Baccarat looks mysterious because the drawing rules are hidden behind the dealer. They are fixed and short. Here is how to play baccarat, from the value of each card to the full table that decides when banker takes a third card.
Card valuesNaturalsBanker drawing table
The version of baccarat played at online casinos is punto banco: the house banks the game, players bet on either hand, and the dealer follows fixed drawing rules. Nobody chooses whether to draw. Once you know the rules, you can follow every hand on screen.
Card values
| Card | Value |
|---|---|
| Ace | 1 |
| 2 to 9 | face value |
| 10, Jack, Queen, King | 0 |
A hand's total is the last digit of the sum. 7 + 8 = 15 counts as 5. King + 9 = 9. The highest total is 9; there is no going bust.
A round, step by step
- Bets. Banker, Player, Tie, and any side bets offered.
- Deal. Two cards to Player, two to Banker, face up.
- Naturals. If either hand totals 8 or 9, both stand. The round is settled.
- Player's third card. Player draws on 0 to 5, stands on 6 or 7.
- Banker's third card. By the table below.
- Settlement. The higher total wins. Equal totals are a tie.
When Player draws
| Player's two-card total | Action |
|---|---|
| 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | draws a third card |
| 6, 7 | stands |
| 8, 9 | natural: no more cards |
When Banker draws
If Player stood on 6 or 7, Banker uses the same rule as Player: draw on 0 to 5, stand on 6 or 7.
If Player drew a third card, Banker looks at its own total and at Player's third card:
| Banker's total | Banker draws if Player's third card is | Banker stands if it is |
|---|---|---|
| 0, 1, 2 | any card | — |
| 3 | anything except 8 | 8 |
| 4 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 | 0, 1, 8, 9 |
| 5 | 4, 5, 6, 7 | 0, 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 |
| 6 | 6, 7 | anything else |
| 7 | — | always stands |
This table is the whole reason banker wins slightly more often: it draws where the player's third card makes drawing worthwhile and stands where it does not. See banker or player.
Payouts
| Bet | Pays |
|---|---|
| Player | 1 to 1 |
| Banker | 0.95 to 1 (a 5% commission on wins) |
| Tie | 8 to 1 at most tables, 9 to 1 at some |
| Banker or Player on a tie | push: stake returned |
Open a baccarat table now.
A worked hand
Player is dealt 4 and 2: total 6. Player stands. Banker is dealt King and 5: total 5. Because Player stood, Banker draws on 5 and receives a 3: total 8. Banker wins 8 to 6. A $20 banker bet returns $20 + $19.
Another: Player has 3 and King: total 3, draws a 7: total 0. Banker has 2 and 4: total 6. Player's third card was a 7, so Banker on 6 draws and receives a 9: total 5. Banker wins 5 to 0.
Variations you will meet online
- No commission: banker pays 1 to 1, but only half when it wins with 6. See no-commission baccarat.
- Speed: the same rules, dealt faster. See speed baccarat.
- Squeeze: the dealer reveals cards slowly for effect; the rules do not change.
- Lightning-style tables: random multipliers on some winning hands, paid for through a fee or reduced payouts. Read the info screen.
Common rule questions
Can I bet on both banker and player? Most tables allow it, but you pay commission on the banker side and gain nothing. Some casinos treat it as bonus abuse when a bonus is active.
Does the dealer decide anything? No. Even at a live table, the dealer follows the same table printed above.
What happens to the cards after a round? They go to a discard tray until the shoe is changed, usually after a cut card about two-thirds or more of the way through.
For where to play, see our Bitcoin baccarat casinos, ranked on their payout rules.
Questions and answers
How do you play baccarat?
Bet on Banker, Player or Tie. Two cards are dealt to each hand, a third card may follow by fixed rules, and the hand closer to 9 wins. You make no decisions after placing your bet.
What is a natural in baccarat?
A two-card total of 8 or 9. If either hand has a natural, both hands stand and the round is settled.
What do face cards count in baccarat?
Zero. Tens, jacks, queens and kings count zero, aces count one, and other cards count their face value. Only the last digit of a total counts.