How to Play Baccarat: What are the Rules and How do you Win?

The Basics of Baccarat

There are many ways to play baccarat, and we'll go through the different versions later on, but for now, we'll go into detail about how the most popular version of the game, Punto Banco, is played. 

Baccarat is similar to blackjack, where the player and the banker 'compete' to get the hand closest to a set value, which is 9 in baccarat. When determining card and total value, only the second digit is counted; i.e., if you were dealt an 8 and 6 for a total of 14, it would be scored as a 4. In the same way, 10s and all face cards count as 0. If your total is 0, it's called a 'baccarat,' hence the name of the game. 

Unlike other card games, punto banco is played a little more like roulette. As a player, you don't play a hand but instead bet on whether the 'player' or the 'banker' will win, where both hands are managed by the dealer. You can bet on the player or the banker to win, which pays out 1/1, or on a tie, which pays out 8/1. Depending on the casino or online variation, there may be additional bets too. 

With the basics confirmed, let's take a look at how a round of baccarat is played step-by-step:

1. All participants place their bets. In a casino, this is done by placing chips on betting layouts in front of each seat. 

2. The dealer calls no more bets and deals two cards for the player and then for the banker, immediately turning them over. 

3. If either the player or the banker is dealt an 8 or a 9 in the initial hand, the winner is called immediately. This is called a 'natural.' 

4. If there is no natural, the dealer then adds a third card to each hand according to a set of rules. This is a complicated set of 'if' scenarios depending on the totals and specific cards each player has been dealt. You can ask for a list of these rules to follow along, but the dealer will handle it on their own, so you can sit back and wait for the result.

5. The final totals are scored, and all bets are paid out. If you bet on the banker, the house takes a 5% commission from your payout. 

This then repeats as players cycle out and new bets are made. This version of baccarat is very hands-off, but that makes it one of the easiest games to try out and makes strategy building and bet management simple. 

How to Play Baccarat Online

Playing baccarat online is just as simple as playing it on the casino floor. In some ways, it's way easier. When you play through a computer program, the flow of the game is streamlined to the extreme with fast dealing, automated payouts and live returns calculators. You can also skip the need to wait for other players to make decisions or for the dealer to work the table. 

However, there are additional factors to consider before you start playing online. While land-based casinos can usually be trusted to work above board, you need to be more careful when playing online. The UK has one of the strictest online gambling policies in the world, but that doesn't mean bad eggs don't still slip through the cracks. 

When playing at an online casino, search for a website with the appropriate licensing and fairness certificates. In many cases, the bigger a brand name, the more reliable it will be, but if you're going to look for something less popular, always check the user reviews and safety standards. 

An interesting perk to playing at online casinos is the opportunity to use demos and even free plays. Most online casinos will offer some kind of demo mode where you can't win any money but can practise to your heart's content. So, if you're still getting to grips with the game or even playing for the first time, this is the perfect way to figure out your groove. Using free bonuses, you can even play with free casino funds if you want to lower your risk. However, casino bonuses aren't always compatible with table games like baccarat, so check the terms and conditions ahead of time. 

It's also worth talking about live variations of baccarat online. Baccarat is one of the most popular games at live online casinos, which let you play your favourite table games with a human dealer through a live stream rather than just playing against a computer. 

Live dealer games are intended to bring you closer to the casino floor when you can't get to a casino in person, complete with the personalised dealing experience. And baccarat is one of the games that made the smoothest transitions! Thanks to the hands-off nature of punto banco, player interaction starts and ends at making bets, making way for a smoother, faster-paced experience over most other live casino games. 

What are the Different Variations of Baccarat?

Baccarat is played all over the world, and different versions have popped up since it first gained popularity in France. Let's take a look at some of the most popular variations of baccarat:

Punto Banco

As mentioned, punto banco is the most popular version of baccarat played around the world and online. Thanks to its very simple ruleset, streamlined gameplay and global prevalence, it's enjoyed enduring love from gamblers the world over. However, you could argue that you can play this game without even understanding the rules, which might be a disappointing experience for some gamblers. Luckily, not all versions of baccarat are so passive. 

