How to Play Baccarat & Win

How to Play Baccarat

Baccarat rules are easy to learn; it is a very simple game and has one of the best odds of all casino games. Baccarat is played with 3 dealers and up to 12 or 14 players.
 
Baccarat is usually played with 8 standard card decks. Aces valued as one, face cards and ten cards valued as zero, and the rest of the number cards worth their face value. The suit has no meaning. The object of the game is to get as close to 9 as possible.
 
The play begins by all players, including the dealer, placing their bets either on the player, the banker or on a tie. Traditionally, the dealer bets on the banker. The dealer can be the house dealer or one of the players.

After everyone has placed their bets, the dealer gives two cards to each player and to the banker. The total of these 2 cards is added up and the score for that hand is the right digit of the total value of the cards. So if you have a 9 and a 4 then the total would be 13 so your score is 3. If you have 8 and 2 then the total is 10 so your score is 0. The scores will always range from 0 to 9 and it is impossible to bust. A third card may or may not be dealt to either or both the player and the dealer depending on the totals. If either the player or the banker has a total of an 8 or a 9 they both stand. If the player’s total is 5 or less then the player hits, otherwise the player stands. If the player stands, then the banker hits on a total of 5 or less. If the player does hit, then you can use the chart below to determine if the banker hits (H) or stands (S).

Baccarat Basic Strategy Chart

Baccarat Odds / House Edge

These are the options and odds available in relation to each bet in Baccarat.

 
Generally speaking, when betting on the Player Hand, the house edge is 1.29%.
 
When betting on the Bankers Hand, the house edge is 1.01%.
 
When betting on a Tie Hand, the house edge is 15.75%.

Baccarat Rules

A. The goal of the game

Your aim is to guess whether the Banker or the Player will have a higher hand, or whether their scores will be the same – a tie.

B. Card values in Baccarat

 
1. All numbered cards from 2 to 9 are counted at their face value.
 
2. All 10’s and picture cards (Jack, Queen, and King) count as 0
 
3. An Ace counts as a 1
 

C. Setting-up the game

 
1. Decide on your budget – As a general rule, you should have enough for 40 hands of Baccarat before you sit down, so decide how much you wish to spend first of all.
 
2. Choose your table – All tables have a minimum and maximum amount you can bet, choose one
where each hand is around a fortieth of your budget. i.e. if you have a bankroll of £200, you
should be looking at playing £5 per hand.
 
3. Choose your seat – The choice in your seat makes no difference to the outcome of any given hand.
 
4. Decide how much you would like to change up and play with– You will be given chips, the
sizes of which depend on how much you change up and the limits of the tables.
 

D. Course/progress of the game

 
1. First of all, you are required to place a bet on the Banker, Player and/or the Tie. You can place a bet on more than one or all 3 places if you want to.
 
2. The cards are now dealt; there are no further actions to take in the hand, and the Banker will deal 2 cards to both the Player and the Banker. Any further cards are dealt according to the value of the 2 hands.
 
3. If the Player’s first two cards total 6 or above, the Player must stand without drawing a card. If the Player’s first two cards total 5 or less, the Player must draw one additional card.
 
4. If the Banker’s first two cards total 7 or above, then the Banker must stand without drawing a card. If the Banker’s first two cards total 0, 1, or 2, then the Banker must draw one card. If the Banker’s first two cards total 3, 4, 5, or 6, then whether the Banker draws is determined by whether the Player drew, and if so the value of the Player’s draw card. See below for more details

Banker drawing rules

 
The above table shows when the Banker draws. Remember, the Banker must Draw if they have a 0, 1 or 2 and must stand if they have a 7, 8 or 9.
 
S shows the Banker needs to Stand
 
D shows the Banker needs to Draw another card.
 
E Once all of the cards have been dealt, the payout takes place. If the Banker has a higher total,
anyone who bet on the Banker wins at odds of 1 to 1, less 5% commission. If the Player has
a higher total, any winners get paid out at 1 to 1. If the totals are tied, the Tie wins and pays
out at either 8 to 1 or 9 to 1, depending on the casino.
 
As the Banker enjoys a positional advantage and has more information available to them than the Player when it comes to drawing the 3rd card. Therefore, betting on the Banker results in a smaller win than if you bet on and win on the Player.
 

Baccarat Betting Systems

A few popular money management systems to assist you in your game play include Oscar’s Grind, Pyramid System and the Small Budget Progressions.

Continue to Part II – Baccarat Strategy & Tips

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