How to Play Baccarat
Baccarat is a card comparing game between two hands: the "Player" and the "Banker." These are simply labels — you are not the Player, and the dealer is not the Banker. You bet on which hand you think will be closer to 9, or whether the hands will tie.
Card values in baccarat differ from standard card games:
- Aces = 1 point
- Cards 2–9 = face value
- 10, Jack, Queen, King = 0 points
Only the last digit of a total counts. A hand of 7 + 8 = 15 has a value of 5. A hand of 6 + 4 = 10 has a value of 0 (called "baccarat" — the worst hand). The highest possible score is 9; a "natural" is 8 or 9 on the first two cards.
Third Card Drawing Rules
Third card rules are automatic and fixed — you never make this decision. The basic framework:
- Player draws a third card if the Player total is 0–5.
- Player stands on 6 or 7.
- Banker drawing rules depend on the Banker total and the value of the Player's third card — a matrix of 12 scenarios that the dealer applies automatically.
- Both hands stand on 8 or 9 (a natural); no third card is drawn.
You do not need to memorise these rules; they are applied automatically in both online and live dealer versions of the game.
House Edge: Banker vs Player vs Tie
| Bet | House Edge | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Banker | ~1.06% | 0.95:1 (5% commission) |
| Player | ~1.24% | 1:1 |
| Tie | ~14.4% (at 8:1) | 8:1 |
The Tie bet is the worst bet on the table by a large margin. The 14.4% house edge is comparable to some of the least favourable slot games. Even at the seemingly attractive 8:1 payout, the Tie bet loses money almost six times faster than the Banker bet. Avoid it.
Baccarat Strategy
Baccarat is a pure game of chance once the cards are dealt. The drawing rules are fixed, leaving no skill-based decisions after you place your bet. The closest thing to an optimal strategy is:
- Always bet Banker for the lowest available house edge (1.06%).
- Never bet Tie.
- Ignore scorecards (the roadmaps showing previous hand outcomes). Past results have no bearing on future hands in a freshly shuffled shoe.
- Set a session limit before you sit down and stick to it. Baccarat's low house edge is only an advantage if you play within your means.
Betting systems (Martingale, Fibonacci, etc.) do not change the house edge. They merely redistribute when you win and lose within a session. Over a large enough sample, the house edge applies in full regardless of the system used.
Baccarat Variants
Mini Baccarat is played on a smaller table with lower stakes and a faster pace. It follows exactly the same rules as full Baccarat and is the most common version online.
Chemin de Fer is the original version played in French casinos; players take turns being the Banker and can exercise some decision-making. Rare online.
Squeeze Baccarat (a live dealer feature) lets one player or the dealer slowly reveal cards by bending them — purely theatrical, with no effect on outcomes.
Speed Baccarat (Evolution Gaming) completes each hand in 27 seconds compared to the standard ~48 seconds. Identical rules, faster session.
Also available: GRAI-licensed bookmaker →
Frequently Asked Questions
Baccarat Bet Types and House Edge
| Bet | Payout | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Player | 1:1 (even money) | 1.24% |
| Banker | 1:1 minus 5% commission | 1.06% — lowest |
| Tie | 8:1 or 9:1 | 14.4% (8:1) or 4.8% (9:1) — avoid |
| Player pair | 11:1 | 10.4% |
Baccarat Card Values
- Ace = 1 point
- Cards 2-9 = face value
- 10, Jack, Queen, King = 0 points
- If a hand total exceeds 9, only the last digit counts (e.g. 7+6=13 gives hand value 3)
- Natural 8 or 9 (from first two cards) = no further cards drawn
Bet on Player, Banker or Tie. Two cards go to each hand; only the last digit of the total counts (closest to 9 wins). A third card may be drawn automatically according to fixed rules. No skill decisions are required after placing your bet.
The Banker bet has a lower house edge (~1.06%) than the Player bet (~1.24%). A 5% commission is charged on winning Banker bets because the Banker hand wins more often. For long-run expected value, the Banker bet is marginally better.
The Banker hand wins more often due to drawing rules, so casinos charge 5% commission on winning Banker bets to maintain a house edge. Without it, the Banker bet would have a slight player advantage.
Approximately 14.4% at standard 8:1 pay tables — one of the worst bets in any table game. Avoid it.
Theoretically yes, but the edge gained is so small (fractions of a percent, applying to a tiny fraction of hands) that it is impractical. Baccarat is effectively unbeatable through counting.