If you have always wanted to know how to play Baccarat and get better chances to win, this is the article you need to read.
Not only are you going to learn Baccarat rules and all the basics of one of the most interesting games you can find at online Casinos, but you will also understand how to play the best way to get the highest chances to win your bets even before the dealer starts dealing the cards.
You don’t need to learn super complicated winning strategies before you come close to the Baccarat tables. With the help of this guide and actionable tips, you will be able to start.
Simple steps to play Baccarat
- Know that you can bet on either of two hands – One is the Banker’s hand, the other is the Player’s hand. A player may bet on either hand. Bets must be placed on either the Player or Banker before cards are dealt.
- Know how cards are dealt – Two cards are dealt to both the Player and the Banker. A player or casino operator holding the shoe slides one card out and places it face up in the Player’s box on the felt table. The next card, the first of the Banker hand, is placed in the Banker’s box on the table. The house then deals another Player card, then the second Banker card. The dealer’s first round consists of two cards for both the Player and Banker.
- Announce the point total of both sets of cards – Tens and face cards all are worth zero points; all other cards are worth their face value, with the ace worth one point. If a total is more than 10, the second digit is the value of the hand. For example, a 9 and a 6, which total 15, make up a five-point hand. In order to win your bet must be on the hand that totals closer to nine.
- Understand the “natural” win – If in the first two cards dealt, the point total is 8 or 9 for either the Player or the Banker, this is called a natural win and the game is over. Bets that have already been placed are cashed out.
- Determine whether the player gets a third card by looking at the point totals – The Player hand is completed first. A total of 8 or 9 for the Player will get no additional cards. The Player stands on totals of 6 or 7. On any other total, 0-5, the Player draws a third card, unless the banker has 8 or 9, in which case the bank hand wins with no further draw
- Know the rules governing the third card for the Banker. If the Player stands pat (or draws no new cards), the Banker draws with a hand total of 0-5 and stays pat with a hand total of 6 or 7. All other hands are dependent on the third card the Player draws:
- If the Player’s third card is 9, 10, face-card or Ace, the Banker draws when he has a 0-3, and stays with a 4-7.
- If the Player’s third card is 8, the Banker draws when he has a 0-2, and stays with a 3-7.
- If the Player’s third card is 6 or 7, the Banker draws when he has a 0-6, and stays with a 7.
- If the Player’s third card is 4 or 5, the Banker draws when he has a 0-5, and stays with a 6-7.
- If the Player’s third card is 2 or 3, the Banker draws when he has a 0-4, and stays with a 5-7.
- Once all cards are dealt, calculate the winning hand – The winning hand is that which totals closer to 9. In the event of a tie, neither hand wins or loses. Sometimes a commission is paid out of winnings when betting on the Banker’s hand.
Types of Baccarat Bets
In Baccarat a player has three options to choose from when placing a bet on a given round. The player may bet on the player’s hand, the banker’s hand, or bet on a tie.
Player’s Hand
If you make a Player Bet, you win if the Player’s Hand is greater than the Banker’s Hand. A winning bet on this hand pays out even money, with no commission. So, a $10 bet would net you $10 in winnings.
Banker’s Hand
A Banker Bet is the opposite of the Player Bet. You win if the Banker’s Hand is greater than the Player’s Hand. Winning bets pay 1:1 but are subject to a 5% commission, or vigorish. As an example, a $105 wager will pay $100. You will often see this on the game layout marked as .95:1
Tie
You can also bet that the Player’s Hand and Banker’s Hand will be a tie. Betting on a Tie between the Player and Banker would net a payout of 8-1. A $20 bet would net you $160 in winnings. There are also 9:1 and 7:1 game options.
Baccarat Rules
The shoe holds eight decks of cards. During play it is passed around the table from player to player, counter-clockwise, every time a player hand wins. This is a way of encouraging each player to take an active part in dealing with the game.
Before each game, participants in the game of Baccarat place a wager on the side they think will win, either the Bank or the Player. All bets must be placed before the dealer calls “no more bets”.
