How to play Baccarat
Learn the basics of baccarat and how to play it
Written By _flush_f0x_
Last updated 14 days ago
Baccarat has a reputation as a high-roller’s game, but it’s actually one of the simplest in the casino: two hands are dealt, the Player and the Banker, and you bet on which one will finish closer to a total of 9. You don’t play a hand yourself, and after your bet is placed there are no decisions to make: every card is drawn by fixed rules.
“Player” doesn’t mean you
The Player and Banker are just the names of the two hands, like heads and tails. You can bet on either side freely, and the Banker bet is in fact the slightly better one. Neither hand belongs to you or the casino.
Card values
Baccarat counts cards differently from blackjack: tens and face cards are worth nothing, and hand totals only ever use the last digit — so a hand can never bust.
Figure 1 — Card values and the last-digit rule: 7+8 = 15, which counts as 5
The table
Figure 2 — The three main bets: Player, Banker and Tie
How a round works
Place your bet on Player, Banker or Tie (or a combination) before the timer ends.
Two cards are dealt to each hand, Player first.
If either hand’s first two cards total 8 or 9, a natural, both hands stand and the round ends immediately.
Otherwise the third-card rules are applied automatically: first to the Player hand, then to the Banker hand (see below). Neither hand ever takes more than one extra card.
Totals are compared: the hand closer to 9 wins, and bets are settled. Equal totals mean Tie bets win and Player/Banker bets are returned as a push on most tables.
The third-card rules
This is the part with a reputation for complexity, but online, the game applies every rule for you, instantly and identically every time. You never need to memorise them; this is just so you can follow what’s happening.
Figure 3 — The drawing rules: simple for the Player hand, reactive for the Banker hand
The Banker’s reactive rule is why the Banker bet wins slightly more often: it acts last, with the advantage of seeing the Player hand’s third card. The 5% commission on Banker wins exists precisely to claw that advantage back, and even after commission, Banker remains the best bet on the table.
Payouts and odds
Payouts are quoted as X:1 on your stake. Banker wins are paid at 1:1 minus a 5% commission, effectively 0.95:1, which the game deducts automatically.
Figure 4 — House edge by bet: Banker and Player are close; Tie is a different league
No-commission tables: how the balance works
Some tables skip the 5% commission on Banker wins, with one twist: a Banker win on a total of 6 pays half. That keeps the game balanced (the Banker edge lands around 1.46%), and the info panel tells you which style your table runs, so you always know the deal before the first hand.
Good to know
The roads are part of the ritual. The grids of red and blue circles tracking past results are a beloved baccarat tradition: read them like tea leaves, enjoy the patterns, and know that each new hand is dealt fresh either way.
Banker is the connoisseur’s bet. At a 1.06% edge, Banker is one of the very best bets in the entire casino, with Player barely behind at 1.24%. The Tie is the table’s long shot: an 8:1 thrill to sprinkle in, not to build a session on.
Side bets add spice. Pairs and other extras run a heavier edge than the main bets, so treat them as an occasional flourish on top of a hand.
The squeeze is pure showmanship. In live squeeze baccarat the dealer peels each card slowly for maximum suspense. It changes nothing about the maths and everything about the atmosphere: lean in and enjoy it.
Play your way. Fast rounds, one simple choice, and some of the best odds around: set your budget, pick your side, and enjoy the ride.
Was this helpful?
Still need help? Ask the team