Casino & Table Games
Baccarat game
A casino card game where players bet on which of two hands, Player or Banker, will come closer to a total of nine, or whether they will tie.
Key points
- Two cards each are dealt to Player and Banker; the hand closest to 9 wins unless a natural (8 or 9) ends play immediately 12.
- If no natural appears, Player may draw a third card under fixed drawing rules, then Banker may draw based on Player’s third card 13.
- A tie occurs when both totals are equal; it is treated as a push or pays 8 to 1 depending on the wager 12.
- The house edge on Player bets is about 1.24%, on Banker bets about 1.06% after commission, and on Tie bets about 14.36% 3.
How to play baccarat
- Place a bet on Player, Banker or Tie before any cards are dealt.
- Two cards are dealt to the Player hand and two to the Banker hand.
- If either hand totals 8 or 9 (a natural), the hand ends and the higher total wins.
- If no natural, the Player hand draws a third card if its total is 0–5; it stands on 6 or 7.
- The Banker hand then draws or stands according to a fixed rule set that depends on Player’s third card.
- The hand with the total closest to 9 wins; equal totals are a tie.
Baccarat card values
| Card | Value |
|---|---|
| Ace | 1 |
| 2–9 | Face value |
| 10, Jack, Queen, King | 0 |
Common questions
How to play baccarat game?
Place a bet on Player, Banker or Tie. Two cards are dealt to each hand. If either totals 8 or 9, the hand ends. Otherwise, the Player hand may draw a third card, then the Banker hand may draw. The hand closest to 9 wins.
How do you play baccarat card game?
You bet on which hand will win: Player, Banker or Tie. Cards are dealt and scored modulo 10. A natural 8 or 9 ends the round. If not, the drawing rules determine whether a third card is dealt. The higher total wins; ties push or pay 8 to 1.
Where this term is used
Not the same as
- Casino baccarat rules — the specific dealing and drawing procedures for a casino variant, not the game name itself
- Baccarat draw rules — only the third-card rules that govern when Player or Banker draws, not the game as a whole
Related terms
Sources
- Bertrand’sanalysisofbaccarat arXiv:2107.00198v4 [math.HO] 20 ... arxiv.org Provides the scoring rules (modulo 10, natural) and drawing rules for baccarat.
- [1308.1481] The evolution of the game of baccarat - ar5iv ar5iv.labs.arxiv.org Supports the scoring method and the evolution of the game.
- analysis of empirical data from casino baccarat players tandfonline.com Gives the payout odds for Player, Banker (with commission) and Tie bets, plus house edge figures.
- Baccarat en.wikipedia.org Defines the game and lists alternative names.
- Baccarat Basics - Rules, Strategy, and Tips for Beginners wizardofodds.com Confirms the alternative names and basic rules.
Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.