Last Updated on 28 April 2025 by Nicholas Lim
At Online Baccarat only two hands are dealt: the “banker” hand and the “player” hand, regardless of the number of players at the table. The object of baccarat game is to bet on which of two hands will have a score closest to 9.
Players make bets before the hands are dealt any amount from the table minimum to the table maximum. There are three betting options:
- Player hand
- Bank hand
- Tie
The Game is played with 8 or 6 complete decks of cards. The dealer shuffled the cards, and then placed in a special box called the “shoe.” The players passing the shoe counterclockwise around the table to rotates the deal, and each “Player” can be the “Banker”. As long as the “banker” hand keeps winning the same person will keep dealing.
Baccarat game Play
The banker-hand will be represented for the player with the shoe, although the player takes no additional risk and the casino remains the banker. Even though the player dealing is acting as the Banker, he is not obligated to bet on the Banker’s hand. 4 cards are dealt face-down by the house dealer, 2 to the player-hand and 2 to the banker-hand. The player who wagers the largest amount on “player” gets first look at the player-hand.
Natural: If either hand has a total of 8 or 9 (the highest), and the casino dealer stops the cards dealt. But if it is not a natural, depending on the value of each hand the dealer may instruct the card dealer to draw a third card.
To play Baccarat just do a bet. Once a bet has been placed, there are no opportunities for further decisions – both the banker hand and the player hand are dealt according to Baccarat Drawing Rules. Fixed rules results of the Baccarat’s in final hands of either two or three cards for each. The casino dealer keeps track of the gambler-hand and the banker-hand totals and says which is the winning hand.
The hand that holds 2 or 3 cards totaling closest to nine will be the winning hand. Bets on the banker or player are returned, if there is a tie.
Baccarat Drawing Rules
Baccarat rules are very simple and automatic, because of this the Dealer act without consulting players. 9 is the highest total of any baccarat hand. You have a “Natural” when your two-cards total is nine and cannot lose.
The second best hand is an eight and called a natural too. Nobody wins when all hands have identical number: it is a standoff.
Game progress
The banker and the player receive 2 cards:
- One rule override the other rules: If either the banker or the player has a total of eight or nine they both stand. There are no exceptions.
- The player stands if he has total of six or seven.
- When the player stands, the banker hits on a total of five or less.
- The player hits If he has a total of five or less, and the banker gives the player a third card.
According to the following rules the banker draws a third card if the player gets the third card:
- Banker has total of 0, 1, 2: Banker draws a third card always.
- Banker has total of 3: If Player’s Third Card is 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9-0 (not 8) Banker draws.
- Banker has total of 4: If Player’s Third Card is 2-3-4-5-6-7 Banker draws.
- Banker has total of 5: If Player’s Third Card is 4-5-6-7 Banker draws.
- Banker has total of 6: If Player’s Third Card is of 6-7 Banker draws.
- Banker always stands when he has a total of 7.
Decision table
Check the following table to determine if the Banker hits or stands if the Player has drawn a card.
H – hit, S – stand.
|
Banker’s
Total |
Player’s Third Card
|
|||||||||
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
|
|
7
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
|
6
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
H
|
H
|
S
|
S
|
|
5
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
S
|
S
|
|
4
|
S
|
S
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
S
|
S
|
|
3
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
S
|
H
|
|
2
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
1
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
|
0
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
H
|
Once the final cards are dealt, the score of the player and dealer are compared.
The winning hand is the one with the greater total.