How to Play Baccarat
Master baccarat with our expert guide to gameplay.
How to Play Baccarat Online to Win Real Money
Introduction to Baccarat
Quick Facts About Baccarat
- First documented in France in the early 1800s
- Low house edge: 1.06% on the Banker bet
- No skill required - purely chance-based
- Simple to learn, fast to play
- Popular among high rollers
- Available online and in land casinos
Baccarat is one of the simplest casino games to learn and play. Unlike poker or blackjack, there are no complex decisions to make - you simply bet on one of three outcomes and let the cards fall where they may. This simplicity, combined with its low house edge, makes baccarat an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced players.
Game Rules and Objective
The Goal of Baccarat
Bet on which hand will have a total closest to 9:
Player Hand (Punto)
- Pays 1:1 (Even Money)
- Example:
You bet $20 on Player
Player wins with 8 vs Banker's 5
You receive: $40 total
• Original $20 bet
• Plus $20 winnings
Banker Hand (Banco)
- Pays 0.95:1 (5% commission)
- Example:
You bet $20 on Banker
Banker wins with 9 vs Player's 7
You receive: $39 total
• Original $20 bet
• Plus $19 winnings
(After 5% commission)
Tie Bet
- Pays 8:1
- Example:
You bet $20 on Tie
Both hands tie at 6
You receive: $180 total
• Original $20 bet
• Plus $160 winnings
(8 times your bet)
Card Values in Baccarat
Number Cards (2-9)
Worth their face value
Example:
7 of Hearts = 7 points
Face Cards & Tens
Worth zero points
Example:
King of Spades = 0 points
Aces
Worth one point
Example:
Ace of Diamonds = 1 point
Adding Card Values
Only the rightmost digit counts
Example:
7 + 6 = 13 = 3 points
How a Round is Played
- 1
Place Your Bet
Choose to bet on Player, Banker, or Tie before cards are dealt
- 2
Initial Deal
Two cards are dealt to both Player and Banker positions
- 3
Check for a Natural
If either hand totals 8 or 9 on its first two cards, that is a "natural". No more cards are drawn, and the higher hand wins.
- 4
Drawing Rules
If neither hand has a natural, the dealer follows the fixed third-card rules below. Nobody at the table decides anything.
- 5
Determine Winner
The hand closest to 9 wins. If both hands finish on the same total, the round is a tie: Tie bets win, and Player and Banker bets are returned.
Third-Card Rules
Neither hand ever gets more than three cards, and the Player hand always acts first. The rules are fixed: the dealer applies them, and you never choose whether a hand draws.
The Player Hand
- Total of 0 to 5: draws a third card
- Total of 6 or 7: stands
- Total of 8 or 9: a natural, so neither hand draws
The Banker Hand, When the Player Stands
- Total of 0 to 5: draws a third card
- Total of 6 or 7: stands
- Total of 8 or 9: a natural, so neither hand draws
The Banker Hand, When the Player Draws
If the Player hand took a third card, the Banker's move depends on its own two-card total and on the value of the card the Player drew:
| Banker's Total | Banker Draws When the Player's Third Card Is |
|---|---|
| 0, 1 or 2 | Any card: the Banker always draws |
| 3 | Any card except an 8 |
| 4 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 |
| 5 | 4, 5, 6 or 7 |
| 6 | 6 or 7 |
| 7 | No card: the Banker always stands |
On any other third card, the Banker stands. A third card counts at its baccarat value, so 0 means a ten or a face card and 1 means an ace. To watch these rules play out hand by hand, try the Baccarat Simulator, which deals by exactly this table.
Betting Options and Payouts
Player Bet
- Payout: 1:1 (Even Money)
- Example:
You bet $10 and win
You get back: $20 total
• Your original $10 bet
• Plus $10 in winnings - House Edge: 1.24%
- No Commission
Banker Bet
- Payout: 0.95:1 (5% commission taken)
- Example:
You bet $10 and win
You get back: $19.50 total
• Your original $10 bet
• Plus $9.50 in winnings
(After 5% commission) - House Edge: 1.06%
- Best odds despite commission
Tie Bet
- Payout: 8:1 or 9:1
- Example (8:1):
You bet $10 and win
You get back: $90 total
• Your original $10 bet
• Plus $80 in winnings
(8 times your bet) - House Edge: 14.36%
- Not recommended due to high house edge
Understanding Payouts
When you win a bet in baccarat, you always get your original bet back plus your winnings. Here's how it works:
Player Hand (1:1 payout)
The simplest bet - you win the same amount you bet. A $20 bet wins you another $20.
