Baccarat looks like a single game, yet casinos run it in a dozen different ways. The goal never changes: back the hand that finishes closest to nine. What changes is who holds the bank, how the casino takes its cut, how many players share the table and which extras sit on top of the core hand. Below we compare the main baccarat variants, from the punto banco tables most UK punters meet to mini, commission-free and live-dealer versions, with the figures that matter for each.
What separates one baccarat variant from another
Baccarat variants differ in three ways: who controls the bank, how commission on winning Banker bets is handled, and which extra features are layered over the core hand. The first two shape what each hand costs you on average, while the third shapes the pace and the volatility of a session.
Nearly every online table is some form of punto banco, where the drawing rules are fixed and nobody makes a decision beyond the bet. Older versions let players act as banker and choose whether to draw. Modern studios then add speed, multipliers and side bets on top. Whenever you open an unfamiliar table, check the commission rule, the tie payout and the side-bet menu first, because those three details move the cost of play more than the look of the table does. Our casino glossary explains any unfamiliar terms along the way.
How standard baccarat works
Standard baccarat is a two-hand contest in which the total closest to nine wins, and you bet on Player, Banker or a tie.
Cards from two to nine count at face value, aces count one, and tens and court cards count zero. A hand’s total is the last digit of the sum, so a seven and an eight make five. Two cards go to each side, and a total of eight or nine on the first two cards is a natural that ends the round at once. Otherwise the Player hand draws a third card on a total of 0 to 5 and stands on 6 or 7, while the Banker hand follows a fixed table that depends on its own total and on the Player’s third card. A Banker holding 3, for example, draws unless the Player’s third card was an eight.
Because every draw is automatic, no skill can improve a single hand. The only real decision is which bet to make, and the choice is more important than most newcomers expect. For a broader introduction to the game, see our baccarat guide.
Baccarat house edge by bet
The table below shows the three standard bets on an eight-deck game, which is the usual setup. Probabilities are the chance of each outcome on a single hand, a Tie returns Player and Banker bets, and the Banker payout is shown after the 5% commission.
| Bet | Win probability (%) | Payout (to 1) | House edge (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banker | 45.86 | 0.95 | 1.06 |
| Player | 44.62 | 1.00 | 1.24 |
| Tie, paid at 8 to 1 | 9.52 | 8.00 | 14.36 |
| Tie, paid at 9 to 1 | 9.52 | 9.00 | 4.84 |
The Banker hand wins slightly more often than the Player hand because its drawing rules take the Player’s third card into account, and that advantage outweighs the commission. This is why the Banker bet is the cheapest standard option. The Tie bet looks tempting at 8 to 1, yet it costs more than ten times as much per hand, and even a 9 to 1 payout leaves it well behind the Banker bet. Fewer decks change these numbers slightly, so always check the deck count in the table rules.
The three classic baccarat variants
Punto banco, chemin de fer and baccarat banque are the three classic types of baccarat, and only punto banco is common in casinos today.
Punto banco
Punto banco is the version found at almost every UK online casino, and it is the one the figures above describe. The casino runs the bank, the drawing rules are automatic and you simply back a side. At a full-size land-based table, players may take turns dealing cards from the shoe, but the outcome never depends on who deals. Evolution, Playtech and Pragmatic Play Live all build their studio tables on this format, and our game providers hub shows who supplies what.
Chemin de fer
Chemin de fer is the player-versus-player version of the game, with the casino taking a commission instead of running the bank. Players rotate through the banker role, the banker states a stake and the others cover it. Both the Banker and the Player hands can, at certain totals, choose whether to draw a third card, so judgement plays a small part that punto banco removes. Ian Fleming set the famous table scene of his first Bond novel, Casino Royale, around this game. Today it survives mostly in private rooms and a handful of European casinos, and it is rarely offered online.
Baccarat banque
Baccarat banque, also known as baccarat à deux tableaux, places one banker against two player hands, with bets accepted on either side of the table. The banker keeps the role until losing the bank or stepping down. It is now seldom offered in land-based or online casinos, so most punters will only come across it in history books or at specialist venues.
Mini baccarat
Mini baccarat is punto banco on a smaller table, with a dealer handling every card, lower minimum stakes and faster rounds.
The rules, payouts and house edge match the full-size game, so the table above applies unchanged. What shifts is the tempo. Players never touch the cards, there is no ceremony around the shoe and rounds move quickly. A smaller table also seats fewer players, which makes it a friendly place to learn.
The speed matters more than it first appears. The house edge is a fixed percentage of each stake, so more hands per hour means a larger expected cost per hour. As a simple example, a flat £10 on the Banker for 100 hands puts £1,000 through the table and costs about £10.60 on average at a 1.06% edge. Doubling the hands per hour doubles that expected cost without changing the game at all.
