How To Play Baccarat

Baccarat Overview

The player's aim is to get a hand that is closer to 9 in value than the banker's. The game is played modulo 10, that is if the total of the hand is larger than 10, then 10 is subtracted from the total. (Thus the value of a hand is always between 0 through 9)
For instance, if the player's cards total 15, 10 is subtracted and the value of the hand becomes 5. An ace counts as 1, two counts as 2, etc, up through nine counts as 9, but tens (also jacks, queens and kings) count as 0.
Playing the game

To start to play baccarat both player and banker are dealt two cards face down and the next move depends on the cards in the hands.
If the player or banker has a card total of 8 or 9, he turns the cards over immediately. The other must do so also. (In web based baccarat cards are always face up) A 9 value wins over any lesser total, and if neither player has a 9 then 8 wins over any lesser total. Tied 9s or tied 8s are a stand off; no money changes hands. (Unless the other players around the table can bet ties)
If neither player nor banker has a natural (a total of 8 or 9) then play goes to the player. The player stands (does not draw) on a total of 6 or 7, but if the player has a total of 5 or less he must draw one card (face up).
Now it is the bankers' turn. With a total of 7, he stands. With a total of 6 or less, his selection depends on the value of his two card total and the value of the card that the player drew. The rules are as follows:
Baccarat rulesThe next tables sum up the rules for the player and the dealer:

Player Rules
Card Action 10, J, Q, K Draw card 1 Draw card 2 Draw card 3 Draw card 4 Draw card 5 Draw card 6 Stand 7 Stand 8 Turn Cards Over 9 Turn Cards Over

Dealer Rules
Card Draws When Giving Does Not Draw When Giving 10, J, Q, K Draw card Draw card 1 Draw card Draw card 2 Draw card Draw card 3 0 (10, J, Q, K) - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 9 8 4 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 0 (10, J, Q, K)-1-8-9 5 4-5-6-7 0 (10, J, Q, K)-1-2-3-8-9 6 6-7 0 (10, J, Q, K)-1-2-3-4-5-8-9 7 Stand Stand 8 Turn Cards Over Turn Cards Over

Baccarat betting

Baccarat has quite reasonable odds for the player. On player bets the house has a small edge, to balance this the house takes a commission (usually 5 percent) on winning bank bets. Bets are made before any cards have been dealt. The banker plays against only one player at a time, but any or all the other players can bet on the hand.
Up to 12 or 14 players can sit around the baccarat kidney shaped table depending on its size. Three dealers, called croupiers, run the game; one handles the cards, while the other two handle the wagers and the commission that is paid on winning bank bets. Although where the players sit is not important, bets must be made in a marked area on the table that corresponds to the players seat. Players can bet three different ways: on the bank, on the player's hand, or for a tie. It is very common to see players switch from betting on the bank to betting on the player's hand and vice versa. Betting for a tie while having a larger payoff is not usually smart; it is considered one of the worst wagers in the casino. A bet is made by placing money on the table in your marked area on the wagered spot. For example if you are player number 5 and wish to bet on the bank you place the desired wager amount on the table layout place for player number 5 marked bank.
Winning player and bank bets pay even money (excluding commissions). Hands that result in a tie pay off tie wagers at 8 to 1 and a bank or player bet is treated as a push with the money sitting on the table for the next hand.