Baccarat is a simple yet exciting casino game. Everyone can learn it, whether a beginner or a seasoned enthusiast. But how do you get started in baccarat? Luckily, it’s effortless. Let our guide walk you through the baccarat rules, bets, and odds. Learn how to play baccarat below.
Getting Started – Breakdown of a Baccarat Round
A baccarat round is divided into four main parts – bets, dealing, counting, and payouts. But before you get started, you should take your time to learn the baccarat card game rules. Additionally, you’ll need to add funds to your casino account. Here’s what you need to do:
Learn the rules
Learning a game’s rules is crucial, no matter how simple the game is. Before you start, we recommend learning more about the odds, bets, and baccarat payouts. Fortunately, baccarat is a straightforward casino game that’s easy to understand.
| LEARN BACCARAT RULES |
Add funds to your account
After familiarizing yourself with the game’s rules, it’s time to add money to your online casino account. Make sure your chosen casino accepts a wide range of payment methods. Your preferred payment method should be safe, secure, and fast.
Start betting
Most baccarat games accept three types of bets – banker, player, and tie. It’s important to remember to gamble responsibly when playing blackjack. Avoid chasing losses, and don’t bet more than you can afford to lose.
| LEARN ABOUT BACCARAT BETS |
Wait for the dealer to deal the cards
After the bets are placed, the dealer will start dealing the cards. The “Player” and the “Banker” will get two cards each. The goal is to have the closest value to nine. In certain situations, a third card may be dealt to the player or the banker, depending on the current card values.
What if I get a natural?
If you get a natural – your pick’s value is an eight or nine – you automatically win, and the round ends (Jump to Payouts). However, if both the player and the banker get a natural of the same value, the game is considered a tie.
The dealer counts the cards
If no naturals are obtained, the dealer will count the cards to determine if additional cards are necessary. A third card will be dealt if the “Player” hand has a total between zero and five. The rules will determine if the “Banker” can be dealt a third card.
If the “Player” isn’t dealt a third card, the “Banker” hand will follow the player’s rules – Draw from 0-5 and stand on six or seven.
| LEARN ABOUT DRAWING RULES IN BACCARAT |
Payouts
According to the rules of baccarat, each bet has different payouts. Check out the most common baccarat payouts below:
- Banker – Winning with the banker has a payout of 0.95:1.
- Player – Winning by betting on the player pays out 1:1.
- Tie – If you win with a tie, the payout will be 8:1.
Be aware of the commission
Since the banker position has a lower house edge and is more likely to win, the rules of baccarat state that the winning “Banker” bets are subject to a 5% commission. While 5% may not seem a lot, it can affect your payouts in the long run.
| LEARN ABOUT BACCARAT ODDS AND PAYOUTS |
Everything About Baccarat’s Rules
Learning baccarat rules is the first step to mastering the game. By learning how to play online baccarat, you’ll understand how the odds and bets can affect your payouts.
While learning the rules doesn’t turn the game in your favor, it’ll help you make wise decisions that can pay off. This section will explain everything you need to know about the card values and other important terms. Have a look:
The goal
Baccarat’s goal is simple: to guess which position you think will be closer to nine, the banker or the player. Alternatively, you can bet on a tie – both positions will have the same score.
Card values
According to the baccarat game rules, cards have different values. Cards from 2 to 9 have face value. 10, Jack, Queen, and King are worth zero.
| Card | Value |
|---|---|
| A | One |
| 2 | Two |
| 3 | Three |
| 4 | Four |
| 5 | Five |
| 6 | Six |
| 7 | Seven |
| 8 | Eight |
| 9 | Nine |
| 10 | Zero |
| Jack | Zero |
| Queen | Zero |
| King | Zero |
The “Baccarat” term – What does it mean?
The game’s name comes from the Italian word for zero – baccara. Many historians state the game was created in the 15th century in Italy, which explains the name’s origin.
Baccarat terms
Knowing about the baccarat terms can help you improve your game knowledge. Check out the most common terms used in the game:
| TERM | DEFINITION |
|---|---|
| Baccarat | Zero, the worst hand a player can get. |
| Banker Bet | A bet placed on the banker. It’s the most likely result in a baccarat game but has a 5% commission. |
| Bankroll | The money a player is willing to spend on a baccarat session. |
| Caller | A staff member responsible for turning the cards and dealing additional cards. |
| Commission | A 5% fee paid on “Banker” bets. |
| Coup | The French name for a round of baccarat. |
| Face Card | Used to refer to the cards with portraits. |
| Hand | Cards dealt during a round of baccarat. |
| House Edge | The advantage the casino has over the player. |
| La Grande | The best baccarat hand, a natural nine. |
| La Petite | The second best baccarat hand, a natural eight. |
| Natural | When the value of the first two hands is eight or nine, automatically ending the round. |
| Player Bet | The bet opposite to the banker. It doesn’t have a commission. |
| Push | When a bet doesn’t win or lose. |
| Tie | When the player and banker positions have the same card value. |
Rule changes
Due to its popularity, baccarat games have many different variants, each with its own rules. Below you’ll find the most common baccarat variations and their rules:
- No Commission Baccarat – In this variant, players don’t have to pay a 5% commission when betting on the banker. However, winning while the banker has a six has a lower payout of 0.5:1.
