What Is Baccarat?
Baccarat is a comparing card game played between two hands: the Player and the Banker. Despite the intimidating atmosphere often associated with it in films, baccarat requires no complex decisions from the player. Your only job is to bet on which hand will come closest to a total of 9.
This simplicity is exactly why baccarat has become one of the most popular card games worldwide, both in land-based casinos and online platforms.
How Card Values Work
- Aces are worth 1 point
- Cards 2–9 are worth their face value
- 10s, Jacks, Queens, Kings are worth 0 points
When a hand's total exceeds 9, only the second digit counts. So a hand of 7 + 8 = 15 becomes a score of 5. A hand of 9 + 9 = 18 becomes 8.
The Three Bets You Can Make
- Player Bet: You wager that the Player hand will win. Pays 1:1 with no commission.
- Banker Bet: You wager that the Banker hand will win. Pays 1:1 minus a 5% commission — but this is statistically the best bet at the table.
- Tie Bet: You wager both hands will end with the same total. Usually pays 8:1, but carries a very high house edge and is generally not recommended.
The Drawing Rules (Third Card Rule)
The game automatically follows a set of rules to determine whether a third card is dealt. You don't make this decision — it's fixed by the game:
- If either hand has a total of 8 or 9 (a "natural"), no more cards are drawn.
- If the Player hand totals 0–5, the Player draws a third card.
- The Banker draws based on its own total and the Player's third card, following a specific rule table.
You don't need to memorize these rules — the game handles it automatically in both live and online versions.
House Edge Comparison
| Bet Type | House Edge | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Banker | ~1.06% | Best option — bet here most often |
| Player | ~1.24% | Acceptable alternative |
| Tie | ~14.4% | Avoid — very unfavorable odds |
Simple Strategy Tips
- Always favour the Banker bet — even after commission, it has the lowest house edge in baccarat.
- Avoid chasing patterns. Baccarat scorecards (roads) are popular, but each hand is statistically independent. Past results don't predict future outcomes.
- Set a session budget. Baccarat moves quickly. Decide your loss limit before you start and stick to it.
- Skip the Tie bet entirely. The payout looks attractive, but the house edge makes it a poor long-term wager.
Final Thoughts
Baccarat is an ideal game for players who want a low house edge without needing to master complex strategy. By sticking to the Banker bet and managing your bankroll sensibly, you give yourself the best possible chance of an enjoyable session. It's one of the few casino games where the correct strategy is genuinely straightforward.