Key takeaways
- You bet on Player, Banker or Tie; the hand closest to 9 wins.
- Tens and face cards count as 0, Aces count as 1, and only the last digit of a total counts.
- Banker wins slightly more often, so winning Banker bets usually pay 0.95:1 (a 5% commission).
- Skip the Tie bet: its house edge is over 14% at 8:1.
Baccarat looks fancy, with velvet ropes, dealers in vests and scorecards full of red and blue circles, but it's one of the easiest table games to learn. You don't need to make any decisions after placing your bet. Here's everything you need for your first hand.
The goal of baccarat
Two hands are dealt: Player and Banker. These are just names; you aren't playing against the dealer. You bet on which hand will finish closer to 9, or that they'll tie.
Card values
- Ace = 1
- 2 to 9 = face value
- 10, Jack, Queen, King = 0
If a total goes past 9, drop the first digit. A 7 and an 8 make 15, which counts as 5. A hand can never be worth more than 9.
How a hand is dealt
- You place your bet on Player, Banker or Tie.
- The dealer gives two cards to each hand.
- If either hand has 8 or 9 (a "natural"), both stand and the hand is over.
- Otherwise the fixed third-card rules decide whether either hand draws one more card.
The third-card rule (made simple)
Player's hand: draws a third card on 0–5 and stands on 6 or 7.
Banker's hand: if Player stood, Banker draws on 0–5 and stands on 6–7. If Player drew a third card, Banker follows this table:
| Banker total | Banker draws if Player's third card is |
|---|---|
| 0, 1, 2 | Always draws |
| 3 | Anything except 8 |
| 4 | 2 to 7 |
| 5 | 4 to 7 |
| 6 | 6 or 7 |
| 7 | Always stands |
The good news: you never need to remember this. The dealer applies the rules automatically. It's just useful to know why the Banker hand wins slightly more often.
Payouts and house edge
| Bet | Payout | House edge (8 decks) |
|---|---|---|
| Banker | 0.95:1 (5% commission) | 1.06% |
| Player | 1:1 | 1.24% |
| Tie | 8:1 | 14.36% |
Some tables offer "No Commission" baccarat, where a Banker win on 6 pays only half. That change pushes the Banker edge up to about 1.46%. These figures match the standard calculations published by Wizard of Odds. For background on the game's history, see the baccarat entry on Wikipedia.
What are the scorecards (roads)?
The big screens next to baccarat tables show "roads": the Bead Plate, Big Road, Big Eye Boy and others. They record past results in coloured circles. Many players love following streaks, and it adds to the fun. Remember, though, that every hand is independent. Past results do not predict the next one. Read more about this in our house edge explainer.
5 baccarat tips that actually help
- Stick mostly to Banker. It's the lowest-edge bet on the table.
- Avoid the Tie and most side bets (Pairs, Dragon Bonus) unless you treat them as small fun bets.
- Know whether you're at a commission or no-commission table.
- Set a loss limit and a time limit. Baccarat is fast; one hand can take under a minute. Our bankroll guide shows how to size your bets.
- Try a live dealer table first at low stakes to learn the flow. See how live dealer games work.
Ready to compare baccarat with other games? Head back to our best table games ranking or look up terms in the table games glossary.
Frequently asked questions
Is Banker always the best bet in baccarat?
Yes, on standard commission tables the Banker bet has the lowest house edge (about 1.06%), slightly better than Player (about 1.24%).
Can you count cards in baccarat?
In theory card composition affects baccarat odds very slightly, but the effect is too small to give players a practical advantage.
What does "No Commission" baccarat mean?
Winning Banker bets pay 1:1 with no 5% fee, except a Banker win with a total of 6, which pays only half. This raises the Banker house edge to about 1.46%.
Keep reading
- House Edge Explained: Why Small Percentages Matter at the Table
- Live Dealer Table Games: How Real-Time Casino Streams Work
- The Best Table Games for Filipino Players in 2026
- Sic Bo Guide: How to Play the Classic Three-Dice Game
- The Complete Table Games Guide
- Table Games Glossary
AI-assisted content: This page was drafted with the help of AI tools, then reviewed, fact-checked and edited by Jash Jacinto. Game rules and odds can vary by operator, so always check the rules shown at your table. How we create content.