Baccarat looks like a game for high rollers in dinner jackets, yet it is one of the easiest table games to learn. You place a bet on one of two hands, Player or Banker, or on a Tie, and the dealer completes both hands under a fixed set of drawing rules. You never decide whether to take a card, so your only real choices are which bet to make and how much to stake.
That simplicity is a big part of its appeal, and so is the low house edge on the main bets. Below we cover everything you need before your first hand: the objective, what each card is worth, how a round is dealt, the third card rule that decides when each hand draws, the payouts on every main bet, the side bets you will meet at online and live tables, and the house edge behind each wager. For a wider look at the game and where to play it, visit our baccarat hub.
Baccarat rules in brief
Baccarat rules are simple: you bet on Player, Banker or Tie, and the dealer plays both hands by fixed rules. Here is the whole game in a nutshell before we go into detail:
- Two hands are dealt, called Player and Banker. These are only names for the two betting positions; you are not the player, and the casino is not the banker.
- Each hand starts with two cards. Cards from 2 to 9 keep their face value, an Ace counts as 1, and tens and picture cards count as 0.
- Only the last digit of a total matters, so the highest possible total is 9.
- A two-card total of 8 or 9 is called a natural, and both hands stand at once.
- Without a natural, one or both hands may receive a third card under the third card rule, which the dealer applies for you.
- The hand closer to 9 wins. Player bets pay 1:1, Banker bets pay 1:1 minus a 5% commission, and Tie bets usually pay 8:1.
The objective of baccarat
The objective of baccarat is to predict which hand, Player or Banker, will finish closer to 9, or whether they will tie. Unlike blackjack, nobody can go bust: a total never exceeds 9, because anything higher is cut back to its last digit.
Your influence on the result ends the moment your bet is placed. In Punto Banco, the standard format at online and live casino tables, every drawing decision for both hands is fixed in advance. Two people watching the same cards will always see the same outcome, whatever their experience. That makes baccarat a game of pure chance, where knowledge helps you choose sensible bets rather than play a hand better.
Card values and how totals are counted
Baccarat card values are simple: Aces count 1, cards 2 to 9 keep their face value, and tens and picture cards count 0. The table below lists every card in the deck.
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| Ace | 1 |
| 2 | 2 |
| 3 | 3 |
| 4 | 4 |
| 5 | 5 |
| 6 | 6 |
| 7 | 7 |
| 8 | 8 |
| 9 | 9 |
| 10 | 0 |
| Jack | 0 |
| Queen | 0 |
| King | 0 |
When the cards in a hand add up to 10 or more, you drop the first digit and keep the last one. A 7 and an 8 make 15, which counts as 5. A King and a 9 make 9, the best total in the game. A 5 and a 5 make 10, which counts as 0, the worst total you can hold. Suits play no part in deciding the main bets; they only matter for a few side bets such as Perfect Pair.
This is the reverse of blackjack, where picture cards are among the most valuable in the deck. In baccarat, a hand full of royals is worth nothing at all.
How a round of baccarat is dealt
A baccarat round starts with two cards for each hand, dealt alternately from a shoe that usually holds six or eight standard decks. The first and third cards go to Player, and the second and fourth go to Banker. Once all four cards are face up, the dealer works through the round in a set order:
- If either hand totals 8 or 9, it is a natural. Both hands stand, and the higher total wins. Two equal naturals make a tie.
- If neither hand has a natural, the Player hand is completed first under the Player drawing rule.
- The Banker hand is completed next. Whether Banker draws depends on its own total and, if Player took a third card, on the value of that card.
- The totals are compared, winning bets are paid and the cards are moved to the discard tray.
No hand ever receives more than three cards, so every round is short. In live dealer games, a croupier carries out each step on camera. In RNG versions, the software follows exactly the same steps in a fraction of a second.
The third card rule explained
The baccarat third card rule decides whether Player or Banker gets one more card, and the dealer applies it automatically. You never need to memorise it to play, but knowing it helps you follow the action and understand why Banker wins slightly more often.