Commission-free and Super 6 baccarat
Commission-free baccarat drops the 5% charge on Banker wins and recovers it through a special rule on certain winning hands.
Commission is a nuisance at a fast table, because the dealer has to track a small debt owed on every Banker win. The no-commission formats remove that step and pay Banker wins at a clean 1 to 1. The trade-off is a rule that returns part or all of your stake in a specific situation.
EZ baccarat
EZ baccarat pays every winning Banker bet at 1 to 1 except when the Banker wins with a three-card total of 7, a result known as the Dragon 7, when the bet is returned as a push. The Banker house edge on an eight-deck game sits close to 1.02%, a touch below the standard Banker bet. EZ tables usually add two side bets, the Dragon 7 itself, which commonly pays 40 to 1, and the Panda 8, which commonly pays 25 to 1 when the Player wins with a three-card total of 8.
Super 6
Super 6 also removes the commission, but pays only half the stake when the Banker wins with a total of 6. That single rule lifts the Banker house edge to around 1.46%, so it costs more than standard punto banco and more than EZ. Super 6 is worth knowing mainly so that you can recognise it and compare it fairly with the alternatives.
Live and online baccarat formats
Online baccarat comes as RNG software or live-dealer streams, and the live studio versions are where most format twists appear.
RNG baccarat
RNG baccarat uses a random number generator in place of a physical shoe and runs entirely on the screen. It is the fastest format, usually has the lowest minimum stake and lets you control the pace, with no betting countdown to beat. The rules and house edge match the land-based game, and most sites offer a standard table, a no-commission table and a version with side bets.
Live dealer baccarat
Live dealer baccarat streams a real dealer and a real shoe from a studio or casino floor, with a countdown window for placing bets. The drawing rules are identical, and the extra atmosphere is the main draw for punters who like to watch the cards come out. Our dedicated live baccarat page covers how these tables work in more detail, and a quick look at table limits before you sit down saves unwelcome surprises.
Speed baccarat
Speed baccarat shortens the betting window and deals the cards faster, so each round finishes sooner than at a standard live table. Evolution’s Speed Baccarat is the best-known example. The maths is unchanged, but the faster rhythm means more hands per hour, so the same bankroll lasts for fewer minutes.
Squeeze baccarat
Squeeze baccarat reveals the cards gradually, imitating the ritual of peeling a corner that high-limit tables are known for. Evolution’s Baccarat Squeeze uses close-up camera work to show each card a sliver at a time. The house edge is the same as in standard play, and the only difference is the build-up before each reveal.
Lightning baccarat
Lightning baccarat layers random multipliers on top of the standard game, boosting the payout on winning hands that include a struck card. Evolution’s Lightning Baccarat is the leading title in this group. Multiplier formats often adjust other payouts to fund the bonus, so read the paytable and check how the Banker bet is settled before you stake. Expect larger swings than in the plain game.
Baccarat side bets
Baccarat side bets are optional wagers placed alongside Player or Banker, and they almost always carry a higher house edge than the main bets.
Side bets are what separate many variants in practice, because the same hand can pay extra if it meets a condition. Payouts vary between tables, so the figures in the table below are typical top prizes rather than guarantees.
| Side bet | What you are betting on | Typical top payout (to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Player Pair or Banker Pair | The first two cards of that hand form a pair | 11 |
| Dragon Bonus | A hand wins by a wide margin or by a natural | 30 |
| Dragon 7 | The Banker wins with a three-card total of 7 | 40 |
| Panda 8 | The Player wins with a three-card total of 8 | 25 |
The Dragon Bonus pays 30 to 1 only for a win by nine points, with smaller margins paying less and a natural win paying even money. Each of these bets has a long losing streak built in, which is why many experienced players treat them as small-stake entertainment. If low cost is your priority, leave the side bets alone and stay with the Banker.
Baccarat variants at a glance
Punto banco and mini baccarat charge 5% on Banker wins, while EZ baccarat and Super 6 replace the commission with a special-hand rule.
| Variant | Banker commission | Special rule | Where you usually meet it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punto banco | 5% | None | Full-size tables, live and online |
| Mini baccarat | 5% | None | Smaller tables with quicker rounds |
| EZ baccarat | None | Banker win with a three-card 7 is a push | Live and RNG tables |
| Super 6 | None | Banker win with a 6 pays half | Some land-based and online tables |
| Chemin de fer | 5% | Players take turns as banker | Private rooms, rarely online |
| Baccarat banque | — | One banker against two player hands | Specialist venues |
Studio formats such as speed, squeeze and lightning baccarat sit on top of these rule sets rather than replacing them. A speed table is still punto banco underneath, and a lightning table adds its multipliers to the same two-hand contest.