Chemin de Fer

In Chemin de Fer, the various players take it in turn to be the banker, passing the shoe when the banker loses a match. The passing of the card box, which used to be made of iron, is how this game got its name; chemin de fer means 'railway' in French, referring to the metal box making its way around the table. 

Other than this swapping of the banker, chemin de fer is very similar to all other versions of baccarat. The banker deals a banker and a player hand, with the player hand going to the player who made the highest bet. If the banker loses, they pay out all player bets themselves, but if the banker wins, they keep all the bets. On a loss for the banker, the next player to their left takes over, and on a win, the banker has the option to be the banker for another turn or pass on. 

Baccarat Banque

Baccarat Banque is generally agreed to be the first recognisable iteration of baccarat, made popular by French nobility in the 19th century. Also known as Baccarat à Deux Tableaux, this version of the game is noticeable for pitting the banker against two hands at once, with the two hands competing against one another. 

The two hands are played by as many as five people each, with crowds also participating to help meet minimum buy-ins (this speciation element has been historically popular in French casinos). If a natural 8 or 9 is dealt, we still see that hand paid out immediately. But interestingly, the banker doesn't actually have to follow set rules when the game goes to third card rules, instead being able to act freely.

Baccarat Banque is a complicated game, but it makes a lot more sense when you see it in motion. If you run into a game of this at a Monaco casino, you can join the crowd before getting involved to see how it works!

Mini Baccarat

Mini Baccarat isn't just played at a smaller table, it's an all-around less formal version of the game. Playing baccarat in a land-based casino can often be intimidating, with very high buy-ins, people in formal attire and even with the tables roped off from the rest of the casino floor. By comparison, mini baccarat is a much more casual affair, with lower buy-in, faster gameplay and fewer players at once. It's more comparable to blackjack in this state. 

If you're looking for a more relaxed baccarat experience or are playing online, there's a good chance you'll opt for mini baccarat instead of the formal punto banco. 

Other than this, though, mini baccarat plays identically to punto banco/American baccarat. So, as long as you understand the basic rules of the game, you can jump in at any level. 

Type of Baccarat Bets

Thanks to the simplicity of baccarat, there aren't all that many bets you can place on the game. While different casinos might have various side bets, the standard options are consistent across most baccarat tables. So, let's take a quick look and run through the bets you can make on baccarat.

Player Bet

Betting on the player pays out 1:1 when it wins, and the bet is a little less than a 50:50 outcome when you account for ties. As such, it's a pretty safe bet and pays out a little more than betting on the banker. However, it has slightly lower odds than the banker bet, so use that information to inform your betting choices. 

Banker Bet

The banker bet pays out 0.95:1 because the house takes a 5% commission from the payout. The commission is applied to the banker bet because it's slightly more likely to win than player bets; the difference is only a fraction of a per cent, but that's still significant in gambling. But if you're willing to deal with that commission, betting only on the banker is a common baccarat betting strategy. 

Tie Bet

Sometimes the banker and the player hands will wind up with the same total even after adding a third card. If you bet on this and win, you'll get an 8:1 payout! In the long run, tie bets are considered a waste since they have such a high house edge, but it can be worth a shot if you're feeling lucky. You're also free to bet on a tie alongside a player or banker win. 

Pair Bets

A common side bet for baccarat is the pair bet. There are two of these: player pair and banker pair. A pair bet wins out if either hand is dealt a pair at any point during the game (two cards of the same rank). Pair bets pay out at 11:1, and in this case, the banker pair doesn't have a commission.

Perfect Pair

Sometimes, you might also find a perfect pair bet available at a baccarat table, especially if you play online. The perfect pair bet is the same as a regular pair bet, but it only pays out if the pair is of the same suit as well as rank, e.g. two 5s of hearts. 

Guide to the Baccarat Table

Baccarat tables are large and capable of holding up to 14 players at once (although the unlucky number 13 is left out, and the top space is labelled 15). Full-sized baccarat tables also have three staff members managing them at once, with a croupier to call bets and deal the cards and two additional people to manage payouts on either side of the table. 

