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How to Play Baccarat – Complete Beginners Guide

Learn to Play Baccarat Learning how to play baccarat is one of the easiest casino games to master. Baccarat originated in France around the 19th century and is a casino-style game that needs no technical skill to play. Baccarat is a high-stakes game found in the high roller section of a casino. However, online baccarat casinos break down this barrier and welcome all players. In Baccarat, the goal is to wager which hand will have a value equal to or closer or 8 or 9. This guide will give you all the steps you need to know to win at baccarat online!

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Baccarat Card Ranks

When it comes to calculating your card totals in baccarat, card values contribute the following:

  • Aces = 1 point.
  • 10s and Face Cards = 0 points.
  • 2 – 9’s = Face Value

If your hand total exceeds 9, then you will subtract 10 points from your total.  For example, if you have 11 points, your final hand will be 1. 

How to Play Baccarat: Step-by-Step

Baccarat starts with players walking up to the table and choosing one of three outcomes: winning your hand, winning the banker’s hand, or a tie. In online baccarat, you will take a virtual seat and place one of the same bets. 

Player

Betting on the player’s hand will payout 1:1. The house edge for this bet is 1.24%.

Banker

Betting on the banker’s hand and winning will reward a payout of 1:1. However, there is a 5% commission on your winnings from the Banker’s hand winning. The house edge for this wager is 1.06%.

Tie

Placing a bet on a tie result will give you a payout of 8:1; in some payout baccarat games, the payout can even be 9:1. The house edge, however, for this bet, is much higher at 14.36%.

Once you have placed your bets, the dealer draws two or three cards. The hand that comes closest to 9 wins.

If a hand total is more than 10, then you must subtract 10 from the total. If you have a 9 and 7 in your hand, that totals 16, which will give you a final hand of 6 (16-10 = 6). 

How to Play Baccarat: Third Card Rule

In baccarat, the drawing of a third card is not always guaranteed. There are specific rules that allow for the player and banker to draw a third card. These are outlined below.

Player Third Card Rules

The rule of the third card is governed by rules, which the dealer executes. It is not up to the player to decide. As a player, you don’t have much choice but go with the flow and see how the rounds play out. However, it is beneficial to have an understanding of when the third card can come into effect. 

An additional card is drawn when a player’s hand totals between 0 and 5 or more than 10. A ‘stand’ means not drawing a third card when the total is 6 or 7. There can be no third card drawn for totals of 8 or 9, termed “naturals.”.

Total for First Two Cards

Action

1-2-3-4-5-10

Draw a Card

6-7

Stand

Third Card Rules for the Dealer

The third card rule for the banker follows the same principle but is more complex. Dealers are responsible for enforcing these rules and will announce the actions when they can happen. The rules for the banker are summarised below. 

Total for First Two Cards

Draw on Player’s Third Card

Stand on Player’s Third Card

3

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9-10

8

4

2-3-4-5-6-7

1-8-9-10

5

4-5-6-7

1-2-3-8-9-10

6

6-7

1-2-3-4-5-8-9-10

7

Stand

 

8-0

Neutral – Stand

 

0-1-2

Always Draw

 

Third Card Rule for a Tie

Tie games have no losers. An automatic win occurs if the first two cards total 8 or 9; a tie results if both hands produce equal naturals. If neither the banker nor the player has a natural, then a third card may be drawn based on the rules above. 

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