Player drawing rule
The Player hand follows a short rule whenever neither side holds a natural. With a total of 0 to 5, Player draws a third card. With a total of 6 or 7, Player stands. That is all there is to it.
Banker drawing rule
Banker’s decision depends on what Player did first. If Player stood on 6 or 7, Banker draws on 0 to 5 and stands on 6 or 7, mirroring the Player rule. If Player drew a third card, Banker compares its own total with the value of that card, using the table below.
| Banker total | Banker draws if Player’s third card is | Banker stands if Player’s third card is |
|---|---|---|
| 0, 1 or 2 | Any value | — |
| 3 | Any value except 8 | 8 |
| 4 | 2 to 7 | 0, 1, 8 or 9 |
| 5 | 4 to 7 | 0 to 3, 8 or 9 |
| 6 | 6 or 7 | 0 to 5, 8 or 9 |
| 7 | — | Any value |
Here is a quick example. Player holds 2 and draws a 5, finishing on 7. Banker holds 5, and because Player’s third card was a 5, Banker draws. Had Player’s third card been a 2, Banker would have stood on 5 instead.
Banker’s rule is more detailed because Banker acts with more information: it already knows whether Player drew and which card arrived. That small informational advantage is the reason Banker wins a little more often than Player, and it is also the reason casinos take a commission on winning Banker bets.
Baccarat bets and payouts
Baccarat has three main bets, Player, Banker and Tie, paying 1:1, 1:1 minus 5% commission, and usually 8:1. Baccarat payouts and the house edge on each main bet are set out below for the standard eight-deck game.
| Bet | Payout | Commission on winnings | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | 1:1 | — | 1.24% |
| Banker | 1:1 | 5% | 1.06% |
| Tie | 8:1 | — | 14.36% |
Player bet. A winning Player bet is paid at even money, so a £10 stake brings back £20, your original stake included.
Banker bet. Banker also pays even money, but the casino keeps 5% of the winnings. A winning £10 Banker bet therefore earns £9.50 profit. Some land-based tables track commission and collect it at the end of a session, while online and live games deduct it automatically from each win.
Tie bet. The Tie pays 8:1 at most tables, so £10 wins £80. A few tables pay 9:1, which lowers the house edge to about 4.84%, yet the Tie is still the costliest of the three main bets.
When a round ties. In standard Punto Banco, Player and Banker bets are pushes when the hands tie: your stake is returned and you neither win nor lose. Some variants treat ties differently, so it is worth reading the rules panel before you play.
Baccarat odds and house edge
Baccarat odds slightly favour Banker: in an eight-deck shoe, Banker wins about 45.86% of rounds, Player about 44.62% and the Tie about 9.52%.
That gap looks small, but it is enough to keep Banker ahead even after the 5% commission. The baccarat house edge is 1.06% on Banker and 1.24% on Player. In plain terms, for every £100 staked on Banker over the long run, the expected loss is about £1.06, and on Player it is about £1.24. The Tie looks tempting at 8:1, yet it lands in fewer than one round in ten, which is why its house edge at that payout is about 14.36%.
The number of decks in the shoe barely moves these figures. Whether a table uses six or eight decks, the difference between Banker and Player stays almost the same, so deck count is not something baccarat players need to track the way blackjack players do. What does change your costs is the table’s payout schedule. Always check whether the Tie pays 8:1 or 9:1, how commission is charged, and whether a no-commission table cuts the Banker payout on certain totals.
If you want to compare these returns with other games, our guide to the best payout casinos is a useful next step.
Baccarat side bets explained
Baccarat side bets are optional wagers on specific card combinations that pay more than the main bets but carry a much higher house edge. You place them next to a Player or Banker bet, and they are settled separately. Availability and paytables vary between game providers, so the figures below are typical rather than universal.
Player Pair and Banker Pair
These bets win if the first two cards of the chosen hand form a pair of the same rank, such as two 7s or two Queens. The usual payout is 11:1, with a house edge of about 10.36% in an eight-deck game.
