How to Play Baccarat

Reviewed by Ashton Wu

Last Updated: June 7, 2024 Fact Checked

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Baccarat is an exciting game, full of suspense and intrigue! Baccarat is both simple to learn and play. A game of baccarat has three possible outcomes: Player win, Banker win, and tie. Note that “Banker” does not refer to the house. Participants in the game have the option to bet on either the player or bankers hand.

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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.^{[1]
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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.^{[2]
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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.
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.
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.^{[3]
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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.
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.

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When both the banker and a player have a 6 after the initial deal, is it a draw?

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Yes. The player must stand on 6. If the banker also has 6, then it results in a tie.

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What is the highest possible score in Baccarat?

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Since it is determined by a single digit, 9 would be the highest possible score.

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What is a typical wager?

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Minimum bets vary from casino to casino, but $20-$25 seems to be a popular minimum in the United States.

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Tips

8 deck shoe: house edge on 'player' bet: 1.06%, house edge on 'banker' bet:1.24%, house edge on tie bet: 14.36%^{[4]
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Single deck: house edge on 'banker' bet:1.29%, house edge on 'player' bet: 1.01%, house edge on tie bet: 15.57%^{[5]
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6 deck shoe: house edge on 'player' bet: 1.06%, house edge on 'banker' bet:1.24%, house edge on tie bet: 14.44%^{[6]
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Warnings

If the casino does not provide a history of past hands, keep note yourself so that you can see past wins and losses for player and banker and adjust your betting accordingly. Although past wins or losses have absolutely no bearing on the next hand.

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