Once reserved for the high nobility of France, baccarat is now readily available at online casinos for everyone to enjoy. Learning to play it is fairly easy, as the game doesn’t require any specialised skills. In this article, we will show you how it works, the rules you need to follow and the different bets you can make. Before long, you’ll be playing baccarat like a seasoned pro!
How Baccarat Works
Baccarat is an incomplex game, somewhat similar to blackjack. It’s played with 6 or 8 decks of cards dealt from a shoe, where you and the banker get two cards each. You need to bet either on the player or banker, where the hand closest to nine wins. So, all you really need to do is decide who to bet on.
How to Play Baccarat Online
Plenty of baccarat variations are available at online casinos today, but the basic rules stay consistent. Here’s a brief introduction to playing virtual baccarat:
- Choose a baccarat online casino: Select a reputable online casino that offers baccarat, ensuring it is licensed and has good player reviews.
- Find and launch the baccarat game: Navigate through the casino’s game library, choose a baccarat variant that suits your style, and click to load the game.
- Bet on either the banker or the player: Before the cards are dealt, place your bet on whether the banker or the player’s hand will win, or opt for a tie if you’re feeling bold.
- Cards are dealt: Both the banker and the player get two cards face-up, starting the round with these initial hands.
- One of the hands is an eight or nine: Known as a “natural,” that hand declared the winner, and the game round ends immediately.
- The hand is from 0 to 5: If no natural occurs, a third card is dealt, following the game’s predefined rules.
- The hand which is closest to 9 wins: Once all cards are dealt, the hand with the sum closest to 9 is declared the winner, and payouts are made accordingly.
Basics of Baccarat Table Layouts
The layout of a baccarat table can differ between variants, but they all share similar features. You have the shoe from which the cards are dealt and numbered spots where the players sit. If the table uses an automatic shuffler, you will also see it next to the table. Now, let’s explore the layouts of different baccarat games.
Big Baccarat
The table here is anywhere from 4 to 5 metres long and seats a total of 14 players. It’s divided into two sections, with 7 players on each side. Three dealers usually run these tables, and the game is played at a slow pace. These tables typically have higher bet limits, so you can see much cash going across.
Midi-Baccarat
These tables fall between the Mini and Big Baccarat tables in size. They typically seat up to 9 players, with a single dealer opposite them. These tables offer a quicker pace of play and more accessible betting limits, making them highly popular. As a result, they are often filled to capacity.
Mini-Baccarat
It is a fast-paced version of the game. The table seats 6 or 7 players and one dealer. The players are not allowed to touch the cards, and there is no drawing or standing. This results in a rapid gaming session, where the dealer does all the work. The participant simply needs to bet on the player, banker, or tie. In this version, a player’s winning bet pays 1:1, a tie — 8:1, while the banker pays 95:100, where the 5% commission comes from.
If you’re new to the game, start with Mini-Bac–a smaller, faster-paced version, perfect for beginners with lower betting limits.
Baccarat Banque
This is another attractive option you can find at both online and land-based casinos. Here, the table is divided into two sections, where even a player can take on the role of the banker. Three decks of cards are used, and the players can choose whether to take a third card after the initial two are dealt. The payouts are the same as in Mini Baccarat, as explained above.
Dragon 7
Being one of the newest baccarat variations across online platforms, this game has a much faster playtime and no commission. If the banker has a winning hand of 7 after 3 cards are dealt, it’s considered a push, not a win. This hand is called the Dragon 7, and you can also bet on it to happen. The payout for this hand is set at 40 to 1.
Online Baccarat Table
Rules of Baccarat
The baccarat rules are straightforward, allowing players to learn how to play quickly. The goal is to predict which hand, either the player’s or the banker’s, will have a value closest to 9. So, if you get dealt a 2 and a 6, the total value is 8, which is a great count as it’s the closest to 9. If you get 6 and 8, the total count is 14, which is over 9, so the first digit is dropped. The card count is 4; you will get an additional third card.
Card Values in Baccarat
Here’s a brief guide to understanding the card values:
- Cards from 2 to 9 use their face value
- 10, J, Q and K count as 0
- Aces count as 1
The important thing to remember in baccarat is that suits have no meaning at all.
So, it makes no difference to you if you get suited cards. Additionally, face cards can often work against you, as they don’t add any value to your card total.
