To play baccarat, you bet on one of two hands, Player or Banker, or on a Tie. The dealer deals both hands by fixed rules, and the hand closest to 9 wins. You make no decisions after your bet, and the Banker bet has the lowest house edge on the table at 1.06%.
This guide covers the bets, card values, the third-card rules, payouts, the house edge on each bet and the EZ Baccarat version you will see in many US casinos.
Baccarat Betting Options
There are three main bets:
- Player: you win if the Player hand finishes closer to 9.
- Banker: you win if the Banker hand finishes closer to 9.
- Tie: you win if both hands finish on the same total.
“Player” and “Banker” are just the names of the two hands. You do not play against the dealer and you do not act as the bank. In most casinos the house banks every bet, and you can bet on either hand on any round. Many tables also offer side bets, such as Player Pair and Banker Pair, which are covered below. For other games with simple betting, see our list of other popular table games.
Card Values in Baccarat
| Card (any suit) | Point value |
|---|---|
| Ace | 1 |
| 2 through 9 | Face value |
| 10, Jack, Queen, King | 0 |
A hand’s total is the last digit of the sum of its cards. Two 8s make 16, so the hand counts as 6. A 9, 7 and 2 make 18, so the hand counts as 8. The highest possible total is 9, and no hand can go bust.
A two-card total of 8 or 9 is called a natural. If either hand has a natural, no more cards are drawn and the higher total wins.
How a Round Is Played
- Place your chips on Player, Banker or Tie, plus any side bet the table offers.
- The dealer deals two cards to the Player hand and two to the Banker hand.
- If either hand has 8 or 9, the round ends and bets are settled.
- Otherwise, the Player hand acts first under the rules below, then the Banker hand.
- The hand closest to 9 wins. A hand never has more than three cards.
Most games deal from a shoe of six or eight decks. The rules for drawing are fixed, so the dealer makes every decision. You only need to know them to follow the action.
Rules for the Player Hand
| Player’s first two cards total | Player hand |
|---|---|
| 0 to 5 | Draws a third card |
| 6 or 7 | Stands |
| 8 or 9 | Natural, no more cards for either hand |
Rules for the Banker Hand
If the Player hand stood on 6 or 7, the Banker hand follows the same rule: it draws on 0 to 5 and stands on 6 or 7.
If the Player hand drew a third card, the Banker’s action depends on its own total and on the value of the Player’s third card:
| Banker’s first two cards total | Banker draws when the Player’s third card is | Banker stands when the Player’s third card is |
|---|---|---|
| 0, 1 or 2 | Any card | Never |
| 3 | Anything except 8 | 8 |
| 4 | 2 to 7 | 0 (a 10 or face card), 1, 8 or 9 |
| 5 | 4 to 7 | 0, 1, 2, 3, 8 or 9 |
| 6 | 6 or 7 | 0 to 5, 8 or 9 |
| 7 | Never | Any card |
Baccarat Payouts
- Player win: pays 1 to 1.
- Banker win: pays 1 to 1, less a 5% commission. A $20 winning Banker bet pays $19.
- Tie: pays 8 to 1 at most tables, 9 to 1 at some. Player and Banker bets push on a tie.
Odds and House Edge
Because the Banker hand acts last, it wins a little more often than the Player hand. The 5% commission is how the casino keeps its edge on that bet. These figures are for an eight-deck shoe:
| Bet | Probability of winning | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Banker (5% commission) | 45.86% | 1.06% |
| Player | 44.62% | 1.24% |
| Tie paying 8 to 1 | 9.52% | 14.36% |
| Tie paying 9 to 1 | 9.52% | 4.84% |
Leave out ties and the Banker hand wins about 50.7% of decided rounds, against about 49.3% for the Player hand. With six decks, the Banker and Player edges stay the same and the 8 to 1 Tie bet rises slightly, to 14.44%.
The Tie bet looks tempting at 8 to 1, but it is by far the worst of the three main bets. Its 14.36% house edge is more than 13 times the edge on Banker.
Regular Baccarat and Mini-Baccarat
US casinos usually spread two sizes of game. Full-size baccarat is played at a large table, often in a separate high-limit area, with more seats, more staff and higher minimum bets.
Mini-baccarat is played at a smaller blackjack-sized table with one dealer who does everything. Limits are usually lower and the pace is faster. The rules, payouts and house edge are the same in both versions, so the choice is about stakes and atmosphere.
EZ Baccarat
EZ Baccarat is a commission-free version. Winning Banker bets pay even money with no 5% commission. In exchange, a Banker bet pushes when the Banker wins with a three-card total of 7. Player and Tie bets work as in standard baccarat. The trade-off is slightly in your favor: the EZ Baccarat Banker bet has a house edge of about 1.02%.
EZ Baccarat Side Bets
- Dragon 7: pays 40 to 1 when the Banker wins with a three-card 7. House edge: 7.61%.
- Panda 8: pays 25 to 1 when the Player wins with a three-card 8. House edge: 10.19%.
Both side bets cost far more over time than the Banker or Player bet.
Baccarat Tips
- Bet Banker or Player. They have the lowest house edge. Banker is slightly better even after commission.
- Skip the Tie unless the table pays 9 to 1, and even then it costs more than Banker or Player.
- Treat side bets as entertainment. Pair bets and EZ Baccarat side bets pay well but carry high house edges.
- Ignore the scoreboard. Many tables show recent results. Past hands do not change the odds of the next one.
- Skip betting systems. Doubling your bet after a loss changes how your results swing, not the house edge.
- Check the limits sign before you sit down, and set your own budget.
Where to Play Baccarat
Most casinos have baccarat, and many have several mini-baccarat tables with lower minimums than the full-size game. If you want to play online, our online baccarat guide explains how real money baccarat works online, which states license online casinos, and how live dealer games compare. You can also find more table games to play for real money, including online baccarat games with live dealers.
Baccarat FAQ
Is it better to bet on Banker or Player?
Banker. Its house edge is 1.06% after the 5% commission, against 1.24% for Player.
What happens to my bet if the hands tie?
Player and Banker bets push, so you get your stake back. Only the Tie bet wins.
Do I need to know the drawing rules?
No. The dealer applies them for you. Knowing them just helps you follow the game.
Does the number of decks matter?
Very little. Most games use six or eight decks. The Banker and Player edges are the same either way, and the 8 to 1 Tie bet moves only from 14.36% with eight decks to 14.44% with six.
Please gamble responsibly. If gambling stops being fun, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET.