| The Rules of
Baccarat |
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The player's objective is to
get a hand that is closer to 9 in value than the
banker's. The game is played modulo 10, that is if
the total of the hand is greater than 10, then 10
is subtracted from the total. (Thus the value of a
hand is always between 0 through 9)
For example, if the players cards total 15, 10 is
subtracted and the value of the hand becomes 5. An
ace counts as 1, two counts as 2, etc. , up
through nine counts as 9, but tens (also jacks,
queens and kings) count as 0.
- The maximum number of cards in a baccarat
hand is three.
- If the banker or the player has an eight
(natural eight) or a nine (natural nine) on
the first two cards dealt, no further cards
are drawn.
- The player always draws when the hand is a
five or less, unless the banker has a natural,
and stands on a six and seven.
- The banker draws if the hand is a
a) three and the player's hand stands on a six
or a seven, or draws anything but a face card
or an eight.
b) four and the player's hand stands on a six
or a seven, or if he draws any card between
two and seven inclusive.
c) five and the player's hand stands on a six
or a seven, of it he draws any card between
four and seven inclusive.
d) six and the player draws a six or a seven.
- he banker always stands if the player stands
on a six or a seven.
There are two hands dealt regardless of how many
players there are: the banker's hand and the
player's hand. Both the banker and the player are
dealt two cards, and depending on the value of the
hand, might be dealt a third in either case. The
task for you as a player is to bet on the banker's
hand, the player's hand, or a draw, which means
that the two hands are tied. The payout for
winning a bet on the banker's or the player's hand
is even money, or 1 to 1 and winning draw bets are
paid off at 8 to 1 odds or 9 to 1 depending on
where you are playing. Although the payoff for
winning a draw bet is much more appealing, the
chances of actually getting it are pretty low.
If the player or banker has a two card total of 8
or 9, he/she turns the cards over immediately. The
other must do so also. (In online baccarat cards
are always face up) A 9 value wins over any lesser
total, and if neither player has a 9 then 8 wins
over any lesser total. Tied 9s or tied 8s are a
stand off; no money changes hands (unless ties can
be bet on).
If neither the player or the banker has a natural
(a total of 8 or 9) then play goes to the player.
The player stands on a total of 6 or 7, but if the
player has a total of 5 or less he/she must draw
one card (face up).
Now it is the bankers turn. With a total of 7, he
stands. With a total of 6 or less, his selection
depends on the value of his two card total and the
value of the card that the player drew.
Baccarat rules state that winning
banker bets are subject to a 5% house commission.
This is of course because there is more of a
chance for a banker win. The advantage is slim, in
the area 0.18%, but in the world of gambling
that's really not that small. So from reading this
page you should have picked up enough about
baccarat rules to play a game. It may still be a
good idea to try it online first, and within
minutes you'll feel comfortable enough to play
anywhere. There aren't many rules, and the
baccarat rules that do exist are fairly simple,
they just differ from other games you may have
played at the casino, so may take a little getting
used to.
Do you want to read more about
Baccarat:
• Introduction
• History
• Strategy
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