Baccarat Hands
The basics state that the closest hand to a 9 wins the hand. So, if you get a hand of 3 and 5 and the banker has a hand of 7 and 10, you win the hand since your score is 8 and the banker’s score is 7.
When playing baccarat, remember that any hand totalling ten or more will drop the first digit.
Face cards count as 0. If you bet $100 on the player and win, you are paid 1:1, so you get $200 in total, which is a $100 profit for you. In case of a tie, you are paid 8:1 or 9:1, depending on the casino and the baccarat variant.
Betting on the banker has better odds than betting on the player. But the banker’s bet comes with a 5% commission. So, if you bet $100 on the banker and win you will get $195 in total. For every $100 bet, you make a $95 profit on the winning hand when betting on the banker.
Third Card in Baccarat
After the bets are placed on the table, the dealer will draw one card to the player and another to the banker, repeating the process once again. So the minimum number of cards both of them can have is two. If a natural eight or nine is drawn, the hand ends.
If neither hand has a natural, a third card may be dealt, which is the maximum number of cards either the player or banker can receive. Whether the banker receives a third card depends on the player’s third card, as shown in the table below, where ‘S’ stands for Stand and ‘H’ for Hit.
Bets in Baccarat
Baccarat has the lowest house edge of all tables. Betting on the banker has a house edge of only 1.06%, so on most variants, a 5% commission is paid from all winning hands on the banker.
A 5% commission is paid from all winning hands on the banker.
The payouts are very simple. You get even money on all player bets, 19:20 on banker bets and 8:1 or 9:1 depending on the casino and baccarat variant for tie bets. You can also come across some side bets on different baccarat tables, where the payoffs can be seen on the table itself.
| Bet | Odds | Payout | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | 45.86% | 1:1 | 1.36% |
| Banker | 44.62% | 19:20 | 1.06% |
| Tie | 9.52% | 8:1 or 9:1 | 14.4% |
Tie in Baccarat
A tie in baccarat is the same as a push in blackjack. A tie is declared if the player and the banker have the same card total. In this case, you don’t lose your bet — it stays on the table for the next round.
However, you can also place a bet specifically on a tie. If the tie bet wins, you’re paid 8:1 or 9:1, depending on the table’s payout structure. For example, a $100 bet on a tie could win you $800 or $900.
Baccarat Variations
Recently, baccarat exploded in popularity across online casinos. So today you can find many baccarat variants. Some of the most popular ones are:
- Punto Banco: It is the most famous game variant in which players bet against the banker, trying to beat his hand. The title is played with 8 decks of cards, with the traditional rules applied. The payouts are also the same with an even money payoff for the player, 19:20 for the banker and 8:1 for a tie.
- 3-Card Baccarat: This game is played with a single deck of cards, where the player and the banker get 3 cards each. No additional cards are dealt. Here, the hand which is closest to 9 wins. The payouts are 97:100 for the player, while a tie bet pays 25:1.
- Chemin de Fer: It is an interesting baccarat variant, where there isn’t a banker and the casino has no stake at the table. Instead, each player gets to be the banker counterclockwise across the table. This title is played with 6 decks of cards.
- European Baccarat: If their hand has a value of 5, players can choose to stand or take another card. The banker can take an additional third card at any time. The payouts are the same as in standard baccarat, with ties being paid 8 to 1.
- Dragon Tiger: It is a simplified version of the game in which the player and the banker receive just one card each. The objective is to have a higher card value between the two. Additionally, participants can place side bets, such as the suited tie.
Baccarat Top Tips and Tricks
You can use several tips and tricks to improve your chances of success when playing baccarat. Here are the top 5 to keep in mind:
- Play for free first: To learn how to play baccarat and get a feel for the game, it’s recommended to practise first in demo mode. After you get confident, you can play for real.
- Avoid the tie bet: The tie bet has an attractive payout of 8 to 1 or 9 to 1 but also comes with a house edge of 14.44%. So it’s best to stay away from it.
- The banker bet has better odds: Betting on the banker has a house edge of 1.06%, so despite the 5% commission, it has the best prospects of winning.
- Don’t chase your losses: Avoid trying to recover losses by increasing your bets, which can result in even more significant losses. It’s better to step away and return later with a clear mind.
- Be careful with betting systems: While they can sometimes be helpful, they can also result in significant losses if not used wisely. Make sure to choose your strategies carefully.