- EZ Baccarat – This variation doesn’t have a 5% commission, but if the banker obtains a three-card hand with a value of seven, the round is considered a push.
- Chemin de Fer – This is one of the most complex baccarat variants. One player may announce “Bank” every round, covering the banker’s state. The remaining players can bet until they reach the banker’s state.
Baccarat Bets
The odds on baccarat bets are straightforward – every bet has a fixed house edge and chance to win. Learning about baccarat odds is crucial to help you make the right calls and help develop your strategies. Here’s what you should know about the game’s wagers, including the lesser-known baccarat side bets:
Player bet
The player position has a 44.60% chance to win, with the house edge being 1.24%. Due to the lower probability of winning, “Player” bets don’t have a commission, resulting in a payout of 1:1. Some baccarat enthusiasts prefer to bet on the player due to the lack of commission and higher payout.
Banker bet
Betting on the banker has the lowest house edge, at 1.06%. However, remember that banker bets will be subject to a commission of 5%. For this reason, banker bets have a payout of 0.95:1. Most baccarat strategies recommend betting on the banker as it is the most likely outcome of every round, winning 45.80% of the time.
Pairs
Pair bets aren’t available in all baccarat games. Essentially, they involve wagering that one of the positions will have a pair – two cards of the same face value. There are three main types of pairs:
Player pair
With this bet, you’re wagering that the player’s first two cards will be a pair. Every round, the player position has a 7.47% chance of obtaining a pair. This is a risky bet with a house edge of 10.36%. Winning a player pair bet has a payout of 11:1.
Banker pair
The odds of the banker receiving a pair are the same as the player. Therefore, winning a banker pair bet also has a payout of 11:1.
Perfect pair
One of the best-paying baccarat bets. A perfect pair involves two cards equal in value, color, and suit. It has a payout of 25:1.
Tie
A tie on baccarat will happen 9.60% of the time. Winning on a tie bet can be profitable due to its payout of 8:1. However, tie bets have one of the highest house edges, at 14.40%.
Big hand
This bet is related to the total number of cards in the banker and player’s hands. To win this bet, the number of cards must be five or six. A big hand bet pays 1.5:1 and has a house edge of 4.35%.
Small hand
To win this wager, the total number of cards in the coup should be four. It pays 3:2 and has a house edge of 5.27%.
Minimum and maximum bet
The minimum and maximum bets in baccarat vary according to the table type. Baccarat tables are usually divided into two types – mini and big. The former has a lower betting range and fast gameplay, while the latter is generally reserved for high rollers and professional players. Beginners should stick to mini-baccarat tables.
Other side bets
Some baccarat variants have additional side bets, including:
- Red/black
- Odd/Even
- Suit
- Royal 9
- Tiger
- Tiger Pair
- Big Tiger
- Dragon Bonus
- Egalities
- Lucky 6
- Luck 9s
- Panda 8
- Dragon 7
Baccarat Drawing Rules
To draw a third card, the value of the player’s hand must be between zero and five. Depending on the card dealt to the player, the banker may be eligible for an additional card, according to the table below:
| BACCARAT DRAWING RULES | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BANKERSCORE | PLAYER’S THIRD CARD | |||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| 7 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
| 5 | S | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | S | S |
| 5 | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | S | S |
| 4 | S | S | H | H | H | H | H | H | S | S |
| 3 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | S | H |
| 2 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
| 1 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
| 0 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
H – Hit
S – Stand
Baccarat Odds and Payouts
Have a look at the odds, payouts, and house edge of the most common baccarat bets:
| BACCARAT ODDS AND PAYOUTS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| BET | ODDS | PAYOUT | HOUSE EDGE |
| PLAYER | 44.60% | 0.95:1 | 1.06% |
| BANKER | 45.80% | 1:1 | 1.24% |
| PLAYER PAIR | 7.47% | 11:1 | 10.36% |
| BANKER PAIR | 7.47% | 11:1 | 10.36% |
| PERFECT PAIR | 3.34% | 25:1 | 13.03% |
| TIE | 9.60% | 8:1 | 14.40% |
| BIG HAND | 61.10% | 0.54:1 | 4.35% |
| SMALL HAND | 38.79% | 1.5:1 | 5.27% |
The house edge is the percentage of the players’ bets kept by the casinos. Baccarat has the lowest house edge of casino games. This means that casinos have a slight advantage over the player compared to other games.
Frequently Asked Questions
