How to Play Baccarat
You begin by placing a wager on one or more of the following: player hand, banker hand or tie. Two cards each are then dealt face-up to the player hand and the banker hand. The hands are then evaluated to determine if either has a two-card total of 8 or 9, also called a "natural". If there is a natural, play stops and the hand with the natural wins. If both hands contain a natural, the higher natural wins. Two equal naturals result in a tie.
If there is no natural, play continues according to strict, pre-determined house rules.
The player hand is evaluated first.
| Player Hand Two Card Total | Player HandAction |
| 6 or 7 | No Draw |
| 5 or less | Draw Third Card |
Neither the player hand nor the banker hand can draw more than one additional card.
The banker hand is a little more complicated. The banker hand's action is determined by the player's hand as follows:
| If Player Does Not Draw: | |
| Banker HandTwo Card Total | Banker HandAction |
| 6 or 7 | Stand |
| 5 or less | Draw Third Card |
| If Player Draws a Third Card: | ||
| Banker HandTwo-Card Total | DrawIf Player HandThird Card is: | Standif Player HandThird Card is: |
| 0,1,2 | Always Draw | Always Draw |
| 3 | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,0 | 8 |
| 4 | 2,3,4,5,6,7 | 1,8,9,0 |
| 5 | 4,5,6,7 | 1,2,3,8,9,0 |
| 6 | 6,7 | 1,2,3,4,5,8,9,0 |
| 7 | Stand | Stand |
Remember, while these rules may seem complicated, the dealer plays out both hands according to these very specific rules. The only decision you have to make is which hand (or tie) to bet on.
Win, Lose or Tie
The hand closest to nine always wins.
A winning wager on the player hand will pay off at 1:1. A winning $5 wager will return $10 ($5 wagered + $5 won).
A winning wager on the banker hand will also pay off at 1:1, less a 5% commission. In other words, A winning $5 wager on the banker hand will return $9.75 ($5 wagered + $4.75 won).
A tie will result in the return of any wager on the banker or player hand. A winning bet on the tie will pay off at 8:1. If the hands do not tie, a tie wager will result in a loss.
