How to Play Baccarat: A Comprehensive Beginner's Guide

Card Values and Scoring

In baccarat, an Ace is counted as 1. Cards numbered 2 through 9 are counted at their face value. The 10 card and all face cards are counted as 0. If the total sum of a hand exceeds 9, the first digit is dropped. For example, a hand consisting of a 7 and an 8 results in a total of 5. The highest possible total in the game is 9.

Betting Options and Payouts

A bettor can place a wager on the Player hand or the Banker hand. The terms Player and Banker refer to both the specific bets and the two hands in the game. A side bet is also available on a Tie. The winner of a round is the hand that reaches the greater total.

A winning Player bet pays out at even money, which is 1 to 1. A winning Banker bet pays 19 to 20, which is equivalent to even money minus a 5 percent commission. Most casinos pay 8 to 1 on a Tie bet, while some casinos pay 9 to 1. If a round ends in a tie, the Player and Banker bets push and are returned to the bettor.

House Edge and Rules

The house edge for a Banker bet is 1.06 percent when using eight decks. The house edge for a Player bet is 1.24 percent with eight decks. The house edge for a Tie bet is 14.36 percent with eight decks. These house edge figures change based on the number of decks used and the specific payout rules.

If either the Player or Banker hand is dealt a natural, which is a total of 8 or 9, both hands stand. If a natural is not dealt, the Player hand draws one additional card if the total is 5 or less. The Player hand stands if the total is 6 or 7. If the Player hand stands on a 6 or 7, the Banker hand draws a third card on a total of 5 or less and stands on a total of 6 or 7. If the Player hand draws a card, the decision for the Banker hand depends on its own total and the third card of the Player, following a fixed table.