How to Play Baccarat

How to Play Baccarat
by Jason Green of Predictem.com

Baccarat is a very simple game where the player will place bets and then see the hand dealt. Baccarat is different than Blackjack considering that the player does not make betting decisions while the game is going on but before the hand is dealt. The player can make three bets, as they can bet on the dealer’s hand, the player’s hand, or a tie. The object of Baccarat is to bet on the hand that has the cards with the total number of points closest to 9.

The point totals are as follows:

- Aces count as one point

- Cards 2-9 count as their face value in points

- A 10 and face cards count as 0 points

It is impossible in Baccarat to receive a point total that is higher than 9. If a hand is dealt with a 9 and then a 7 the point total is not 16 but 6 because you would take the last number of the two-digit number after adding the two cards together.

When the Baccarat dealer starts the game, after the bets have been made, they will deal 4 cards total, 2 for the player and 2 for the dealer. If the point total of either of the hands that are dealt is either 8 or 9 it is called a “natural” and the dealer will not deal any more cards out. If the total of number of points is the same for both hands it is a tie, which is the highest payout in Baccarat. If there is a natural the hand with the closest point total to 9 wins the hand and the player/players that bet on that hand win.

If neither of the hands dealt is a natural or a tie there are specific rules, which are:

- If the first two cards of the player’s hand has the point total of 6 or more the player must stand.

- If the player’s hand is a 5 they will be dealt one more card.

- If the dealer’s hand adds up to 7 or more they must stand.

- If the dealer’s hand adds up to either 0,1, or two the dealer’s hand must be dealt one more card.

- If the dealer’s hand adds up to 3 points and if the player’s 3rd card dealt is any other card besides an 8 the dealer’s hand will be dealt another card.

- If the dealer’s hand is 4 and the player’s hand adds up to anything except a 1,8,9, or 0 the dealer’s hand will be dealt another card.

- If the dealer’s hand is 5 and the player’s hand is a 4 through 7 the dealer’s hand will be dealt another card.

- If the dealer’s hand is 6 and the player’s point total is either a 6 or a 7 the dealer’s hand will be dealt another card.

When betting for Baccarat the house edge is 1.36% for the player’s hand and 1.17% for the dealer’s hand. Considering the player’s hand has a better advantage there is either a 4% or 5% commission that must be paid to the house if the player hand wins. This means that if the player’s hand wins the people betting on that hand have to pay the house 4% or 5% of their winnings. The house count varies from casino to casino. The last bet is the tie bet, which will give the house about a 14.12% edge.

The payouts in Baccarat are much like betting on black or red on roulette, as it is 1 to 1. The payoff for a tie is either 8 to 1 or 9 to 1 depending on where you play.

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