Which baccarat variant suits you
Standard punto banco or EZ baccarat suits most players, because both keep the house edge close to 1% when you back the Banker.
For the lowest house edge
Stick to the Banker bet at a punto banco or EZ table and leave the Tie and the side bets alone. If a table offers a choice between a 5% commission and a special-hand rule, compare the two with the figures above rather than guessing. When a casino lists the deck count, prefer the fewer-deck table only if the rules are otherwise identical.
For newcomers
Mini baccarat or an RNG table gives you low minimum stakes and no pressure to rush. A plain table without side bets keeps the first sessions simple, and our beginner’s guide is a good companion while you learn the order of play. Treat the first few sessions as practice and keep stakes small.
For high-limit players
Squeeze and high-limit live tables suit punters who enjoy the ceremony and play at larger stakes. Betting limits at these tables can be far higher than on regular tables, so check the minimum and maximum before you join. Our high roller casinos page lists sites built for bigger budgets.
For thrill seekers
Lightning baccarat and side bets suit players who want bigger single-hand prizes and accept larger swings in return. Set a smaller stake than usual to match the extra volatility.
Versions to approach with care
The Tie bet, Super 6 and stacked side bets all cost more than the standard Banker bet. They are not off limits, but they are poor value as a main plan and best used sparingly.
Keeping control of your bankroll
Set a session budget before the first hand, because baccarat’s quick rounds can consume a bankroll faster than most punters expect.
The house edge describes the long-run average, not a single session, so a short run can be better or worse than the figures suggest. No betting system changes it either. Increasing stakes after a loss only risks more money for the same expected return, so flat betting is the calmer approach.
Pick the variant for its pace as well as its rules. A quick RNG or speed table burns through a budget far faster than a slow squeeze table, even at the same stake. Use the deposit limits, reality checks and time-outs that UK-licensed sites provide, and join GamStop if you decide to take a break. Our responsible gambling page lists the tools and where to find support. Baccarat is for adults aged 18 and over, and it should be played as entertainment rather than as a way to make money.
Final thoughts on choosing a baccarat variant
The best baccarat variant for most people is a standard or EZ table where you back the Banker and ignore the Tie.
Every other version changes the experience more than the odds. Mini baccarat speeds things up, live formats add atmosphere, squeeze slows things down, and multiplier tables add volatility. If you know the commission rule, the tie payout and the side-bet menu before you sit down, you can choose a variant that matches your budget and your mood. Browse our full range of casino games to compare baccarat with other table games.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main baccarat variants?
The main baccarat variants are punto banco, mini baccarat, chemin de fer, baccarat banque and commission-free versions such as EZ baccarat and Super 6. Online you will also meet live formats such as speed, squeeze and lightning baccarat, plus RNG tables. They share the same hand values and aim for nine, so the real differences are commission, bank control and extras.
Which baccarat variant has the lowest house edge?
Standard punto banco and EZ baccarat have the lowest house edge when you back the Banker, at roughly 1.06% and 1.02% on eight-deck tables. The Player bet costs about 1.24%, while the Tie costs 14.36% at 8 to 1. Super 6 and most side bets cost more than the standard Banker bet.
Does mini baccarat use different rules from punto banco?
No, mini baccarat uses the same hand values, drawing rules and payouts as punto banco. The difference is the format: a smaller table, a dealer who handles every card, lower minimum stakes and quicker rounds. Faster rounds mean more hands per hour, so a bankroll moves faster even though the house edge per hand is unchanged.
How does no commission baccarat work?
No commission baccarat pays winning Banker bets at even money instead of charging 5%, then recovers the cost with a special rule. In EZ baccarat the Banker bet is returned as a push when it wins with a three-card total of 7. In Super 6 the Banker bet pays only half when it wins with a 6.
Is the Tie bet worth playing in baccarat?
No, the Tie bet is the weakest option on the table. It pays 8 to 1 at most tables, which leaves a house edge of 14.36% on an eight-deck game, and even a 9 to 1 payout still costs 4.84%. Ties arrive roughly one hand in ten, so wins feel regular but never repay the cost.
What is the difference between the Player and Banker bets?
The Banker bet wins slightly more often than the Player bet but pays 0.95 to 1 after the 5% commission, while the Player bet pays 1 to 1. Overall the Banker bet costs about 1.06% and the Player bet about 1.24%. The names are labels for the two hands, not seats you take at the table.
Can you play baccarat variants with live dealers online?
Yes, most UK online casinos stream live baccarat with standard, speed, squeeze, lightning and commission-free tables. Live play follows the same drawing rules as RNG baccarat but runs on a betting countdown, so check the table limits and the side-bet paytable before you stake. Choose a pace you can keep up with comfortably.