How to Play Baccarat (Beginner’s Guide)
A fast table game where “Player” and “Banker” compete to 9. Learn rules, bets, and quick strategy—then try it at trusted casinos.
Visit Jackpot City →Reviewed by Greg Parsons, updated Oct 2026 · Licence: Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission · 18+ | T&Cs apply
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The basics
Two hands are dealt: the Player and the Banker. You bet on which will finish closer to nine, or on a tie. You are not the "Player" hand; you can back either side.
Card values
- Aces count as 1.
- Cards 2 to 9 count at face value.
- Tens, jacks, queens and kings count as 0.
- Only the last digit of the total counts. A 7 and an 8 make 15, which is 5.
How a hand is dealt
Each side gets two cards. A total of 8 or 9 on the first two cards is a natural, and the hand ends there. Otherwise a fixed set of rules decides whether each side draws a third card:
- The Player hand draws on 0 to 5 and stands on 6 or 7.
- The Banker hand draws or stands according to its own total and the Player's third card.
You make no decisions after placing your bet. The dealer or the software applies the rules.
Bets, payouts and house edge
| Bet | Pays | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Banker | 1 to 1, less 5% commission | 1.06% |
| Player | 1 to 1 | 1.24% |
| Tie | 8 to 1 | 14.36% |
Figures are for the standard eight-deck game. The Banker bet wins slightly more often, which is why it carries a commission. The Tie bet has by far the worst odds.
Variants
- Punto banco is the standard casino version described here.
- No-commission baccarat removes the 5% fee but pays less on one specific Banker win, usually a winning 6.
- Side bets such as pairs carry a higher house edge than the main bets.
Common mistakes
- Betting on patterns in the results board. Past hands do not affect the next one.
- Backing the Tie because of the payout.
- Raising stakes to recover losses.