Learn to Play Baccarat
What is Baccarat? The game itself is very simple and the objective is to bet on the two- or three-card hand that totals closer to 9. There are just three bets that can be made:
- The 'Banker' Hand
- The 'Player' Hand
- The 'Tie' Hand.
A typical Baccarat table, pictured, and can seat up to 14 players (note that because many people are superstitious there is no place for player number 13). However it doesn’t matter how many people are at the table because only two hands are dealt – a “banker” hand and a “player” hand.
The other people and areas of the baccarat table are:
- Dealer ("Croupier" or "caller")
- Dealer ( Pays bets for players 1-7)
- Dealer (Pays bets for players 8-15)
- Drop Box
- Discard Trays
- Tips box
Players simply place the bet in the corresponding area in front of them. The payoff is even money, 1:1 (except for the standoff, which pays 8-1 or 9-1).
Rules for Playing Baccarat
Baccarat is played from a six-deck or an eight-deck 'shoe' box which is passed around the table. It is not mandatory that everyone takes a turn at dealing. Anyone who is uncomfortable with this may pass the shoe on to the next person.
The person holding the shoe is temporarily considered the 'Banker' hand, however this doesn’t mean he must bet on his own hand.
Each baccarat hand consists of a minimum of two and a maximum of three cards. The dealer will put two cards, face down, tucked under the shoe, and gives the player with the largest bet on the other two cards, face down.
All face cards and 10s have no value. Cards less than 10 are counted at face value, Aces are worth 1. Suits don't matter. Only single digit values are valid. Any count that reaches a double digit drops the left digit. 15 is counted as 5 and 25 is also counted as 5.
If either hand has a total of 8 or 9 (nine is the highest), then it is called a 'Natural' and no more cards are dealt. If it is not a natural, then depending on the value of each hand the casino dealer may instruct the card dealer to deal a third card. The decision when to deal a third card follows precise set rules used by all casinos. See third card rules for 'bank' and 'players' hands.
Once dealing is completed, the hand that totals closer to nine wins. The dealer (caller) oversees the hand totals and declares the winning hand. The paying casino dealers will collect the losing bets first and then pay the winning ones.
Third card rules for Baccarat
In Baccarat a third card may be dealt to either or both the player and the bank based on the 'bank' and 'players' three-card-rules. It is not necessary to learn these rules to play, they are compulsory decisions and therefore automatic.
Note: The only difference between the Bank and Player bet is a win on the Bank will cost you 5% commission or tax levied by the casino - the in-built advantage. The reason for taxing the Bank is because it has been established that over an 8-deck cards play on average the Bank will win three to four hands more than the Player.
The Bank Hand naturally wins more because of the many decisions based on the Player Hand’s third card rule. This is why the house charges the commission.