Either Pair
Either Pair wins if the first two cards of Player or Banker form a pair. Because it covers both hands, it pays less, usually 5:1.
Perfect Pair
Perfect Pair pays when the first two cards of a hand match in both rank and suit, for example two Kings of Spades. A typical paytable offers 25:1 for one perfect pair and 200:1 if both hands hold one, a rare result that is only possible because the shoe contains several decks.
Dragon Bonus
Dragon Bonus is a bet that your chosen hand wins by a natural or by a wide margin. A natural win usually pays 1:1, while a non-natural win pays more as the margin grows, up to 30:1 for winning by 9 points. A non-natural win by fewer than 4 points loses the bet.
Dragon 7 and Panda 8
These two side bets come from EZ Baccarat, a no-commission variant. Dragon 7 wins when Banker wins with a three-card total of 7 and typically pays 40:1. Panda 8 wins when Player wins with a three-card total of 8 and typically pays 25:1.
Side bets add excitement, but they are expensive. Treat them as an occasional extra rather than the centre of your play, and keep the stake well below your main bet.
Popular baccarat variants
Baccarat variants keep the same card values and objective but differ in speed, presentation, commission and who makes drawing decisions. These are the formats you are most likely to meet:
- Punto Banco: the standard game described above. Drawing is automatic, and the house banks every hand.
- Mini Baccarat: Punto Banco on a smaller table with lower limits, where the dealer handles all the cards. Most RNG baccarat online plays this way.
- No Commission Baccarat: Banker wins are paid at even money without commission, except that a Banker win on a total of 6 pays only half. That single change replaces the 5% fee.
- EZ Baccarat: another commission-free format. A Banker win with a three-card 7 is a push, and the game adds the Dragon 7 and Panda 8 side bets.
- Speed Baccarat: a live format with shorter betting windows and quicker dealing, aimed at players who want more rounds per hour.
- Squeeze Baccarat: a live format in which the dealer bends and reveals the cards slowly for extra suspense. The rules stay the same.
- Chemin de Fer and Baccarat Banque: traditional versions in which players take turns as banker and can make some drawing decisions themselves, such as whether to draw on 5. They are rarely offered online.
Live studios run by providers such as Evolution Gaming have made many of these formats easy to find. You can compare them on our live baccarat page, and see how baccarat sits among other table games in our overview of casino games.
How to play baccarat online, step by step
To play baccarat online, fund your account, pick a table, bet on Player, Banker or Tie, and let the dealer finish the round. Here is a typical round from start to finish:
- Fund your balance. Deposit with a payment method you trust. Our guide to deposits and withdrawals covers the usual options.
- Choose a table and check its limits. Minimum and maximum stakes vary from casino to casino and from table to table. Open the rules panel to confirm the Tie payout, how commission works and which side bets are available.
- Place your bet. Put chips on Player, Banker or Tie, and add a side bet if you wish. In live games, a timer shows how long betting stays open.
- Watch the deal. Two cards go to each hand. If either hand shows a natural 8 or 9, the round ends straight away.
- Let the third card rule run. Player draws or stands first, then Banker, exactly as set out in the tables above. You do not need to press anything.
- Collect your winnings. Winning bets are settled automatically: 1:1 on Player, 1:1 minus 5% on Banker and usually 8:1 on Tie. Side bets follow their own paytables, and Player and Banker stakes come back to you if the round ties.
Responsible play belongs in every round, so decide in advance how much you are prepared to spend. If you are new to casino games in general, our beginner’s guide explains the basics, and the casino glossary covers any terms you are unsure about.
