How to Play Baccarat (2024)

Understanding the Rules of Baccarat

To understand the game of Baccarat, including online Baccarat, you first need to get familiar with the cards and what each of the cards means.

In addition to this, you also need to learn about the Bacaratt table and the dealer, how they affect the game, and why they are important.

Baccarat Cards

There are three different types of cards that are used in Baccarat and each of them have a different value, which is the basis of the game. After all, the goal of the game is to come as close as you can to a point total of nine, without going over.

The cards come from a standard 52-card deck. Baccarat is usually played with eight or six decks, although sometimes it can be played with just one deck. The cards are divided into three types based on their values, so let’s examine this more closely.

Number Cards

Cards from 2 to 9 are all worth their face value in points and they are known as the number cards. That means that 2s are worth two points, 3s are worth three points, and so on.

So, the number card with the highest value in Baccarat is 9, which is worth nine points. Given the objective of the game, getting one 9 and one face card (worth zero points) is enough to make that hand a winning one.

Face Cards

Unlike number cards, face cards have no point value. That goes for tens, jacks, queens, and kings, which are all considered face cards.

So, given that they have no point value, or that they are valued at zero points, face cards don’t really affect your hand, which can sometimes be a good thing, while in other situations it can be a bad thing.

Aces

The last type of card in Baccarat are aces, which are in the category of their own. Their point value is one and in many cases, aces can be very valuable.

After all, in most cases, aces will bring you closer to having the point value of nine, which is the goal of the game.

Baccarat Table

The layout and design of Baccarat tables aren’t always the same and they depend on many factors, including the size of the casino and even where the casino is located.

For example, some baccarat tables may omit the number 13 due to superstitions, while in Asia, the number 4 might be omitted for the same reasons because it is often associated with death.

That being said, the main reason why Baccarat tables can differ in layout is the size of the casino and, consequently, the size of the table:

• Mini Baccarat Table — These tables are commonly found in Asian casinos. They can sit up to six or seven players, with the dealer seated at a centre. Due to the lower number of players, Baccarat played at these tables is usually faster in pace.
• Midi Baccarat Table — As the name implies, this is a mid-size Baccarat table and it can seat up to nine players.
• Full-Size Baccarat Table — The standard, full-sized Baccarat table can seat up to fourteen players and they usually have higher limits, meaning that they are reserved for high-rollers. These tables also have two dealers and a caller, with the caller at the centre and the dealers on the sides, each of them dealing for half of the table.

Online Baccarat Table

In addition to Baccarat tables found at land-based casinos, there are also online Baccarat tables and they usually have a much simpler design.

Usually, there is only one spot reserved for the player, with the dealer placed on the other side. However, some live casino Baccarat tables you can find online have more complex layouts and can seat multiple players.

The Dealer in Baccarat

The dealer in Baccarat is also called the Banker and their job is to deal cards and follow all the rules of the game when doing so.

At the start of the game, the Banker calls for all bets to be placed and once the chips are placed on the table, they can’t be moved anymore.

After that, the Banker deals two hands — one is the Banker’s hand, and the other is the Player’s hand. The players can then again place their bets on either of the two hands, or they can bet on a tie.

Baccarat Rules

Baccarat rules can vary from one version of the game to another, but there are some basic rules that are pretty much the same in all variants. In any case, we will focus on the rules for classic Baccarat here.

Standard Baccarat is commonly played with six or eight decks of cards. The game starts with players placing bets and the dealer (the Banker) then deals two hands. As we already said, one is called the Banker’s hand, the other the Player’s hand. No matter how many players are playing at a table, the dealer only deals two hands.

The game then proceeds with players placing bets on the hand they expect to win, or they can also place a bet on a tie, which means that both the Banker’s hand and the Player’s hand will end up with the same number of points.

The hand that comes closer to having a point total of nine wins. So, it is important to know how the hand values are calculated in Baccarat.

Hand Values in Baccarat

As we mentioned before, aces in Baccarat are worth one point, cards from 2 to 9 are worth face value, and cards from 10 to king are worth zero points.

The hand values in Baccarat are calculated by taking into account their value, i.e. by adding them together. For example, if the Banker’s hand has 2 and 7, the total value of that hand is 9.

However, if the total value of a hand is in double digits, then only the second digit is taken into account. For example, if the Player’s hand has 8 and 7, the total value is 15, but since we are only looking at the second digit, the final hand value is actually 5.

If the Player’s or Banker’s hand hits a total value of 8 or 9, it is called a natural win and no more cards are dealt. However, if the total value of a hand is lower than 8, a third card may be drawn, depending on the total hand value and whose hand it is.

Third Card Rule

As we said, in some cases, a third card will be dealt to either the Player’s or the Banker’s hand or to both of them.

There are strict and specific rules that explain when this happens, so let’s take a better look at when exactly is the third card dealt for each hand.

Player’s Hand

If the Player’s total value is less than or equal to 5, then the Player’s hand draws a third card.

However, if the Player’s hand has a value of 6 or 7, then the Player has to stand and will not draw the third card.

Of course, if the Player’s hand hits 8 or 9, then that’s a natural win and no more cards are drawn.

Banker’s Hand

The third card rule for the Banker’s hand is a bit more complicated.

The Banker’s hand always wins if the first two cards have a total value of 8 or 9. On top of that, the Banker will always draw the third card if the total value of the hand is 0, 1, or 2 after the first two cards.