Once bets are placed, the dealer will deal two cards to the Player and two cards to the Banker. A point count is then determined by adding the two cards. If the point count of either the Player’s and Banker’s hand is 8 or 9, this is called a “Natural win,” and no additional cards are drawn and the game ends. If the Bank does not have a Natural, the Player will always draw a third card on totals of 0-1-2-3-4 and 5 and stand with 6-7-8 and 9.
The croupier (the casino staff who collects and pays bets and assists at the gaming tables) announces the total of each hand, with the closest hand to nine winning. The winning side is then announced. Losing bets are collected and winning bets are paid even money.
Natural Winners in Baccarat
No dear, I am not talking about you here. I am about to let you in on a very specific Baccarat rule that you need to keep in mind every time you bet on the Banker or the Player.
In case the point total of the first two cards is equal to 8 or 9, the Player who hits this score (which is referred to as a natural win) is the one who wins the hand.
When this happens, no more cards are dealt and the bets that were placed at the beginning of the action can be cashed out.
The Best Bets in Baccarat
Now that you know how to play Baccarat, as well as all the rules of Baccarat, let’s focus on how to get more chances to win.
Whether you are a high roller or not, the basic Baccarat strategy doesn’t change:
You should always bet on the Banker.
Here’s why:
Although most Casinos apply a commission to this bet (~5 percent), this is the best bet in the game.
The secret is in the house edge.
- The house edge of the Banker’s bet is 1.06 percent
- The house edge of the Player’s bet is 1.24 percent
- The house edge of the Tie bet is…it doesn’t matter
You have so few chances to hit the Tie bet that only a crazy, degenerate gambler would pick this third option.
That’s all there is to it – really!
Sit at the table, put your money on the Banker, and wait until it’s the right time to cash out the money you have won. And don’t forget to apply all the basic bankroll management tips every noob should know!
Winning in Baccarat
The winning hand in Baccarat is the one which totals the closest to 9. The highest hand in baccarat is 9 and the lowest is 0. 10’s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings are counted as 0, an Ace counts as 1 and all other cards count their face value.
Determining hand values in Baccarat
If the cards total a two-digit number, they acquire the value of the second digit. For example, Cards totaling 10=0, 17=7, 20=0, 23=3.
Other examples: 6 + 7 = 13 counts as 3.
A combination of an 8 and Queen would mean your total is worth eight. An Ace and 6 would be worth seven.
More examples
2 + 3 + 6 = 11 – the hand value is 1
6 + 4 = 10 – the hand value is 0
King + 7 = 17 – the hand value is 7
Payouts
- Winning wagers for the bank or the player are paid even money.
- When betting on the Bank, the casino will collect 5% commission on money won.
- A winning Tie bet usually pays 9-to-1 or 8-to-1, depending on the casino.
Understand a winning hand
Once the cards are dealt and played out, the hand closest to a total of 9 points wins. Neither hand ever gets more than three cards. In the event of a tie, neither hand wins or loses. The dealer collects the lost bets and pays the winnings.
The dealer takes a 5% commission on winning bets on the Banker’s hand only. This is how the casino makes money on Baccarat. Commissions are tracked in the commission box by the dealer every time it’s owed, and collected for each winning Banker’s hand.
Playing Baccarat Online: The Best Baccarat Sites
The best Baccarat games on the internet can depend on your location. However, there are some great casinos in the US, UK, and all over the world.
Any casino site worth its salt features lots of different online Baccarat games (you can play with live dealers, too!) with limits that range from micro to high roller.
Conclusion
Once a game reserved for royalty, baccarat is now enjoyed online by players across the world. With simple rules and some of the best odds players will find in a casino, baccarat is a fantastic casino table game for new and experienced players alike.
To really immerse yourself in everything Las Vegas has to offer beyond the world-class shows, award-winning restaurants, and some of the best nightlife anywhere, you should learn how to play baccarat and win like an old pro.
If you’re looking to sit down at a Las Vegas casino table game with few complexities and a lot of James Bond-style gambling fun, baccarat is your go-to game. There are three possible outcomes—a player win, a banker win and a tie—and the dealer pretty much does all the work.