Baccarat asks one decision: bet Banker, Player, or Tie. Everything after that is automatic — the dealing, the third-card rules, the result. House edge on the Banker bet is 1.06%, among the lowest in the casino, and no skill changes any outcome. This makes baccarat simultaneously the simplest table game to play correctly and the most mystified.
Hand values
| Cards | Value |
|---|---|
| 2–9 | Face value |
| 10, J, Q, K | 0 |
| Ace | 1 |
Hands are summed and only the last digit counts: 7 + 8 = 15 → 5. The best hand value is 9. No hand busts — values wrap instead.
How a round works
1. Bet Banker, Player, or Tie (side bets exist; see below). 2. Two cards each to Player and Banker hands. These are positions, not people — you can bet either. 3. A total of 8 or 9 on either hand is a "natural": both stand, the round resolves. 4. Otherwise the third-card rules run automatically (table below). 5. Closest to 9 wins. Banker wins pay 0.95:1 (5% commission); Player wins pay 1:1; Ties pay 8:1 and Banker/Player bets push.
The third-card rules (reference, not homework)
Player hand acts first:
| Player total | Action |
|---|---|
| 0–5 | Draws a third card |
| 6–7 | Stands |
| 8–9 | Natural — both stand |
Banker's draw then depends on the Banker total and what the Player drew:
| Banker total | Banker draws when... |
|---|---|
| 0–2 | Always |
| 3 | Player's third card was not 8 |
| 4 | Player's third card was 2–7 |
| 5 | Player's third card was 4–7 |
| 6 | Player's third card was 6–7 |
| 7 | Never — stands |
You never apply these rules; the table does. They exist in print so the game is verifiable, and they are why Banker wins slightly more often — Banker acts last with information about Player's draw.
The three bets
| Bet | House edge | Win frequency (excl. ties) |
|---|---|---|
| Banker | 1.06% | 50.7% |
| Player | 1.24% | 49.3% |
| Tie (8:1) | 14.36% | 9.5% of all hands |
Banker is the best bet in the game even after the 5% commission — the third-card asymmetry is worth more than the commission costs. Tie is among the worst standard bets in any casino. The bet comparison shows the derivations, including the no-commission variant's catch.
If you want the math: over the 8-deck shoe, Banker wins 45.86% of hands, Player 44.62%, Tie 9.52%. Banker bet expectation: 0.4586 × 0.95 − 0.4462 = −1.06%. The Tie's 8:1 payout against 9.5% frequency leaves −14.36%.
Online specifics
RNG baccarat resolves instantly at low minimums. Live baccarat is the format the game is famous for — squeeze tables, multi-camera studios, high limits — covered in the live baccarat guide. Scoreboards ("roads") chart past results on every table; they predict nothing, and the streaks guide addresses the pattern-tracking culture honestly.
Bonus note: baccarat usually contributes 5–10% to wagering requirements or is excluded — the standard low-edge-game treatment.