This is a classic card game that’s popular for its relatively low house edge and range of strategies.
Of course, as with all casino card games, there are no guaranteed ways to win. That said, it’s important to know how to play the game before you find a table to get started at. On the surface, baccarat rules can seem a little complex – but we’re here to help demystify the action for you, step by step.
In this guide, we take you through the basics of the game and share some tips for baccarat that seasoned players put into practice.
Aim of the game
Baccarat is a two-player game, with the player facing off against the dealer. Both you and the dealer receive a hand of two cards each, and the aim is for your total to get as close to nine as possible.
However, this is only part of the baccarat game rules. You don’t have to hold the winning hand to win the bet – you can, in fact, place one of three main bets on how you think the game will transpire.
You can bet on either your hand or the dealer’s hand being closest to nine. Or, you can even bet on a tie game.
Baccarat rules beyond the basics may vary depending on the type of casino you play at and the table you choose, but the rule of ‘nine’ generally applies – that’s the number you’re going to need to look for.
Baccarat basic rules
Here are the basic baccarat rules – though bear with us, as the dealing rules can get a little involved. Let’s break this down as simply as possible.
Each player receives two cards face up. In this game, if you receive an ace, it’s worth one, and any face cards (king, queen and jack) as well as tens are worth zero. Therefore, your hand receives a value between zero and nine.
But here’s where additional baccarat game rules, cards and values come into play. If you or the dealer receive a hand totalling eight or nine, everyone stands, and the game is complete.
If you draw a six or a seven, you don’t need to take another card and will stand, but if the dealer has a hand of five or less, they can draw a third card.
However, if you score a five or less, you can draw a third card. The value of that third card then determines what the dealer does next – hit or stand.
Baccarat hand chart and table
Understanding the hit and stand baccarat rules can be a little tricky, so here’s a chart to show you what the dealer does depending on the value of the player’s third card.
The column on the X axis refers to the dealer’s current hand value, and the row on the Y axis refers to the player’s third card value. ‘H’ means hit, and ‘S’ means stand.
For example, if the dealer has a total of four, and the player draws a card worth six, they can hit and receive a third card of their own.
Here’s a chart to help you visualise these rules:
Both the player and the dealer then reevaluate their totals, and the closest to nine, again, is the winner. However, you only win the bet if you place your chips on the winning hand.
Basic baccarat bets
The two most straightforward bets in baccarat are dealer and player hands. This means that you effectively bet on whether or not you think the player’s or the dealer’s hand will get the closest to nine in total. In some cases, as mentioned, you can also bet on a draw, though these are statistically much less likely to occur.
There are also several additional side bets to look out for. However, these bets will vary depending on the table and casino you play at. Therefore, consider these extra bets as add-ons.
Baccarat appeals to many casino punters because the range of bets is relatively straightforward. Baccarat game rules can seem quite complex at first – you normally only get a choice of two hands to bet on, with bonus side bets available for more seasoned players.
Of the three basic bets available in baccarat, betting on a tie is regarded as the least likely to result in a win and will frequently carry the longest odds. Therefore, it’s wise for beginners to consider choosing a dealer or player hand.
Baccarat gameplay
Now that we’ve established the baccarat rules let’s run through how the game might work in practice, step by step:
- Choose a table or game of baccarat and place your bet(s). Choose between the player’s hand, dealer’s hand, and a tie bet.
- Wait for your dealer to shuffle and deal the cards. They are placed face up.
- The dealer (or baccarat game) calculates the totals of each hand. If both hands total eight or nine, the hand closest to nine wins.
- If the player has a hand worth six or seven, and the dealer has a hand worth five or less, the dealer draws another card, and the player stands.
- If the player has a hand worth five or less, they draw another card.
- Depending on the value of the third card dealt, the dealer may stand or hit and draw another card of their own.
- Once all the cards are dealt out and the dealer calculates the hands, they declare the winner. If there is an equal distance between both hands and the total of nine, it’s declared a tie game.
