How to Play Baccarat?

Baccarat is one of the most widely enjoyed table games in casinos around the world. With the advent of iGaming, the simple and fast-paced game with a touch of sophistication is now available in online casinos like Instant Casino. While baccarat may seem daunting to beginners, it is actually one of the easiest games to learn, besides offering some of the lowest house edges of the most popular casino games. 

If you’re looking to learn how to play baccarat online with Instant Casino’s vast portfolio of over 45 baccarat games on offer, you’ve come to the right place—we’ll give you the complete rundown on baccarat rules, bets, and tips to ensure you have the best chance of winning. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced player looking to refresh your knowledge, this guide will help you get up to speed before you hit the tables. 

Basic Rules of Baccarat

Before anything else, it’s important for players to have a good understanding of baccarat rules. Baccarat is a card game played with 6-8 standard decks of 52 cards each. The object of the game is simple: to wager on whether the Banker’s hand or the Player’s hand will win the round or if the round will end in a Tie.

In baccarat, you first need to place your bets before the croupier deals the cards for the Banker and the Player. The fast gameplay, simple rules, and relatively smaller selection of bets make baccarat among the most popular table games around.

Players place their bets on the outcome they predict before the croupier deals the cards. The three main bets available on all baccarat variants are wagers in favor of the Banker or the Player winning the round or the round ending in a Tie.

Once the betting period closes, the croupier deals two cards face up for the Player and the Banker. In physical casinos, most variants may deal the cards to the two bettors with the largest stakes on the Banker and Player so they can pinch the cards and reveal them themselves. 

The goal of each round is to predict whether the Banker or the Player’s hand will get the total closest to 9, with 9 being the highest possible score. Bets are placed each round, and you can adjust your stake and bets for each new round.

However, if the two cards add up to more than 9, their totals are combined. For instance, if you bet on the Banker and were dealt a 6 and a 5 with your first two cards, as shown in the above example, the total is 11, meaning the second digit represents your score (1). Since the Banker in this scenario draws a third card (in this case, an 8), the Banker’s final score is a 9. This pays out wagers on the Banker to win.

We will discuss in which scenarios the Player or Banker draws a third card in succeeding sections. If you bet on the Banker who scored closer to 9, you would have won your bet.

In another scenario, the Player scored closer to 9. This means if you bet on the Player, you win your bet.

If you bet on the Tie, and both the Player and the Banker end up with the same total you will win your bet. In case of a Tie result, bets on the Player or Banker are a push, with the bettor’s stake being returned to them after the round. 

All winning wagers are paid out before a new round begins. 

All face cards and 10 cards are worth 0 points, while the rest of the cards from 2-9 represent their face value. An Ace equals one point. If math isn’t your strongest suit, don’t worry—the croupier or the software performs all the calculations.

Simple enough? Let’s get to the nitty gritty of the dealing rules.

Dealing Rules

Each hand is dealt two cards, and a third card may be dealt depending on the Player or the Banker’s score. Here’s a quick rundown on baccarat casino dealing rules:

• If the Player hand’s value is 5 or less, the croupier deals a third card for the Player.
• If the Player hand’s value is a 6 or 7, it “stands,” meaning no third card will be drawn.
• Whenever the Player stands, the Banker will be dealt another card if its hand total is 5 or less. If the Banker scores 6 or 7, the Banker stands.
• If the Banker’s total is 0, 1, or 2 from the first two cards, the croupier will deal a third card for the Banker regardless of the Player’s hand.
• If the Banker’s total is 3 and the Player’s third card is NOT an 8, then the Banker will be dealt another card.
• If the Banker’s total is 4 and the Player’s third card ranges from 2 to 7, the Banker is dealt a third card. 
• If the Banker’s total is 5 and the Player’s third card ranges from 4 to 7, the Banker is dealt a third card.
• If the Banker’s total is 6 and the Player’s third card is a 6 or 7, the Banker is dealt a third card.
• If the Banker or Player’s total is 8 or 9 from the first two cards dealt, the hand stands. An 8 or 9 from the first two cards is called a “natural,” meaning no third card will be dealt, and the round ends. 

