What Is Baccarat?
Baccarat is one of the oldest and most elegant card games in any casino. Despite its reputation for high-stakes glamour, the rules are surprisingly simple — making it one of the most accessible table games for new players. The goal is to bet on which of two hands, the Player or the Banker, will have a total closest to 9.
The Basics: Card Values
Understanding card values is the first step to understanding baccarat. Here's how each card is counted:
- Aces are worth 1 point.
- Cards 2–9 are worth their face value.
- 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings are worth 0 points.
If the total of a hand exceeds 9, only the second digit counts. For example, a hand of 7 and 8 totals 15, but the baccarat value is 5.
The Three Betting Options
Before any cards are dealt, you place a bet on one of three outcomes:
- Player Win — you bet the Player hand will be closer to 9.
- Banker Win — you bet the Banker hand will be closer to 9.
- Tie — you bet both hands will finish with the same total.
That's it. You don't play a hand yourself — you simply predict the outcome.
How a Round Is Played
Once bets are placed, the dealer follows a strict set of rules called the tableau. Here's the sequence of a typical round:
- The dealer deals two cards face-up to the Player position and two cards to the Banker position.
- If either hand totals 8 or 9, this is called a Natural — no more cards are drawn and the round ends.
- If the Player total is 5 or less, the Player draws a third card.
- The Banker's decision to draw is based on the Banker's total and, in some cases, the value of the Player's third card.
- The hand closest to 9 wins. Winning Player bets pay 1:1. Winning Banker bets pay 1:1 minus a 5% commission. Tie bets typically pay 8:1.
A Quick Example Round
| Hand | Card 1 | Card 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | 6 | 3 | 9 (Natural!) |
| Banker | King | 7 | 7 |
In this example, the Player hand wins with a Natural 9. No further cards are drawn.
Key Takeaways for Beginners
- You never need to memorise when to draw — the rules are automatic and handled by the dealer.
- The Banker bet has a slightly lower house edge than the Player bet, making it a statistically safer choice.
- The Tie bet may seem attractive at 8:1, but it carries a significantly higher house edge.
- Baccarat moves quickly — keep track of your bankroll and set a session limit before you sit down.
Ready to Go Deeper?
Once you're comfortable with the basics, explore our guides on baccarat betting strategies, reading the scoreboard, and the differences between baccarat variants like Mini Baccarat and Chemin de Fer. The game rewards calm, informed players — and you've just taken the first step.