What Is Baccarat?
Baccarat is the casino game famously associated with James Bond and high rollers — but it’s actually one of the SIMPLEST games in any casino. You don’t play cards yourself; you bet on whether the ‘Player’ hand or the ‘Banker’ hand will be closest to 9, or whether they’ll tie. Cards are dealt automatically and the rules determine everything. You just bet and watch.
What You Need
- Six to eight standard 52-card decks in a shoe
- A baccarat table with Player, Banker, and Tie betting areas
Card Values in Baccarat
- Aces: 1 point
- 2–9: face value
- 10s and face cards (J, Q, K): 0 points
Totals only go from 0 to 9. If the total exceeds 9, drop the first digit. Example: 7 + 8 = 15 → value is 5.
How to Play — Step by Step
- Place your bet: Player, Banker, or Tie.
- The dealer deals two cards to the Player position and two cards to the Banker position.
- Natural: If either hand totals 8 or 9, it’s a Natural — no more cards are drawn. Compare totals immediately. Closest to 9 wins.
Drawing Rules (Automatic — You Don’t Choose)
- Player draws a third card if their total is 0–5. Player stands on 6 or 7.
- Banker draws based on a chart comparing their total to the Player’s third card (simplified: Banker draws on 0–5, stands on 7, and follows specific rules for 6 based on Player’s 3rd card).
You don’t need to memorize the drawing rules — the dealer handles everything automatically.
Payouts
- Player wins: 1:1 (even money)
- Banker wins: 1:1 minus 5% commission (pays 0.95:1). The Banker bet has slightly better odds — the commission reflects this.
- Tie: 8:1 or 9:1 (varies by casino). Much higher payout but a terrible bet statistically.
Winning
The hand closest to 9 wins. Ties push the bet if playing Player or Banker (returned).
Strategy Tips
- Bet Banker every time — it has the lowest house edge of any bet in the casino (~1.06%).
- Never bet Tie — the house edge is ~14%, one of the worst bets in the building.
- Baccarat requires no skill — any system claiming otherwise is not mathematically sound.
- Manage your bankroll — set a loss limit and stick to it.