Overview of Baccarat

Updated: September 27, 2026

Baccarat is easy to learn, but its simplicity belies a game that has tormented players for centuries and resulted in mountains of money changing hands. While modern innovations allow the game to be played in the privacy of your own home, the stereotypical image of a Baccarat game involves elegantly dressed individuals competing in the high roller section of a casino. No wonder it is the favorite game of the fictional superspy James Bond.

In this article, we will provide an overview of Baccarat. The basic rules of the most popular versions of the game are explained, as well as the advantages of playing online. While Lady Luck may not smile on you more often after reading this document, at least you will not feel lost when you sit down at a high-stakes table.

Standard Baccarat Rules

No matter which version of Baccarat you play, the basic rules remain the same. In this section, we will cover the basics of the game. The rules are simple yet engaging.

All Baccarat games are decided by comparing the total of the player's hand to the dealer's hand. The hand with the higher total is declared the winner (9 being the highest possible number), and there are three possible outcomes: the player wins, the dealer wins, or there is a tie.

• Spieler gewinnt
• Banker gewinnt
• Tie;

Cards have the following point values:

• Aces are worth 1 point
• Kings, Queens, Jacks and 10s are worth 0 points
• 2s through 9s are worth their face value
• Jokers are not used in Baccarat;

Baccarat has a special system for judging the value of a hand (also called a "coup"). First, the values of the cards are added up. If the sum is a single digit, that is the total. If it is a two-digit number, use only the rightmost digit to find your total. Winning requires a good understanding of these rules. Here are a few examples:

• If you have a king and a 10, the value of your hand is 0, because both of these cards are worth 0 points. If you have a pair of 9s, the value of your hand is 8, because 8 is the correct digit in the original total of 18. If you have a 2 and a 7, then you have a total of 9;

Standard Baccarat Rules

There are two main forms of Baccarat, but some casinos offer slight variations on the rules. This section contains the versions you are likely to find in gaming establishments around the world.

Punto Banco

If you play in Canada, the United States or the United Kingdom, this is the version of Baccarat you are most likely to encounter. There are hands assigned to the player and the banker, although the dealer manages both according to strict drawing rules. The game is played with 4, 6 or 8 decks of cards.

Both the player and the dealer are dealt two cards face up to start the round. If either side has an 8 or 9, they win. Winning Player bets pay even money, while winning Banker bets pay a 5% commission to the house. In the event of a tie, the Player and Banker bets are carried over to the next round, and tie bets pay 8 to 1.

If no winner has been determined after the initial two-card draw, then the following rules are consulted:

• The player does not receive a third card if their total is a 6 or 7
• if the player has a total of 0 to 5, then they receive a third card
• if the player does not receive an additional card, then the dealer follows the same rules previously listed;

When the player takes a third card, the dealer is subject to the following rules for drawing:

• Banker stands on a total of 7.
• Banker draws on a total of 2 or less.
• Banker draws a third card on a total of 3 (the only exception is if the player's third card was an 8).
• Banker draws a third card on a total of 4 if the player's third card was 2 through 7.Banker draws a third card on a total of 5 if the player's third card was 4 through 7
• Banker draws a third card on a total of 6 if the player's third card was a 6 or 7
• If none of these conditions are met, the dealer does not draw a third card;

Since 6- and 8-deck games are the most common, let us look at the house edge for both. The player and banker bets are the same for both, with 1.06% for player bets and 1.24% for banker bets. A tie bet in a six-deck game carries a house edge of 14.44%, while it drops to 14.36% in an eight-deck game.

Baccarat Chemin de Fer

This is the original version of Baccarat and is still very popular in France and the Principality of Monaco. The game is played with six decks of cards, and the role of banker alternates between the players.

The banker begins by betting any amount he wishes. Each player then has the opportunity to match the banker's entire bet (this is known as "going bank"). If no player chooses to go bank, then everyone at the table can make smaller bets. If this amount still does not equal the banker's bet, then people sitting around the table can also contribute to the bet.

