Learn how to play baccarat with Casino US today! Baccarat may look intimidating at first, with the hushed tables, the high-roller reputation, and the French names. Luckily, it’s one of the simplest casino games you’ll ever learn. You place a bet, two hands are dealt, and fixed rules decide almost everything else. There’s no strategy to memorize and no decisions to second-guess mid-hand.
This guide walks you through exactly how to play baccarat: the objective, the card values, how a round unfolds, and the bets worth making. By the end, you’ll know enough to sit down at a live table or open an online baccarat game with confidence.
Key takeaways:
- You bet on one of three outcomes: the Player hand, the Banker hand, or a Tie, and the hand closer to 9 wins.
- Tens and face cards count as zero, aces count as 1, and any total of 10 or more drops its first digit.
- Third-card draws follow fixed rules applied automatically by the dealer or software, so your bet is the only decision you make.
- Banker carries the lowest house edge at about 1.06% even after its 5% commission, with Player close behind at about 1.24%.
- The Tie bet pays 8:1 or 9:1 but wins rarely, carrying a house edge of up to about 14.4%, the worst of the three options.
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What’s the Objective of Baccarat?
You’re betting on which of two hands, the Player or the Banker, will end up with a total closer to 9. You can also bet on a Tie, where both hands finish level.
Important: “Player” and “Banker” are simply the names of the two positions on the table. They’re not you versus the dealer. You can bet on either hand; neither one belongs to you personally.
Every hand starts at a value of 0. The highest possible hand value is 9. If a total ever climbs into double digits, only the second digit counts. More on that below.
Baccarat Card Values
Card values in baccarat work differently from blackjack, and this trips up a lot of new players:
| Card | Value |
| Ace | 1 |
| 2 to 9 | Face value |
| 10, Jack, Queen, King | 0 |
Add the two cards in a hand together, and if the total is 10 or higher, drop the first digit. A few examples make this click fast:
- 7 + 8 = 15, which counts as 5
- King + 6 = 6, because the King is worth zero
- 9 + 5 = 14, which counts as 4
That’s the entire scoring system. There’s nothing more complicated hiding underneath it.
How a Round of Baccarat Plays Out
Here’s the step-by-step sequence, the same at a live table as in online baccarat:
Step 1: Place your bet. Before any cards are dealt, choose the outcome you’re backing: the Player hand, the Banker hand, or a Tie. This is the only decision you’ll make all rounds.
Step 2: The cards are dealt. Two cards go to the Player hand, two go to the Banker hand, all face-up.
Step 3: Check for a natural. If either hand totals 8 or 9 straight off the deal, that’s called a natural. The round ends immediately with no third card drawn, and the higher natural wins. If both hands hold equal naturals, the round is a tie.
Step 4: The third-card rule kicks in (if needed). If there’s no natural, a third card may be drawn automatically for one or both hands, based on fixed rules. You never decide this yourself; the dealer, or the software if you’re playing online, applies it automatically.
Step 5: Winner declared, bets paid. The hand that ends closer to 9 wins. Winning Player and Banker bets pay 1:1, though Banker wins carry a 5% commission (explained below). Tie bets pay 8:1 at most tables, with some casinos offering 9:1.
The Third-Card Rule, Explained Simply
This is the part that looks complicated on paper but never requires you to do anything. The Player hand always acts first:
| Player’s first two cards total | Player action |
| 0 to 5 | Draws a third card |
| 6 to 7 | Stands |
| 8 to 9 | Natural, round ends |
If the Player stands, the Banker follows a simple rule of its own: it draws on 0 to 5 and stands on 6 or 7. If the Player draws a third card, the Banker’s decision depends on the value of that specific card. Here’s the simplified version:
| Banker’s total | Banker action |
| 0 to 2 | Always draws |
| 3 | Draws unless the player’s third card was an 8 |
| 4 | Draws if the player’s third card was 2 to 7 |
| 5 | Draws if the player’s third card was 4 to 7 |
| 6 | Draws if the player’s third card was 6 or 7 |
| 7 | Always stands |
You don’t need to memorize this table to play, as it’s applied automatically at every casino, live or online. It’s worth understanding, though, because it explains why the Banker bet carries a slight statistical edge, which brings us to betting.
Baccarat Bets and Odds
There are three bets on every baccarat table:
| Bet | Payout | House Edge | Notes |
| Banker | 1:1 minus 5% commission | About 1.06% | Statistically, the safest long-term bet |
| Player | 1:1 | About 1.24% | No commission, slightly worse odds than Banker |
| Tie | 8:1 or 9:1 (varies by casino) | About 14.4% at 8:1, about 4.9% at 9:1 | High payout, but rare and poor value over time |
Why does the Banker get charged a commission? Because the third-card rules give it a small edge in how often it wins. The 5% commission exists specifically to balance that advantage back out, which means the casino still profits, but Banker remains the mathematically stronger bet even after the fee.