Thankfully, there’s no need for you to make any complex calculations yourself. This is processed either by the baccarat game you play online, or by the dealer in charge of the cards. It’s one of the main reasons why online baccarat is so popular.
This step-by-step guide is just a quick overview of how a typical game of baccarat might look online or in person. Therefore, keep an open mind and make sure to practice if you’re uncertain of how the game might unfold.
Baccarat hands and values
As mentioned, there are two main hands in play during a game of baccarat. One belongs to the player, and the other is the dealer’s. As the bettor, you place a bet on which hand you think will win or if you think there will be a tie.1
Values for most cards are self-explanatory, but aces are worth one, and you don’t get any points for face cards.
What’s also worth remembering before you play is that any hands worth more than nine only count by their second digit. So, for example, if your hand is worth 17, it’s counted as seven. This means that you are only two away from nine rather than eight away.
It’s worth remembering these hand and value rules before you start playing, as keeping track can get somewhat complex if you’re new to the game.
Tips for beginners
Before playing baccarat, always remember that there are no guaranteed ways to win. There are plenty of strategies that players use to try to tip the house edge, but there’s no formula or technique.
However, we can offer you a few useful tips for baccarat to help you get into the game and become accustomed to some of the more complex baccarat game rules and nuances. Here are five tips for baccarat to get you started.
1. Don’t go for the tie bet
We mentioned this briefly above, but tie bets are much less likely to result in a win than the standard hand bets.
Although players can attempt to tie bets if they wish, it’s not a sensible beginner’s move, if at all. Even for a more seasoned player, it’s not worth playing this bet every time.
2. Try mixing up ways to play
While the game is completely random, and there are no guaranteed winning techniques for baccarat, there are still a few interesting ways to play.
For example, during one game, you might decide to ‘side’ with the player – meaning that you choose to exclusively bet on your own hands. Conversely, you might want to bet exclusively on the dealer.
Some players prefer to use formal baccarat strategies such as the Martingale, which is popular in other card games online and in physical casinos. Using this strategy, you double your bet every time you lose and reset your bet amount when you win.
Again, there’s no proof that this method wins every time. Also, it’s a strategy that can soon see your bankroll depleted.
3. Be wise about your bankroll
The above tip leads us nicely to a word of caution. Some players feel that they might need to chase wins or losses, depending on how games unfold. However, doing either is not only psychologically unhealthy, but it’s also likely to burn through your bankroll quickly.
The golden baccarat game rule is that statistically, you will lose a game at some point. Beyond that, there’s no such thing as being ‘due’ a win or entitled to a break in losses. There’s simply no guarantee of knowing how a game will unfold.
Therefore, make a point of setting healthy limits for your baccarat betting. Set upper and lower limits in your bankroll, for example. Alternatively, only ever bet a certain amount or set a tight timeframe for your betting.
Many casinos also offer safe betting tools to help you manage your money and exclude you from games at your request.
4. Read the terms and conditions carefully
If you play baccarat online, it’s always a good idea to familiarise yourself with any terms and conditions that come attached with bonuses linked to the game.
For example, if you claim a casino credit bonus to use on baccarat, you might need to wager back a specific amount of money before you can withdraw funds. These terms are usually easy to find and understand, provided that you’re playing at a reputable casino.
5. Keep practising
Although practising playing baccarat won’t improve your skills in the game, it will help you get accustomed to the complex rules.
Try playing baccarat at home with a friend or partner with your own deck of cards. Familiarise yourself with the general rules and transfer your knowledge when you play the game for real, online or in person.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most common mistake to avoid in baccarat is assuming that the dealer is always going to get closest to nine or will do most of the time. The game weighs carefully to ensure that betting is fair, and that the dealer isn’t always going to be the winning player.
Beyond this, it’s easy to leap into side bets if they seem tempting. If you’re just getting started, make sure to stick to the basic bets as a priority and only consider other bets once you’re more accustomed to the baccarat rules.
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