The basics
The version played in almost every casino, online and off, is punto banco. Two hands are dealt: the Player and the Banker. Despite the names, you're not playing as either one. You simply bet on which hand will finish closer to 9, or on a tie. The dealer follows fixed rules for drawing cards, so there are no decisions to make once your bet is down.
Card values
- Aces count as 1.
- Cards 2 to 9 count at face value.
- 10s and face cards count as 0.
Only the last digit of the total counts. A 7 and an 8 make 15, which counts as 5. If either hand has 8 or 9 from its first two cards (a "natural"), both hands stand and the round is settled.
The third-card rules
Player hand: draws a third card on a total of 0–5 and stands on 6 or 7.
Banker hand: if the Player stood, the Banker follows the same rule (draw on 0–5, stand on 6–7). If the Player drew a third card, the Banker's move depends on its own total and on the Player's third card:
| Banker total | Banker draws if the Player's third card is… |
|---|---|
| 0, 1, 2 | Always draws |
| 3 | Anything except an 8 |
| 4 | 2 to 7 |
| 5 | 4 to 7 |
| 6 | 6 or 7 |
| 7 | Always stands |
You don't need to memorise this; the dealer or software handles it. It's useful to know, though, because these rules are the reason the Banker hand wins slightly more often.
House edge on each bet
With eight decks, the standard figures are:
| Bet | Pays | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Banker | 1:1 minus 5% commission | ≈1.06% |
| Player | 1:1 | ≈1.24% |
| Tie | 8:1 | ≈14.4% |
| Tie (where offered) | 9:1 | ≈4.8% |
The Banker bet wins a little over 45.8% of hands, the Player bet about 44.6%, and around 9.5% end in a tie (Banker and Player bets push on a tie). That's why casinos charge a commission on Banker wins: without it, the Banker bet would favour the player. The Wizard of Odds baccarat page has the full calculations if you want to check the numbers.
Common variants
- No-commission baccarat: Banker wins pay even money, except certain winning totals (often a Banker 6) that pay half. The edge ends up similar to or slightly higher than standard Banker.
- Speed baccarat: identical rules, shorter rounds. More hands per hour means more money wagered, even at the same edge.
- Squeeze baccarat: the cards are revealed slowly for suspense. Same odds, more drama.
- Side bets: pairs, "dragon" bonuses and similar. Fun, but they usually carry much higher house edges than the main bets.
The game's long history, from Italian and French origins to Macau's modern baccarat halls, is covered well in the Wikipedia article on baccarat.
Sensible tips
- Stick to Banker or Player; ignore the Tie.
- Scorecards and "roads" track past results, but they don't predict the next hand. Each deal is independent.
- Watch the pace on speed tables and set a time or hand limit.
- Decide your budget before the first hand, and walk away when it's spent.