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How to Play Baccarat Like A Pro

Sarah | December 27, 2020 | Updated on: January 29th, 2021

how to play baccaratLearning how to play baccarat is simple. Once you’ve covered the rules and some basic strategies for this popular casino game, you will know enough to join your first real money baccarat table.

Most people think of baccarat as a high roller game. This is mostly due to the game being associated with the James Bond movies. However, online gambling has made baccarat a lot more accessible to people with smaller bankrolls. If you would like to find out more about how to play baccarat, keep reading.

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How to Play Baccarat Links

how to play baccarat online

Baccarat Game Rules

Before we get into how an ordinary baccarat game works, here are some general rules of the game you need to know:

  • Baccarat is usually played with an 8-deck shoe. This means 8 decks of cards.
  • You need to play your bet before the cards are dealt.
  • Numbered cards are worth their value. Face cards and the number 10 are worth 0 points.
  • The best hand in the game is a Natural, a hand score of 8 or 9.
  • If your hand score is lower than 5, you are dealt a third card.
  • If the banker’s hand has a score lower than 5, they are not obliged to get a third card. Take note of how this differs from player rules. Remember that the banker’s role may rotate depending on which form of baccarat you are playing.
  • The banker is only obliged to hit on a hand score of 2 or less.
  • In a scenario where player and banker both have hands with a value greater than 9, both receive a third card.
  • Cards assume the value of the second digit if the card value exceeds 9.
baccarat rules

How Do You Play Baccarat?

Here is a quick step-by-step guide explaining how to play baccarat to get you started:

  1. Place your bet before the cards are dealt.
  2. The dealer hands out the cards. Both the banker and players get two cards face up.
  3. If the cards they have been given exceed 9 (or is a value with double digits, the hand takes the second digit’s value. For example, a hand with a score of 12 actually has a score of two.
  4. If a player’s hand has a score lower than five, they are dealt another card.
  5. After the round ends, payouts are distributed according to the bets players placed.
How to Play Online Baccarat

When to Draw a Third Card

A couple of rules determine whether either the player or banker gets a third card. We already explained a few above, but here are some more rules to make you more comfortable with what should happen in any given situation:

  • If a player’s hand score is 2 or 3, the banker will draw another on a hand score between 0 and 4 but stand on a score between 5 and 7.
  • If a player’s hand score is 4 or 5, the banker will draw another card if their score is between 0 and 5, but stand on 6 or 7.
  • If a player’s hand score is between 6 or 7, the banker will draw on a score between 0 and 6 and stand on 7.
  • If a player’s hand score is 8, the banker will draw on a score between 0 and 2 and stand on a score between 3 and 7.
  • If a player’s hand score is 9, the dealer will draw on a score between 0 and 3 and stand on a score between 4 and 7.
how to play baccarat and win

How to Play Baccarat and Win

Although baccarat is a table game of chance, there are ways to improve your win rate. Of course, you can’t win every game, but you can make better strategic moves. The top three ways to play baccarat and win are:

  1. Choose your bets well.
  2. Know the rules.
  3. Practice, practice, practice!
how to bet in baccarat

How to Bet in Baccarat

The bets you make in baccarat influence your chances of winning. It is important to know what bets are available to you and the payouts and house edge attached to each bet. Some bets may have a high payout but are high risk and vice-versa.

  • Betting on the player pays 1 to 1 but carries the second-highest house edge of the three main bets.
  • The banker bet has the lowest risk and pays just 5% less than the player bet.
  • A tie bet has the highest payout of 8 to 1, but the risk is extremely high with a house edge of almost 15%.
how to play baccarat in a casino

How to Play Baccarat in a Casino

In whatever way you get to enjoy baccarat, there are standard tips to improve how you play. It’s a fast-paced game and its high payout makes it popular at many online casinos.

  1. Familiarize yourself with the baccarat rules.
  2. Know the different variations (for example, Punto Banco, Chemin de Fer, Mini-Baccarat, etc.)
  3. Test different strategies.