The above table shows a graphic table of when the Banker or Player will be dealt a third card (also called a “hit”) or stand.

Baccarat Table Explained

Baccarat tables at physical casinos are larger and more suited to VIPs and high-rolling bettors. A dedicated baccarat section will be found at most land-based casinos, as well as isolated VIP tables for high-limit players. Midi-baccarat tables typically can host up to 14 seated players, while mini-baccarat tables can host up to 7 seated players. The dealer sits or stands at the center of the table to deal and oversee the action. Table limits depend on the casino you’re playing in. 

Physical baccarat tables are split into three main areas: BANKER, PLAYER, and TIE, with one betting area dedicated for each seated player. Players must place wagers in the appropriate box before every baccarat round. Most baccarat tables will also have Player Pair and Banker Pair side bet boxes to accommodate the side bet, as well as a Super 6 side bet option (if playing the no-commission Super 6 baccarat variant popular in Asian casinos).

Online baccarat tables feature the exact same layout, whether you’re playing single-player web-based baccarat as shown above or a live dealer baccarat casino game that recreates the same feel as playing at a physical casino. The only difference is that there are no seat limits for the live dealer baccarat games, which can accommodate a limitless number of players. 

Baccarat Bets

Baccarat has fewer betting options compared to roulette or craps, making it a simpler game with faster, more exciting gameplay. In most cases, the best option is to stick to the main bets—Banker or Player—and avoid the side bets like Tie or Player/Banker Pairs. Let’s take a closer look at baccarat bets in this section.

Baccarat Main Bets

The most favorable betting options in baccarat are the Banker or Player bets, which are wagers on which hand will win the round. Simply place your chips on the respective Banker or Player boxes to place your wager when the betting period begins and wait for the outcome of the round. 

Winning bets on the Player are paid at a 1:1 rate or even money.

Winning bets on the Banker are paid at 1:1 odds also; however, due to it having the lowest house edge, the casino may collect up to a 5% commission on winning Banker bets on standard baccarat games. That makes winning Banker bets paid at 0.95:1 when factoring in the 5% house vig.

Another main betting option is the Tie.

Winning bets on a Tie wager are paid out at 8:1 or 9:1 odds; however, since the house edge is much higher when betting on a tie (e.g., the odds of losing are significantly higher), this bet isn’t recommended. At most, Tie bets, like other baccarat side bets such as Super 6, should be used sparingly or in VERY specific situations.

Baccarat Side Bets

Baccarat side bets can help you spice up the action. Certain baccarat variants may offer other wagers than just the standard Banker, Player, and Tie bets, the most common of which are bets on a Player Pair or Banker Pair. Player/Banker Pair bets are paid if the banker or the player hand is dealt two cards of the same value regardless of the suit. Banker Pair and Player Pair bets are paid out at an 11:1 rate, making them enticing options to enhance your action—but their high payouts are offset by the ridiculously high house edge they possess. The same can be said for all other baccarat side bets as follows: 

• Super 6 (pays out 12:1). If the Banker wins the round with a total of 6, the bet pays out. A common feature in Super 6 Baccarat or No-Commission Baccarat variants.
• Banker Pair (pays out 11:1). If the first two cards of the Banker are a pair, the bet pays out. Available at most standard baccarat variants.
• Player Pair (pays out 11:1). If the first two cards of the Player are a pair, the bet pays out. Available at most standard baccarat variants.
• Perfect Pair (pays out 25:1). If the Banker or Player is dealt a suited pair for their first two cards, the bet pays out. If both Banker AND Player hands dealt suited pairs, the bet pays out at 200:1.
• Either Pair (pays out 5:1). If the Banker or the Player lands a pair, the bet pays out.

