Baccarat has a reputation as an elite, high-roller game, James Bond’s game of choice, the highest-limit tables in any casino. In practice, it’s one of the most player-friendly games available, with a house edge under 1.1% on the Banker bet and no skill required after placing your wager. You’re betting on an outcome, not making decisions that affect it.
The Setup
Baccarat is dealt from a shoe of 6 or 8 decks. Two “hands” are dealt: the Player hand and the Banker hand. These aren’t a player and the dealer in the traditional sense, they’re just two positions on the table that you bet on. Anyone at the table can bet on either hand (or Tie).
You place your bet before cards are dealt. Then the dealer takes over entirely. Cards are dealt, the third card rule is applied if needed, totals are calculated, and the winner is announced. Your only decision in baccarat is where to put your chips before each hand.
How Hands Are Scored
Card values in baccarat: Aces count as 1. Cards 2–9 count at face value. 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings count as 0. There are no face card values to memorize, they’re all zero.
The score is the units digit of the total. If the Player hand holds 7 and 8 (total 15), the score is 5. If it holds 9 and 6 (total 15), the score is also 5. Scores range from 0 to 9. The highest possible score is 9.
A total of 8 or 9 on the initial two cards is a “natural,” no more cards are drawn, and the higher natural wins. If both hands have the same score, it’s a tie.
The Third Card Rule
The third card is drawn automatically based on the scores of the initial two-card hands, you don’t control this. The rules are fixed.
Player hand: draws a third card if the total is 0–5; stands on 6 or 7.
Banker hand: more complex, depending on both the Banker’s total and the Player’s third card (if drawn):
| Banker Total | Banker Draws If… |
|---|---|
| 0, 1, or 2 | Always draws |
| 3 | Draws unless Player’s 3rd card was 8 |
| 4 | Draws if Player’s 3rd card was 2–7 |
| 5 | Draws if Player’s 3rd card was 4–7 |
| 6 | Draws if Player’s 3rd card was 6–7 |
| 7 | Never draws |
You don’t need to memorize this. The dealer handles it automatically. These rules were designed to make baccarat fair-playing for both sides, which is why the house edge is so low.
The Three Bets
Banker (1.06% house edge): Banker wins slightly more often than Player, about 45.86% of non-tie hands vs 44.62%. Casinos take a 5% commission on Banker wins to compensate. Even after the commission, the house edge is just 1.06%, the best bet on the table.
Player (1.24% house edge): Pays even money, no commission. Slightly higher edge than Banker but still solid. Some players prefer it to avoid dealing with the commission calculation.
Tie (14.36% house edge): Pays 8:1. Ties happen about 9.5% of the time, not rare enough to justify a 14.36% house edge. This is one of the worst bets in any table game. Skip it every time.
Side Bets
Most baccarat tables offer side bets: Player Pair, Banker Pair, Lucky pairs, Dragon Bonus. Pair bets often pay 11:1. They also carry house edges ranging from 5% to over 15%. Ignore them unless you’re playing for entertainment rather than value.
Online Baccarat vs Live Dealer
RNG baccarat plays faster and has lower minimum bets. Live dealer baccarat uses real cards, some versions let players “squeeze” the cards, a traditional Macau-style ritual where the player slowly reveals the card. Both carry the same house edge.
Best Online Casinos for Baccarat
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