Although baccarat might seem complex, it’s one of the simplest casino games. Its low house edge makes it ideal for many players.
Basic Rules
Let’s examine the rules of baccarat. It’s a card game with 6, 7, or 8 decks, each containing 52 cards.
The aim is simple: predict which hand will win or if it’s a tie.
To find a hand’s value, add up the cards, but only look at the last digit. So, for example, a hand with a 10 and 6 equals 6 points, while a 2 and 7 equals 9 points, making it stronger.
Cards from 2 to 9 are worth their face value. But 10, Jack, Queen, and King are worth 0 points. And the Ace? It’s worth just one point.
Dealing Rules
Let’s break down the baccarat dealing rules. At the start, each hand gets two cards, possibly drawing more from the deck. Here’s how it works:
- A third card is drawn if the player has five or less.
- No additional cards are drawn if the player’s total is 6 or 7.
- When the player stands, the banker draws another card if their total is 5 or less, but they stand if it’s 6 or 7.
- If the banker’s total is 2, 1, or 0 from the initial two cards, a third card is drawn for the banker regardless of the player’s hand.
- If the banker’s total is 3 and the player’s third card isn’t an 8, the banker draws another card.
- If the banker’s total is 4 and the player’s third card is between 2 and 7, another card is drawn for the banker.
- If the banker’s total is 5 and the player’s third card is between 4 and 7, another card is drawn for the banker.
- If the banker’s total is 6 and the player’s third card is a 6 or 7, another card is drawn for the banker.
No further cards are drawn if the banker’s total is 7 from the initial two cards.
Understanding Baccarat Odds
The casino’s advantage in baccarat depends on the number of decks and bet types. With eight decks, the “Player” bet has a 1.24% house edge, while the “Banker” bet is better with a 1.06% edge despite a 5% commission. That’s why our baccarat guide recommends the Banker bet.
The “Tie” bet gives the casino a big advantage, with a 14.4% edge for an 8:1 payout and 4.85% for 9:1. If there’s a tie, bets on Banker or Player are returned.
Overall, the Banker wins about 45.8% of the time, and Player wins 44.6%. Ties happen 9.6% of the time. However, since ties pay low, bankers win nearly 51% of bets.
So, baccarat offers great odds if you avoid tie bets. It’s wise to stick with the Banker side for the best chance of winning.
Types of Baccarat
Different types of baccarat are played in casinos across the US and online. Understanding these variations is critical before placing bets.
Punto Banco is the most common in the US, Canada, and Macau. Players bet on Punto (Player), Banco (Banker), or a tie. Banker bets pay slightly less due to a 5% commission.
Super 6, also called Mini Baccarat, is popular in Macau. The main difference is the payout for banker bets. There’s no commission, but players get half their bet if the banker wins with a 6.
EZ Baccarat is similar to Super 6 but pays even money on player and banker bets. If the banker wins with 7 from three cards, bets push.
Chemin de Fer, a French variation, involves players taking turns as bankers. If they don’t exceed the banker’s initial bet, players can add bets. The highest hand wins.
Lightning Baccarat, a live dealer game, adds random multipliers to cards. Multipliers can increase bets by up to 512 times, but there’s a 20% fee. Tie bets only pay 5:1 without multipliers.
Types of Bets
Betting in baccarat is straightforward compared to roulette. While sticking to the main bets is usually best, side bets offer bigger payouts and some excitement. Let’s explore the options.
Main Baccarat Bets
The primary bets involve predicting which hand wins or if it’s a tie. Player and Banker bets are prominent and are placed by placing chips in the respective box. They pay even money, or 95%, so they’re not too flashy. The Tie bet offers higher payouts at 8:1 or 9:1 but comes with a higher house edge. We don’t suggest making this bet often.
Side Bets in Baccarat
Side bets vary depending on the version and table. Standard options include Banker Pair (B-Pair) and Player Pair (P-Pair). For instance, a Banker Pair bet pays if the banker’s hand has two cards of the same value. Other side bets focus on tie values. For example, a 3-tie bet pays 200:1 if both player and banker hands are worth three points at the end of the round. You can play Baccarat at McLuck casino. The casino offers different variants of Baccarat.
