What Is Baccarat?
Baccarat is one of the most popular card games in online and land-based casinos worldwide. Despite its reputation as a high-roller game, baccarat is actually one of the simplest casino games to learn. There are no complex decisions to make mid-hand — you simply bet on which side you think will win.
The Basic Objective
The goal of baccarat is to bet on which hand — the Player or the Banker — will have a total closest to 9. You can also bet on a Tie. That's essentially it. You don't play a hand yourself; you just predict the outcome.
Card Values in Baccarat
- Aces are worth 1 point
- Cards 2–9 are worth their face value
- 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings are worth 0 points
If the total of a hand exceeds 9, only the second digit counts. For example, a hand totalling 15 is worth 5.
How a Round of Baccarat Works
- Players place their bets on Player, Banker, or Tie.
- Two cards are dealt to both the Player hand and the Banker hand.
- Depending on the totals, a third card may be drawn according to fixed rules.
- The hand closest to 9 wins.
The Third Card Rule
The third card rule in baccarat is automatic — neither the player nor the dealer makes a choice. Here's a simplified breakdown:
| Hand Total | Action |
|---|---|
| 0–5 | Always draws a third card |
| 6–7 | Stands (no third card) |
| 8–9 | Natural — no more cards drawn |
The Banker's drawing rules are slightly more complex and depend on both the Banker's total and whether the Player drew a third card — but all of this happens automatically in every online version of baccarat.
Understanding the Three Bets
Player Bet
A winning Player bet pays 1:1. If you bet 100 and win, you receive 100 in profit.
Banker Bet
A winning Banker bet also pays 1:1, but a 5% commission is typically deducted from your winnings because the Banker hand wins slightly more often statistically.
Tie Bet
A Tie bet pays 8:1 or sometimes 9:1. It seems attractive, but ties occur relatively rarely, making this bet less favorable in the long run.
Common Baccarat Variants
- Punto Banco — The most widely played version, entirely luck-based.
- Mini Baccarat — Same rules but played at a smaller, faster table.
- Live Dealer Baccarat — Streamed in real time with a human dealer, common on online platforms.
- Speed Baccarat — Rounds are compressed for faster gameplay.
Key Takeaways
Baccarat is a game of chance — there's no skill involved in the drawing of cards. Understanding which bets have better odds and how payouts work is the most important knowledge you can bring to the table. Always learn the rules and payout structures of any game before playing with real money.