The Basics of Baccarat
Baccarat is a game in which players bet on either the Player Hand or Banker’s Hand. The winner is the hand that totals closest to 9. All winning bets are paid out even money with no commission, except for a bet on a tie which pays 8-1. Baccarat is played on a large table with numbered areas for placing bets. Eight 52-card packs are shuffled and dealt by a croupier (dealer) from a box called a shoe. A single card is dealt face down to each position. Each side of the table has a banker and a player, with six seats on each side of the dealer.
Before the start of a round, each participant places a bet on the side they think will win, either Player, Banker or Tie. The player who places the highest bet is given the opportunity to become the banker for the following hand, or they may choose to “go bank” instead of playing as a player. A player who wishes to go bank must have a stake greater than the amount of all bets placed on the table, or they must withdraw from the game.
The croupier then announces the winning hand and collects losing bets. Winning bets are paid out according to the house rules. Usually, 1-to-1 even money will be paid on player bets and 19-to-20 on banker bets.
When it comes to the rules of Baccarat, there are some variations between different casinos and games. Generally speaking, however, the following rules are followed in the majority of Baccarat tables:
After placing bets, the dealer deals two cards to each hand. The Player and the Banker then look at their cards. If the Player or Banker’s hand has a total of 8 or 9 on their first two cards, this is called a “Natural.” In these situations, no additional cards are drawn.
If the Banker’s hand has a total between 2 and 5, they draw a third card. If the Banker’s total is 6 or 7, they stand.
Once the cards are dealt, a point count is determined by adding up the values of each hand. The values of the cards are as follows: 10s and Picture or Face Cards are worth 0 points; numbers from 1 to 9 are worth their face value; and Aces are worth one point. If the total crosses over nine or enters a double digit, the second digit becomes the value of the hand.
When the banker has a total of 8 or 9, they stand and the hand is over. The banker may also draw a third card on totals of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. The banker must draw if the player’s hand has a 5 or less.