These are the most common side bets in baccarat; other less-popular variants may offer unique side bets, but these are the ones you will find most often in physical and online casinos alike.

Baccarat Odds

The house edge in baccarat is dependent on the number of decks used to play the game and the available betting options. A standard baccarat game using eight decks gives the Player bet a house edge of 1.24%. Meanwhile, the Banker bet offers better odds of winning in baccarat with the lowest possible house edge of 1.06%, even in variants where the house takes a 5% commission on winning Banker bets. Based on house edge, the Banker bet is the best bet on the board out of all possible baccarat bets.

The third main betting option is on the Tie. In baccarat games where it pays 8:1, the Tie bet gives the house a whopping 14.4% edge. In the event of a round ending in a Tie, bets on the Banker or Player will be a push, with bettors receiving their stake back. 

Over the long run, the Banker hand wins 45.8%, while the Player wins 44.6% of the time. Ties occur in 9.6% of all hands. Factoring the Tie bet out due to its low likelihood of hitting, the Banker wins almost 51% of the time. 

That’s what makes baccarat among the most popular games when avoiding the Tie bet altogether. Betting on the Banker gives bettors the best chances of winning and the lowest possible house edge—making it the best possible bet on the board.

Baccarat Tips

Here are some of the best baccarat tips to incorporate into your game whenever enjoying Instant Casino’s massive selection of baccarat games on offer.

• Practice. Practice makes perfect. Learn about the game and its ins and outs by studying how the game works. One of the best ways to do so is to play the game in demo mode at Instant Casino. Simply start the game in demo mode and play with a demo balance to test out gameplay and strategies without risking real money in the process 
• Avoid side bets. The juicy payouts that the Tie and Player/Banker Bets have on offer are enticing, but their high house edges make them a losing proposition over the long run. Use them very sparingly if you must, or avoid them altogether.
• Always bet on the Banker. Based on baccarat odds, the best bet is always on the Banker, even when paying a 5% commission on your winning bet. However, you can also bet on the Player when you’re at a hot table since the difference in house edge is not that great.
• Take advantage of bonuses. A major advantage of playing at Instant Casino is the access to its variety of bonuses. Take advantage of welcome bonuses and reload bonuses on offer to extend your bankroll. 
• Play responsibly. Baccarat is a game of pure luck; therefore, you can go on a losing streak just as much as you would with a winning streak. Losses are part and parcel of gambling, so establish hard limits and play with money you can afford to lose. Keep it fun.

FAQ

Here are the most commonly asked questions about baccarat.

How do you play baccarat?

Simply place your wager on the Banker or the Player box. Wait until the betting period closes and wait for the outcome of the round. The croupier will then deal the cards and pay out the winning bettors. 

What is the objective of the baccarat game?

The main goal of baccarat is to predict whether the Banker or Player will win the round or if the round will end in a tie. You can bet on each outcome as well as side bets that could spice up the game.  

Is baccarat a skill-based game?

Baccarat is purely a game of luck. Previous results do not determine the future results either. However, knowing the house edge between the available wagers can give you the best odds to win. With the Banker bet offering a house edge of just 1.06%, it is statistically the best bet on the board.

Is it hard to learn how to play baccarat?

Baccarat is one of the easiest and simplest casino games to learn since it has only several betting options, nor does it require any complicated strategies like roulette or poker. 

Is there a strategy to play baccarat?

The best way to win at baccarat is to avoid betting on side bets and limit your wagers to the Banker bet (which offers the lowest house edge at 1.06%) or the Player bet at (1.24% house edge). Betting strategies like the Martingale strategy, which has you double down on every losing hand, are no guarantee that you will win a baccarat session.

Is baccarat purely luck?

Baccarat is purely a game of chance, meaning every outcome is purely determined by dumb luck. Previous outcomes aren’t a predictor of future results—every result is completely random. No skill is required to place a wager, and there is not much players can do to sway their chances of winning once the game is underway.