Each player space has a betting spot for betting on the player, banker or a tie, and depending on the casino, there might be additional spaces for side bets. Dealing takes place in the middle of the table, and players simply spectate and socialise for the majority of the experience. 

However, the majority of people who black baccarat likely won't play at a full-sized table. These tables tend to have very high buy-in, as much as £100, and may even be roped off from the rest of the casino floor. Instead, you're much more likely to play at a mini-baccarat table, which is much smaller and more accessible for casual gamblers. 

Mini baccarat tables can usually host seven people at once (half that of a full-sized table) and are only managed by a single croupier. Each seat also has its own betting layout so that bets stay separate, and the croupier manages paying out all bets and distributing chips. 

When you play online baccarat, you're much more likely to find online layouts matching mini baccarat rather than the regular punto banco table since more people are familiar with it. Not to mention, the mini baccarat table is also just easier to read. 

What is House Edge?

The house edge is one of the most important aspects of the casino that you need to understand. It's the percentage of all money wagered on games that is guaranteed to be kept by the house. This lets the casino remain profitable, paying for upkeep, staff salaries, amenities, and of course, making profits. This is what we mean by 'the house always wins,' the games have an in-built advantage towards the house that means if you play enough, you'll always lose more than you bet. 

Like most casino table games, baccarat has a low house edge that makes it a great option for new and casual gamblers. The house edge changes depending on whether you bet on the player or the banker. Player bets have a house edge of 1.24, and the banker bet is 1.08, which is why the house commission comes out of wins made from banker bets. These tiny house edge rates mean that only blackjack has it beat in terms of winning probability. 

You should note that side bets in baccarat, as well as the tie bet, will have significantly higher edges, with the tie bet sitting at 14.36%! Thanks to this, most experienced gamblers always recommend that you stay away from these bets since the odds are simply too bad to justify. 

Tips and Strategies for Beginners

Baccarat is a game set at almost 50/50 chance, and there's nothing you can do to sway it in your favour. However, that doesn't mean there are some tips and advice you can take on board to avoid wasting your money and to make informed decisions. Here's our best advice for new players.

• Always bet on the banker — a solid piece of advice is to always bet on the option that's more likely to win. While the banker only wins 0.20 more than the player hand, over time, that difference starts to feel more significant. You'll need to weigh this up against the 5 commission on all banker bets, though. However, by sticking to one bet on repeat it removes bettor's regret for flipping back and forth and marginally improves your chances. 

• Avoid the tie and side bets — While the main bets in baccarat have an excellent house edge, the same can't be said for betting on a tie or any side bets available. The house edge on tie bets is 14.36%, and it gets even higher on other side bets. As such, it's never worth betting on these in the long run, especially if you're just starting out or playing on a budget. 

• Try out a betting system — while no betting system will guarantee you a win, following a betting strategy can help you organise your bets and inform you what you'll do next, rather than relying on gut instinct and guesses. Popular options include the martingale system, the Reverse Paroli and the Labouchere system. 

• Stick to your budget — the most important part of any gambling session, whether you're at home or on the casino floor, is making sure to set and keep to a strict budget. Nothing will sour your games faster than spending more than you can afford, so gambling responsibly should always be your top priority. 

  ---

You May Also Be Interested In...

• How to Play Blackjack Online

• Guide to Playing Poker Online

• What is Return to Player (RTP)?

Responsible Gambling

Baccarat is an easy game to play and enjoy, but this also means it's easy to get carried away with. Especially when you're playing online, it's important to keep an eye on your behaviours and to engage in responsible gambling practices. 

There are many ways to manage this, both on and offline. In offline gambling, try to visit the casino with a specific bankroll and no additional money to effectively stick to your budget. Online, you can set deposit limits to ensure you don't use too much money at once and can't continue to top up your balance. 

If you're playing online, you can easily access a variety of other tools to help you control your habits. This includes time-outs, self-exclusion and various helplines. Of course, you don't need to be playing online to access third-party help resources like GamCare and the GambleAware hotline.