Baccarat is an elegant and surprisingly simple casino card game, often associated with high stakes but easy for anyone to play. This beginner's guide explains how to play baccarat, covering the aim, the three bets, card values and how a hand is decided. It is general information and not betting advice, so always gamble responsibly and only stake money you can comfortably afford to lose.
The aim of the game
The aim of baccarat is simply to bet on which of two hands, the Player or the Banker, will get closer to a total of nine, or whether the hand will be a tie. Despite the names, you are not committed to either side; you simply choose which outcome to bet on before the cards are dealt. Understanding that baccarat is a betting game where you back the Player, the Banker or a tie, rather than playing a hand yourself, is the key to how simple it really is.
The three bets
There are three main bets in baccarat: on the Player hand winning, on the Banker hand winning, or on a tie. The Banker bet wins slightly more often, so it usually carries a small commission on wins. The tie bet pays much more but is far less likely and carries a high house edge. Understanding the three bets, and that the Banker is statistically the best value while the tie is the worst, gives you the essential knowledge to play baccarat sensibly.
Card values
Card values in baccarat are unusual. Aces are worth one, number cards two to nine are worth their face value, and tens and picture cards are worth zero. Crucially, only the last digit of a total counts, so if a hand totals more than nine, you drop the first digit. For example, a seven and an eight total fifteen, which counts as five. Understanding this drop-the-first-digit rule is the one quirk of baccarat, and once you grasp it, working out hand totals becomes straightforward.
How a hand is dealt
After bets are placed, two cards are dealt to the Player hand and two to the Banker hand. The totals are worked out using the card values, with only the last digit counting. In some cases a third card is drawn, according to fixed rules that neither you nor the dealer controls. Understanding that the hands are dealt and resolved automatically by set rules, with no decisions for you to make once your bet is placed, shows why baccarat is one of the most hands-off casino games.
The third card rule
Whether a third card is drawn follows fixed rules based on the first two cards' totals. If either hand totals eight or nine on the first two cards, called a natural, no more cards are drawn. Otherwise, the Player and then the Banker may draw a third card according to set tables. You do not need to memorise these rules to play, as they happen automatically. Knowing that the third card is governed by rules rather than choices reassures you that nothing is left to the dealer's discretion.
Naturals
A natural is when the first two cards of either hand total eight or nine, the best possible totals. If either hand has a natural, it stands and no third card is drawn, and the higher total wins. A natural nine beats a natural eight. Understanding the idea of a natural, an immediate strong total of eight or nine, helps you follow what is happening at the table, as a natural ends the hand quickly and determines the result without any further cards.
How the result is decided
Once any third cards are drawn, the hand closer to nine wins. If you bet on the winning side, you are paid; if you bet on the other side or the wrong outcome, you lose. A tie means both hands have the same total, which wins for tie bets and usually returns Player and Banker bets. Understanding that the higher total simply wins, and how ties are handled, completes your picture of how each hand of baccarat is decided.
Payouts and commission
Player bets usually pay even money. Banker bets also pay close to even money but typically carry a small commission, often five per cent, on winnings, because the Banker wins slightly more often. The tie bet pays much more, but rarely lands. Understanding the payouts, and that the Banker's commission exists precisely because it is the stronger bet, helps you see why the Banker bet, despite the commission, is generally considered the best value of the three.
The house edge in baccarat
Baccarat has a relatively low house edge on the Player and Banker bets compared with many casino games, with the Banker bet usually the lowest. The tie bet, however, has a much higher house edge and is best avoided for value. Our guide on the house edge explains the concept. Understanding that baccarat offers reasonable value on the main bets but poor value on the tie helps you make informed choices, while remembering the house still has an edge overall.
Betting systems and baccarat
Because baccarat is simple and fast, it attracts betting systems that claim to beat it, often involving changing your stake based on past results. These do not work, as each hand is independent and the house edge is fixed. Our guide on how a casino makes money explains why. Understanding that no pattern or system can overcome the house edge, and that previous hands do not influence future ones, protects you from a common and costly misconception.
Online and live baccarat
Baccarat is available in casinos and widely online, both as software games and as live dealer games streamed with a real dealer and cards. The rules are the same in every format. Licensed online games are tested for fairness. Knowing the different ways to play, and that regulated online baccarat is checked to be fair, lets you choose between the convenience of online play and the atmosphere of a real table, with the same simple game in each case.
Playing responsibly
Baccarat is fast and easy, which can make it tempting to bet quickly and often, so treat it as entertainment with a cost rather than a way to make money. Set a budget, stake only what you can afford to lose, and stop at your limit rather than chasing losses. Our guide on how to gamble responsibly offers practical tools. Keeping baccarat fun by playing within your means matters far more than which bet you choose.
In short
To play baccarat, you bet on the Player hand, the Banker hand or a tie, backing whichever you think will get closer to nine. Card values are simple, with only the last digit of a total counting, and third cards are drawn by fixed rules with no decisions for you. The Banker bet is the best value despite its commission, while the tie is best avoided. No betting system can overcome the house edge, and previous hands never affect future ones, so treat baccarat as entertainment, set a budget and gamble responsibly with money you can afford to lose.
Learn more in our How to Play guides.