Banker Hand (0.95:1 payout)
You win 95% of your bet amount (after 5% commission). A $20 bet wins you $19.
Tie (8:1 payout)
You win 8 times your bet amount. A $20 bet wins you $160.
Side Bets
Many casinos offer exciting side bets with higher payouts:
Player/Banker Pair (11:1)
Bet that the first two cards dealt will be a pair.
You bet $10 on Player Pair
Player gets: 8♠ 8♣
You receive: $120 total
• Original $10 bet
• Plus $110 winnings
House Edge: 10.36% (8 decks)
Perfect Pair (25:1 to 200:1)
Bet on getting a pair of the same suit.
You bet $10 on Perfect Pair
Banker gets: K♥ K♥
You receive: $260 total
• Original $10 bet
• Plus $250 winnings
House Edge: 8.05% (8 decks, 25:1 for one hand, 200:1 for both)
Dragon Bonus (Up to 30:1)
Bet on natural wins or winning margins.
You bet $10 on Dragon Bonus
Player wins by 9 points
You receive: $310 total
• Original $10 bet
• Plus $300 winnings
House Edge: 9.37% on Banker, 2.65% on Player
Big (0.54:1) / Small (1.5:1)
Bet on total cards dealt in the round.
You bet $10 on Big (5-6 cards)
Round uses 5 cards total
You receive: $15.40 total
• Original $10 bet
• Plus $5.40 winnings
House Edge: 4.35% on Big, 5.27% on Small
Basic Baccarat Strategy
Best Practices for Beginners
Always Bet on Banker
Despite the 5% commission, the Banker bet has the lowest house edge (1.06%)
Avoid Tie Bets
The high house edge (14.36%) makes this bet poor value
Manage Your Bankroll
Set win/loss limits and stick to them
Skip Side Bets
These typically have much higher house edges
Pro Tips for Success
Bankroll Management
- Set clear win/loss limits
- Bet 1-2% of bankroll per hand
- Take breaks after big wins/losses
- Track your results
Common Mistakes
- Chasing losses
- Playing tie bets
- Using progressive systems
- Ignoring table limits
Table Selection
- Check minimum bets
- Verify commission rate
- Look for side bet options
- Consider table atmosphere
Game Preparation
- Learn all rules thoroughly
- Practice free games first
- Start with small bets
- Keep emotion out of decisions
Baccarat Variations
While we've covered the core rules of traditional baccarat, the game has evolved into several exciting variations over its rich history. From the original Chemin de Fer played in French casinos to modern Speed Baccarat and No Commission variants, each version offers its own unique twist on the classic game.
Some popular variations include:
Punto Banco
The most common version in North American and online casinos
Speed Baccarat
Fast-paced version with 27-second rounds
No Commission
Modified rules eliminate the 5% banker commission
Discover the complete history of baccarat and learn about all its variations
Where to Play Baccarat for Real Money
Once you know the rules, these are the three online casinos we rate highest for baccarat: all carry Evolution live tables with Speed Baccarat and No Commission variants, and a bonus you can actually use at the live tables. None accepts US players; for US options see the full comparison.
Wild.io
10% daily live-games cashback, code LIVE
Accepts US players: No
Play at Wild.io (Partner Link)
Bitcasino.io
100% up to 1,500 USDT (30x)
Accepts US players: No
Play at Bitcasino.io (Partner Link)
Sportsbet.io
100% up to 300 USDT (40x)
Accepts US players: No
Play at Sportsbet.io (Partner Link)
Partner links. Every figure above comes from the operator's own pages – see the full comparison for terms, minimums and how we verify what we publish. Yes* means some US states are excluded.
Ready to Play Baccarat?
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