If the player's combined wager exceeds the dealer's initial wager, the player has the option to match the new total. Otherwise, the excess amount is ignored.

Players win or lose as a group and are dealt two cards face down (just like the dealer). The player who bets the most represents the group during the hand.

If either the banker or player has an 8 or 9, the hand is over and a winner is declared. If not, the player may choose to be dealt a third card. Once the banker sees the final total of the players, he may also choose to take a third card.

The totals are then compared to determine the winner. If the banker wins, he receives all of the players' bets and remains the dealer for the next round. If the players win, they receive their bets plus an equal amount from the banker. The next player then becomes the dealer for the next hand. If the hand ends in a tie, the bets carry over to the next round.

Super 6/Punto 2000

Known by a variety of names, the difference in this game is that winning banker bets pay even money instead of the traditional 95%. However, if the banker wins with a 6, the payout is only 50%. On a banker bet, the house edge is increased from 1.058% to 1.46%. In most cases, the game moves at a faster pace because the house commission on winning banker bets does not have to be calculated, although a banker win with a six still requires additional accounting.

EZ Baccarat

• A winning banker bet pays even money, except when the hand contains three cards and equals a total of 7. When this occurs, the hand is considered a push. This lowers the house edge on a banker bet from 1.058% to 1.018%.
• The Dragon 7 side bet is good for one hand and pays when the banker wager wins with three cards and a final score of seven. This wager has a house edge of 7.61% and pays 40-to-1.
• The Panda 8 side bet is good for one hand and pays when the player bet wins with three cards and a score of eight. This wager has a house edge of 10.18% and pays 25-to-1.

Mini Baccarat

This version of the game is offered to players with smaller bankrolls and can be found in most online and land-based casinos. The rules usually follow those of Punto Banco, although the game is played at a smaller table with a single dealer. A standard shoe is used to deal the cards, and the table stakes are less ambitious than those found in the high roller section.

Online Live Dealer Baccarat

Playing Baccarat with a live dealer at a land-based casino is to be expected, but some online casinos are now offering the option. While you cannot chat or otherwise interact with the dealer on the other side of your monitor, it is a welcome change from the stale computer graphics.

This is accomplished with streaming technology, and it is traditional for dealers to use oversized cards to ensure that the player can see what is going on. When the player makes a bet or in-game decision, those actions are relayed to the house.

Here are few advantages of playing live dealer baccarat on the Internet:

You can choose the betting limits that best suit your budget. While this may vary from place to place, some of the most common options are 10/100, 30/300, and 50/500.

Many land-based Baccarat games require formal attire in order to sit at the table. This is never the case with the online version, as the dealers do not care if you are wearing a tuxedo or lounging around in the nude.

If you do not like people crowding around you, the virtual version of the game is an attractive option. If you play at home, you can remain isolated or allow only the viewers of your choice.

I do not like people to know what I lost at the Baccarat table, so playing at home is the best way to thwart the curious and the downright nosy.

Most live casino dealers happen to be female, often chosen for their good looks. If you are attracted to women, this provides an appealing backdrop while you play. I have even seen a few casinos where the dealers dress up like Playboy bunnies, which is a big plus in my book.

When you win a bundle playing land-based Baccarat, you still have to walk to your car with your winnings at the end of the night. While it is unlikely that you will be robbed, it is still natural to worry about such events. This is never a concern when you play online, as no one even knows you are gambling.

Baccarat Strategy

Players are always looking for a way to win consistently at casino games, but Baccarat, due to its random nature, is unsuitable for advantage players. Because of this fact, there are only a few words of wisdom that I can offer regarding strategy.

While dressing up in a tuxedo and betting thousands of dollars on a hand of Baccarat is great fun, it is not an option for the majority of casino patrons. Fortunately, there are less expensive versions of the game, especially for those who gamble online. Add in the presence of sexy female dealers dressed in exotic costumes, and it is easy to see why Internet Baccarat continues to grow in popularity.