or the Banker’s hand on the first two cards dealt, this is called a natural win and the game is over. Placed bets are paid.
When is a third card drawn?
If neither hand totals 8 or 9, the dealer may draw an additional card on one or more hands, depending on its total. A great thing about Baccarat is that the rules for when a third card is drawn are very clear.
Third Card Rules For the Player
Third Card Rules For the Banker
Third Card Rules For the Player
Baccarat rules call for the Player to always go first. The Banker’s hand depends on the Player’s hand. Here are the rules:
- If the Player’s hand is a total of 8 or 9 points, it’s a natural win and no additional cards will be drawn. The Player’s hand will stand.
- The Player’s hand always stands on point totals of 6 or 7 as well.
- On any total from 0 to 5, the Player draws a third card – unless the Banker has 8 or 9. In that case, the Banker wins, and there are no further cards drawn.
There is a special set of rules in play when the Banker draws a third card. There’s no need to memorize these rules, but you can review them beside.
Third Card Rules For the Banker
When Banker’s first two cards total:
0 – 1 – 2 : Bank draws unless Player shows a natural 8 or 9.
3 : Bank draws if Player’s third card is 0 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 or 9.
Bank stands when Player’s third card is 8.
4 : Bank draws if Player’s third card is 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7.
Bank stands when Player’s third card is 0 – 1 – 8 – 9.
5 : Bank draws if Player’s third card is 4 – 5 – 6 – 7.
Bank stands when Player’s third card is 0 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 8 – 9.
6 : Bank draws if Player’s third card is 6 – 7.
Bank stands when Player’s third card is 0 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 8 – 9.
7 : Stands.
8 – 9 : Natural Numbers – neither hand draws a third card.
4. Understand a winning hand
Once the cards are dealt and played out, the hand closest to a total of 9 points wins. Neither hand ever gets more than three cards. In the event of a tie, neither hand wins or loses. The dealer collects the lost bets and pays the winnings.
The dealer takes a 5% commission on winning bets on the Banker’s hand only. This is how the casino makes money on Baccarat. Commissions are tracked in the commission box by the dealer every time it’s owed, and collected for each winning Banker’s hand.
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