Most experienced players stick to Banker or Player and treat Tie as an occasional side bet rather than a core strategy. The payout looks tempting, but it wins far too rarely to be reliable. If you want a deeper look at staking approaches, see our Baccarat Strategy Guide.
Baccarat Variants You’ll Come Across
“Baccarat” isn’t one single game. It’s a family of related games, and here’s how the main versions differ:
| Variant | Who deals/banks | Player decisions? | Where you’ll find it |
| Punto Banco (American Baccarat) | The casino banks every hand | None, fully automatic | Most online casinos and US tables |
| Chemin de Fer | Players take turns as banker | Some can choose to draw or stand on 5 | Mostly Europe and select live tables |
| Baccarat Banque | One player banks for a full session | Limited | Rare outside high-stakes European rooms |
| Mini Baccarat | The casino, on a smaller table | None | Common online and on casino floors, lower stakes |
If you’ve played baccarat online, you’ve almost certainly played Punto Banco. It’s the version this guide covers in detail, and it’s what you’ll find across the online baccarat games at Casino US.
Common Baccarat Mistakes to Avoid
- Chasing losses. Increasing your bet size after a loss to “win it back” is a fast way to blow through a bankroll. Each hand is independent of the last.
- Tracking patterns. Scoreboards and “roads” can look convincing, but every hand is dealt fresh, especially online, where shuffling is handled by a random number generator. Past results don’t predict the next hand. Wondering if skilled tracking can beat this? We break it down in Does Card Counting Work in Baccarat.
- Forgetting the commission. New players sometimes expect a Banker win to pay the full stake amount and are surprised by the 5% deduction.
- Overvaluing the Tie bet. It looks like the most exciting bet on the table, but the double-digit house edge at 8:1 makes it the weakest long-term option.
Beginner Tips for Playing Baccarat
- Practice with a free table first. Try free baccarat online to get comfortable with the pace and the third-card rule before wagering real money.
- Set a budget before you sit down. Decide what you’re willing to spend for the session and stick to it, regardless of how the session is running.
- Lean toward Banker if you’re undecided. It carries the lowest house edge of the three bets, even with the commission.
- Keep your bet size consistent. Baccarat moves quickly, and steady, flat betting is easier to manage than chasing streaks.
- Compare it to other table games. If you’re deciding what to play, see how it stacks up in Is Baccarat Better Than Blackjack.
Play Responsibly
Baccarat is fast-paced, and it’s easy to lose track of time and spending once you’re a few hands in. A few habits keep it fun rather than costly:
- Decide your budget before you sit down, and treat it as entertainment spending, not money you expect to win back.
- Set a time limit for your session, especially online, where there’s no natural pause between hands.
- Never chase losses by increasing your bet to “catch up”. See the mistakes section above for why this backfires.
- Take breaks. Stepping away for a few minutes helps you play with a clear head rather than on impulse.
If gambling stops feeling like entertainment, support is available. Visit our Responsible Gambling page or read more on Gambling Addiction support. Must be 21+ to play.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is baccarat hard to learn?
No, it’s one of the easiest casino card games to pick up. There’s no skill involved in the dealing or drawing, since every third-card decision is automatic. Your only choice is which bet to place.
What is a “natural” in baccarat?
A natural is when either the Player or Banker hand totals 8 or 9 on the first two cards. The round ends immediately with no third card drawn, and the higher natural wins. Equal naturals result in a tie.
Which is the best bet in baccarat: Player, Banker, or Tie?
Banker has the lowest house edge (around 1.06%) even after its 5% commission, making it the statistically strongest choice. The player is close behind with no commission. Tie has by far the worst odds and is best treated as an occasional bet, not a strategy.
Can you count cards in baccarat?
Not effectively. Baccarat is dealt from a large multi-deck shoe, and the drawing rules are fixed rather than based on player decisions, which removes the kind of edge card counting can create in blackjack. Read more in our full breakdown: Does Card Counting Work in Baccarat.
Is online baccarat the same as baccarat in a physical casino?
Yes. The rules, card values, and third-card logic are identical. The only differences are pace and presentation; live-dealer online baccarat plays out like a physical table, while RNG versions move faster.
What does the 5% commission mean for my winnings?
It only applies to winning Banker bets. If you bet $100 on Banker and win, you’re paid $95 rather than the full $100, because the casino deducts 5% to offset Banker’s slight statistical advantage.
Ready to Play?
You now know everything you need to sit down at a baccarat table with confidence. If you want to see the rules in action before wagering anything, try free baccarat online to get a feel for the pace and the third-card rule. When you’re ready to play for real, browse the best US online casinos for online baccarat with RNG and live-dealer tables.
More Baccarat Guides
- Top Baccarat Tips and Tricks
- High Stakes Baccarat
- Is Baccarat Better than Blackjack
- Does Card Counting Work in Baccarat
- Baccarat Strategy Guide
- Free Baccarat Online