Baccarat is a game of cards with the aim of guessing whether the Player’s or the Banker’s hand will be the closest to 9 or result in a Tie. In Baccarat card values are the following:
Card values
- Aces are worth 1 point.
- Picture cards are worth 0 points.
- All other cards are worth their face value.
- For any total of 10 or more, only the last digit counts, so a hand’s value is always between 0 and 9.
Placing bets
- The player can bet on the Banker’s box, the Player’s box, or the Tie box.
- A Tie bet can be placed on its own or alongside a Banker or Player bet.
Dealing
- The dealer deals two cards each to the Player and the Banker, alternating between the two hands.
- If either hand totals 8 or 9 with its first two cards, the result is called and no more cards are dealt.
- If neither hand totals 8 or 9, the third-card drawing rules apply, with the Player’s hand drawn first and then the Banker’s.
Third card: Player’s hand
- A third card is drawn when the Player’s two cards total 0 to 5.
- No third card is drawn when they total 6 or 7.
Third card: Banker’s hand
- A third card is drawn when the Banker’s two cards total 0 to 2.
- No third card is drawn when they total 7.
- When the Banker’s two cards total 3 to 6, the third card is drawn according to the Third Card Table.
Third Card Table
A third card is drawn for the Banker’s hand when the Banker’s two initial cards total:
- 3, unless the Player’s third card is an 84, and the Player’s third card is 2 to 75, and the Player’s third card is 4 to 76, and the Player’s third card is 6 or 7
If the Player’s two initial cards total 6 or 7 (so the Player takes no third card):
- A third card is drawn for the Banker’s hand if it totals 3, 4 or 5.No third card is drawn for the Banker’s hand if it totals 6.
Payouts
- A winning bet on the Player pays 1 to 1.
- A winning bet on the Banker pays 19 to 20 (95% of the bet amount).
- A winning bet on Tie pays 8 to 1. In that case, bets on the Banker and the Player are returned.
