How to Learn Baccarat in Less Than 4 Minutes

What Is the Goal of Baccarat?

The goal of baccarat is to pick a hand with the highest total. You will pick between the Player and Banker to see which side will have the highest score, from 0 to 9. The two sides will receive two cards each, plus there's a potential for one or both sides to get a third card.

How Does a Baccarat Hand Work?

Here is how a typical baccarat hand will work:

1. The dealer will have six decks of cards, ensuring a greater variety of cards on the table.
2. You will then place a bet on one of three spots. You can bet on the Banker or Player to have a higher score, or you can place a tie bet if you feel the game will end in a draw.
3. The dealer then deals two cards to both the Banker and Player, with all cards appearing face-up. The two sides will receive alternating cards, with the Player getting the first one.
4. The cards are counted based on their values. 10 and face cards all have a 0, while ace cards are worth 1. In cases where the total goes over 10, the second digit is the only one counted.
5. Each side could have a third card, depending on the initial results. The Player always receives the first of these third cards, and there can be times when the Banker doesn't draw a third card.
6. The winner will be the side that has the higher score at the end. 9 is the highest possible score, and 0 is the lowest.

For example, the Player may have a Jack and 10, while the Banker has an ace and 7. The Banker will have an 8-0 lead, giving the Banker the win. Meanwhile, a hand where the Player has a Jack and 8 and the Banker is at 6 and 10 will have the Player winning at 8-6.

Note: The card’s suites are completely irrelevant in Baccarat.

What Dictates Whether a Third Card Is Drawn?

Sometimes one or both sides will draw a third card after the first two appear on the table. There are a few rules that will dictate if the Player will get a third card and if the Banker will also get one:

• Both sides will stand if the Banker's first two cards total a 7 or greater.
• The Player will draw another card if the score of the first two cards is 5 or lower.
• The Banker and Player will both draw a third card if the Banker's total is 2 or lower.

When the Banker's Score Is From 3 to 6

The Player will also draw a third card in some cases when the Banker has a score from 3 to 6. The rules are as follows:

• 3 - Hit when the player's two cards total anything but 8
• 4 - Hit when the player's total is from 2 to 7
• 5 - Hit when the player's total is from 4 to 7
• 6 - Hit if the player's total is 6 or 7

How Can a Game End In a Tie?

It is possible for a game of baccarat to end in a tie. The tie can occur after each side gets either two or three cards.

For example, the Player and Banker will get an 8 on the first two cards. The game will end in a tie.

Another example will involve the Player getting a 6 and 8 and the Banker getting a King and ace. Both sides will draw a third card, as the Player has a 4-0 lead. If the Player gets a Jack and the dealer gets a 4, the game ends in a 4-4 draw.

What Are the Payouts?

The payouts for a game of baccarat are as follows:

• A successful bet on the Player offers an even money payout. If you bet $5 on the Player and the Player wins, you get $5, and your $5 bet is returned.
• A winning bet on the Banker is also an even money bet, but a 5% commission is reduced. A winning $5 bet on the Banker will give you $4.75 plus your $5 wager, as the dealer takes $0.25. The commission can be rounded up to the next quarter in some cases.
• A tie wager offers an 8:1 or 9:1 payout depending on the table, so a winning $5 tie bet will give you $40 or $45 plus your $5 wager.

Natural Side Bets

Some baccarat tables may offer natural side bets where you can place an additional wager alongside your initial one. The extra pick will entail predicting if the side you choose gets a natural 8 or 9, meaning the Banker or Player gets a two-card hand that totals 8 or 9. You can get an 8:1 or 9:1 payout if your natural side bet is successful, but the side that gets the natural must be the one you picked to get the natural hand. The side with the natural must also win the initial bet, as a natural 9 will always beat a natural 8.

A Final Word

Baccarat is a thrilling game where you can pick which side you feel will win in a round. The excitement of seeing the cards come up on the table is one of the most appealing things you can enjoy at a casino. Be sure you know how the game works and that you plan your bets well, as knowing how the game works and how the cards are drawn is critical to your success. Have fun!