How baccarat compares with blackjack
Baccarat and blackjack both pit you against the house with a low house edge, but only blackjack lets your decisions change the result.
| Feature | Baccarat | Blackjack |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Bet on the hand closer to 9 | Get as close to 21 as possible without going over |
| Picture cards | Worth 0 | Worth 10 |
| Ace | Worth 1 | Worth 1 or 11 |
| Decisions after the bet | None | Stand, hit, double down or split |
| Typical house edge | 1.06% on Banker | 0.5% to 1% at good casino sites |
| Best starting hand | Natural 8 or 9 | Blackjack, paid at 3:2 |
The bigger difference is control. In blackjack, choosing to stand, hit, double down or split changes the outcome, and the low house edge only holds if you play each hand well. In baccarat, the same cards always produce the same result, so the house edge on Banker is identical for a beginner and an expert. If you enjoy making decisions at the table, explore our blackjack hub. If you prefer a calmer game with simple bets, baccarat is a natural fit.
Tips for playing baccarat sensibly
Sensible baccarat play means backing Banker, avoiding the Tie, keeping side bets small and setting a budget before you start.
- Back Banker for the lowest house edge. At 1.06%, it beats Player and sits far below the Tie.
- Treat the Tie with caution. At 8:1, its house edge is more than thirteen times higher than Banker’s.
- Ignore patterns and scorecards. Live tables display “roads” that record earlier results, but past hands have no meaningful effect on the next one.
- Be wary of betting systems. Progressions such as Martingale change how your stakes move, not the house edge, and table maximums quickly cap them.
- Read the rules panel. Commission, Tie payout and side bet paytables vary from table to table.
- Set limits and keep to them. Decide on a budget and a time limit before you start, and use the deposit limits and time-outs that licensed casinos provide.
Play only at casinos licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, and remember that gambling is for adults aged 18 and over. Our explainer on casino licensing shows what a UK licence means for you as a player.
Frequently asked questions
What are the basic baccarat rules?
The basic baccarat rules are that you bet on Player, Banker or Tie, each hand gets two cards, and the hand closer to 9 wins. Aces count 1, tens and picture cards count 0, and only the last digit of a total matters. A two-card 8 or 9 is a natural. Otherwise, fixed third card rules decide whether either hand draws one more card.
What is the easiest way to learn how to play baccarat?
The easiest way to learn how to play baccarat is to start with the three main bets. Choose a table, check its limits and rules panel, then bet on Player, Banker or Tie. The dealer deals two cards to each hand and applies the drawing rules for you, so you never decide whether to draw. Winning bets are settled automatically at the end of the round.
Is the Banker bet the best bet in baccarat?
Yes, the Banker bet is the best of the main baccarat bets because it carries the lowest house edge, about 1.06% in an eight-deck game. Banker wins slightly more often than Player because it acts last under the third card rule. The 5% commission on winning Banker bets narrows that advantage but does not remove it, so Banker still costs less than Player over time.
Do picture cards count as 10 in baccarat?
No, picture cards count as 0 in baccarat, and so do tens. Aces are worth 1, and cards from 2 to 9 keep their face value. When a hand adds up to 10 or more, only the last digit counts, so a Jack and a 7 make 7, while a 6 and a 9 make 15, which counts as 5.
What happens to Player and Banker bets when a round ties?
Player and Banker bets are returned when a round ties in standard Punto Banco, so you neither win nor lose on them. Only Tie bets win, usually at 8:1, although some tables pay 9:1. Variants may handle ties differently, so check the rules panel before you play, especially at no-commission or speed tables.
Can a betting system beat baccarat?
No, a betting system cannot beat baccarat because every bet has a built-in house edge that staking patterns do not change. Progressions such as Martingale only alter how your stakes rise and fall, and table limits stop them long before they can recover large losses. Past hands also have no meaningful effect on the next one, so scorecards cannot predict what comes next.
Why do casinos charge commission on Banker bets?
Casinos charge a 5% commission on winning Banker bets because Banker wins slightly more often than Player. Without the fee, the Banker bet would give players an edge over the house. The commission brings the Banker house edge to about 1.06%, still below the 1.24% on Player. No-commission tables recover the difference in other ways, such as paying half on a Banker win with 6.