However, further rules depend on the third card drawn by the Player, who is always dealt first and the rules are as follows:

• If the Banker’s hand value is 3, the third card will be dealt if the Player’s third card is any value other than 8. If the third card dealt to the Player’s hand is 8, the Banker has to stand.
• If the Banker’s hand value is 4, the third card will be dealt if the Player’s third card is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7. If the third card dealt to the Player’s hand is 1, 8, 9, or 0, the Banker has to stand.
• If the Banker’s hand value is 5, the third card will be dealt if the Player’s third card is 4, 5, 6, or 7. If the third card dealt to the Player’s hand is 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, or 0, the Banker has to stand.
• If the Banker’s hand value is 6, the third card will be dealt if the Player’s third card is 6 or 7. If the third card dealt to the Player’s hand is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, or 0, the Banker has to stand.
• If the Banker’s hand value is 7, the Banker won’t draw the third card and will have to stand, regardless of the third card drawn by the Player’s hand

Baccarat Bets

You can place a wide variety of bets when playing Baccarat, some of which can be different from one version of the game to another.

However, there are two kinds of bets that you can place at the classic Baccarat – the main bets and the side bets. So, let’s take a closer look at these bets now.

Baccarat Bet Types

As we mentioned already, you can either place one of the main bets or one of the side bets when playing Baccarat.

Baccarat Main Bets

• Banker Bet — This is the bet that you place if you want to bet on the Banker’s hand to win. The payout on this bet is 9:20, while the odds of winning are 45.87%.
• Player Bet — This bet is placed when you want to bet on the Player’s hand to win. The payout is 1:1 and the odds of winning are 44.63%.
• Tie Bet — The last of the main bets is the Tie Bet, which means that you’re betting on the Banker’s and Player’s hands to have the same value. The payout is 8:1, while the odds of winning are 9.51%.

Side Bets

There is a wide variety of side bets that are available when playing Baccarat, so we will stick to a few of the most popular ones here:

• Player Pair — The first two cards dealt to the Player have the same value
• Banker Pair — The first two cards dealt to the Banker have the same value
• Either Pair — The first two cards dealt either to the Player or the Banker have the same value
• Small — The total number of cards dealt in the game is four
• Big — The total number of cards dealt in the game is five or six
• Super Six — The value of the winning Banker’s hand is six

Baccarat House Edge

One important thing to keep in mind when playing Baccarat and placing your bets is the house edge, which represents the advantage that the casino has over the players.

The house edge is different for each of the bets. For example, the house edge for the Banker Bet is 1.04%, 1.24% for the Player Bet, and 14.366% for the Tie Bet.

In addition to this, the house edge for side bets is pretty high, which is why placing side bets is more risky than placing the main bets, especially the Banker or the Player Bet.

For example, the house edge or Player Pair or Banker Pair is 11.25%, for Either Pair it is 14.54%, and for the Super Six a whopping 29.98%.

How to Play Baccarat and Win

Although it is impossible to win at Baccarat at all times, some things that you can do might help you win more often.

Different strategies, as well as tips and tricks, can improve your chances of winning at Baccarat. So, let’s take a closer look at some of these tips right now.

Learn Baccarat Rules

Before commencing your Baccarat gaming experience, it is essential to familiarise yourself with the game’s rules. We have already presented you with the fundamental rules, which should serve as a good starting point to grasp the game.

However, Baccarat has a lot of rules and some of them can differ from one version of the game to another, which is why it is very important to make sure that you have knowledge of the rules before you start playing.

Choose a Baccarat Variation

As previously stated in the article, Baccarat is available in numerous versions, and the key to success often lies in selecting the appropriate Baccarat variation to play.

Among the most popular variations are Punto Banco, Baccarat Chemin de Fer, and Baccarat Banque. Take the time to read and understand these variants thoroughly, allowing you to make an informed decision based on your preferences.

By acquainting yourself with the various options and choosing the one that aligns best with your style of play, you can enhance your chances of winning.

Read Baccarat Winning Tips

Although Baccarat largely relies on luck, similar to poker, skill plays a role in the game. Consequently, there are specific tips and strategies that can enhance your Baccarat proficiency and increase your likelihood of winning.

If you desire to delve deeper into these strategies and tips, we recommend reading our article dedicated to winning at Baccarat. By doing so, you can gain valuable insights to elevate your gameplay and improve your overall success rate.

Choose a Casino From Our Lists

Playing Baccarat at online casinos can be an enjoyable experience, but maximising your chances of winning requires selecting a reputable casino.

To facilitate your decision, explore our lists of the best online casinos in India, each offering various Baccarat versions. This way, you can opt for the version that suits your preferences while ensuring that you are playing at a trustworthy and reliable casino.

Try Baccarat for Free

If you don’t have a lot of experience with Baccarat, the best thing to do is to practice for free. You can do this at many online casinos in India since most of them offer a Demo Mode of the game.

So, choose this mode and play for fun until you are confident that you have the necessary knowledge of the game rules and mechanics and that you’re ready to play for real money.

Manage Your Bankroll and Enjoy Your Game

One of the key things for successful gambling of any kind, which includes playing Baccarat, is learning how to manage your bankroll. Setting up a budget and sticking to it is important to avoid the dangers of gambling and to ensure that you’re not spending more money than you can afford.

That is just one of the good practices that ensure responsible gambling. After all, gambling is a fun activity and it should only be seen as that and not as a way to earn money. So, just have fun and enjoy your Baccarat game.

Implement Your Baccarat Rules Knowledge

Now that you have knowledge of Baccarat rules and gameplay mechanics, you can put it to the test at one of many online casinos in India.

With that in mind, we have prepared a detailed list of Indian casinos where you can find and play Baccarat, so check it out to find the right casino for you.