How to play baccarat

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How to play baccarat

By Trust The Winds

Baccarat is one of the simplest and most elegant casino games, often favored by high rollers due to its low house edge and straightforward rules. Unlike blackjack or poker, you don’t make any playing decisions after placing your bet. The game is entirely determined by pre-set rules.

Here’s a beginner’s guide focusing on the core gameplay, based on card numbers and win/lose conditions, with no discussion of side bets.

Card Values in Baccarat

First, let’s understand how cards are valued:

  • Aces: Count as 1 point.
  • Cards 2 through 9: Count as their face value.
  • Tens (10), Jacks (J), Queens (Q), Kings (K): Count as 0 points.

Important Note on Totals: If the sum of the cards in a hand is a two-digit number, only the second digit (the “ones” digit) is used as the hand’s value.

  • Example: A hand with a 7 and a 6 totals 13. The value of the hand is 3.
  • Example: A hand with a King and an 8 totals 8 (0 + 8 = 8). The value is 8.
  • Example: A hand with a 5 and a 5 totals 10. The value is 0.

The goal is to have a hand value as close to 9 as possible.

The Game Play: Player vs. Banker

In Baccarat, there are two main hands dealt: the Player hand and the Banker hand. As a player, you don’t “play” either hand yourself; you simply bet on which hand you think will win, or if it will be a tie. We’re not discussing ties here, so you’ll primarily bet on Player or Banker.

  1. Placing Your Bet: Before any cards are dealt, you place your bet on either the “Player” or “Banker” betting area on the table.

  2. Initial Deal: The dealer deals two cards face up to the Player hand and two cards face up to the Banker hand.

  3. Checking for Naturals:

    • If either the Player or Banker hand has a total of 8 or 9 with their first two cards, this is called a “Natural.”
    • If a Natural occurs, no more cards are dealt, and the hand immediately ends. The hand with the higher Natural wins. If both have the same Natural (e.g., both 8s or both 9s), it’s a tie (push for Player/Banker bets).

  4. Third Card Rules (if no Natural occurs): If neither hand has a Natural 8 or 9, specific rules dictate whether a third card is drawn for either hand. These rules are fixed and the dealer handles them automatically. You don’t make any decisions.

    • Player Hand Rules:

      • If the Player’s first two cards total 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5: The Player hand draws one additional card.
      • If the Player’s first two cards total 6 or 7: The Player hand stands (does not draw a third card).

    • Banker Hand Rules (more complex, depends on Player’s action):

      • If Player Stands (had 6 or 7):
        • Banker draws on 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
        • Banker stands on 6, 7.
      • If Player Draws a Third Card: The Banker’s action depends on their own total AND the value of the Player’s third card. This is often displayed on a chart at the table, but the dealer executes it. Here’s the general breakdown:
        • Banker total 0, 1, 2: Banker always draws a third card, regardless of Player’s third card.
        • Banker total 3: Banker draws a third card unless the Player’s third card was an 8.
        • Banker total 4: Banker draws a third card if the Player’s third card was 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7. Banker stands if Player’s third card was 0, 1, 8, or 9.
        • Banker total 5: Banker draws a third card if the Player’s third card was 4, 5, 6, or 7. Banker stands otherwise.
        • Banker total 6: Banker draws a third card if the Player’s third card was 6 or 7. Banker stands otherwise.
        • Banker total 7: Banker always stands.

Win Conditions (No Side Bets)

The winning conditions are straightforward:

  • You bet on Player and Player wins: The Player hand has a total closer to 9 than the Banker hand. You are paid 1:1 on your bet.
  • You bet on Banker and Banker wins: The Banker hand has a total closer to 9 than the Player hand. You are paid 1:1, but typically a 5% commission is taken from your winnings (this is why the Banker bet has a slightly lower house edge, making it mathematically the best bet).
  • Tie (Push): If the Player and Banker hands have the same total, it’s a tie.
    • If you bet on Player or Banker, your original bet is usually returned to you (it’s a “push”).

Lose Conditions (No Side Bets)

You lose your bet if the hand you didn’t bet on wins:

  • You bet on Player and Banker wins: The Banker hand has a total closer to 9 than the Player hand. You lose your bet.
  • You bet on Banker and Player wins: The Player hand has a total closer to 9 than the Banker hand. You lose your bet.
  • You bet on Player or Banker and it’s a Tie: As mentioned, your bet is usually returned (pushed), so you don’t win or lose, but you also don’t profit.

Baccarat is a game of chance where the decisions are made by the fixed rules of the game, not by the players themselves. Your only choice is where to place your bet.