Baccarat Guides: Rules, Odds & Best Bets
Baccarat is one of the simplest casino games to learn and one of the best value for players. Our guides explain the rules, the third-card drawing rules, the odds of every bet and the variants you will find online and at live tables.
How to Play Baccarat
In baccarat you don't play a hand yourself – you bet on which of two hands will win: the Player or the Banker, or on a Tie. The dealer deals two cards to each hand, and the hand closest to 9 wins. A third card may be drawn automatically according to fixed rules, so there are no decisions to make after you bet.
Card Values
| Card | Value |
|---|---|
| Ace | 1 |
| 2–9 | Face value |
| 10, jack, queen, king | 0 |
If a hand totals 10 or more, only the last digit counts: 7 + 8 = 15, which counts as 5. A two-card total of 8 or 9 is a "natural", and no more cards are drawn.
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 stands, the Banker draws on 0–5 and stands on 6–7. If the Player draws a third card, the Banker follows this table:
| Banker total | Banker draws if Player's third card is… |
|---|---|
| 0–2 | Always draws |
| 3 | Anything except 8 |
| 4 | 2–7 |
| 5 | 4–7 |
| 6 | 6–7 |
| 7 | Stands |
You never need to memorise this – the dealer or software applies it automatically.
Baccarat Odds and House Edge (8 Decks)
| Bet | Payout | Win probability | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banker | 1:1 minus 5% commission | 45.86% | 1.06% |
| Player | 1:1 | 44.62% | 1.24% |
| Tie | 8:1 | 9.52% | 14.36% |
The Banker bet is the best bet in baccarat even after commission. The Tie bet looks tempting but has one of the highest house edges in the casino.
Popular Baccarat Variants
Punto Banco – the standard casino game.
Mini baccarat – lower stakes and faster play.
No Commission / EZ Baccarat – no 5% commission, but Banker wins with certain totals (for example a three-card 6 or 7) pay less or push.
Speed baccarat – live games with very short betting windows.
Squeeze baccarat – live tables where cards are revealed slowly for suspense.
Chemin de fer and Baccarat Banque – classic European versions where players can act as banker.
Side Bets
Many tables offer side bets such as Player Pair, Banker Pair, Dragon Bonus or Panda 8. They pay more but usually carry a much higher house edge than the main bets. Treat them as occasional entertainment, not a strategy.
Baccarat Tips
Bet on the Banker most of the time – it has the lowest house edge.
Avoid the Tie bet and most side bets.
Patterns on scoreboards ("roads") don't predict future hands – every hand is independent.
Check the commission; some tables charge less than 5%.
Baccarat usually counts little towards bonus wagering, so check the terms if you play with a bonus.
Learn more in our baccarat winner's guide, or play live baccarat via our live dealer guides.
The Banker bet, with a house edge of about 1.06% even after the 5% commission.
Because of the drawing rules, the Banker hand wins slightly more often. The 5% commission keeps a small edge for the casino.
No. Baccarat is a game of chance – once you bet, the cards are drawn according to fixed rules. Your only decision is which bet to make.
Generally no. The Tie pays 8:1 but has a house edge of over 14% in standard games.
Most casinos use six or eight decks. The odds change only slightly with the number of decks.