How To Play Baccarat - The Basics

There are a few different ways to play the game of baccarat. You can visit a brick and mortar casino in one of the legal gambling districts such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City or the various destinations sprinkled throughout the United States, or you can visit a licensed and reputable online casino offering baccarat games in their menu. Legal online baccarat games are available for legally sanctioned and regulated online casino destinations that accept players from the United States. Some of these casinos also offer live dealer baccarat games that provide online access to playing baccarat with a live dealer. Regardless of which method you use to access baccarat games, the concept and rules remain the same for the game, hence the following instructions will apply to both online and offline baccarat gambling.

What is the Objective of the Game of Baccarat?

The player's only concern in baccarat is where to place their bet. Only two hands are dealt per round, and each player may bet on either of the two hands. The objective of baccarat is to correctly bet on the hand that is closest to nine points.

There are three possible outcomes in a round of baccarat. The player or bank may win, or the player and bank may tie. The player may place their bet on either the player's hand, the banker's hand, or on a tie. Bets are placed on the table before each round begins. The designated areas for bets are marked player, banker and tie.

Point Values

With the exception of ten cards, all numbered cards represent their point values. For instance, a five of diamonds represents five points. All ten cards and face cards are worth zero points. Aces are worth one point. The maximum value that can be reached in a single hand is nine points. If the total exceeds nine, then subtract ten from the number to calculate the new value.

Here are a few examples:

. If the player draws a three and a six, then their total is nine points.

. If the bank draws a king and a two, then their total is two points.

. If the player draws an ace and a four, then their total is five points.

Beginning of a Round

A designated dealer will draw a card for the player and a card for the bank at the beginning of each round. Afterward, one more card for both the player and dealer will be dealt. Initial point totals are gathered after the four cards are revealed. Totals of eight or nine are considered an automatic win and are known as a natural nine or natural eight. If either the player or banker are dealt a total of eight or nine, then the round is over and the winners are paid. If both a natural eight and natural nine are dealt, then the hand that was dealt the natural nine wins. The round continues if neither hand was dealt a natural eight or nine.

The Remaining Cards

The player always receives their third card first. The player will not receive a third card if their total is six, seven, eight or nine. Totals of zero to five will earn the player a third card. Calculate the player's total after the third card is dealt.

The bank will not draw a third card if their total is six, seven, eight or nine. The bank will draw a third card if their initial total is five or below. However, if the bank's total is closer to nine than the player's after the player has drawn their third card, then the bank is automatically the victor. The hand that is closest to nine wins.

Here are a few examples:

. The player draws a one, two and a king. The player's total is three. The bank draws a one, two and four. The bank's total is seven. The bank wins.

. The player draws a four, one and an ace. The player's total is six. The bank draws a five and a two. The bank's total is seven. The bank wins.

Bets

Bets placed on the player and the bank are one-to-one. House rules may require a commission from bets placed on the banker. Bets placed on a tie are eight-to-one. Bets are paid immediately after the final card is dealt in a round.