Betting Choices and Objectives
Before any cards are dealt, you place your wager on one of three outcomes:
- A Player win
- A Banker win
- A Tie
Most pros suggest avoiding the Tie bet—those higher payouts come with a steep house edge. Once bets are in, the dealer shuffles and deals two cards each, face down. The aim? Get as close to 9 as possible.
Scoring Your Hand
Cards in Baccarat carry these points:
• Ace = 1
• 2–9 = face value
• 10, J, Q, K = 0
Only the last digit of the total counts. So if you hold a 6 and 9 (total 15), your hand is worth 5.
Hit or Stand Decisions
Baccarat only lets you draw or stand—no splits or doubles here.
How you act can even trigger different moves for the Banker’s hand. Remember, you’re not steering a ship; the dealer handles all the drawing rules. But it pays to know them.
Player Hand Rules
• Total of 6 or 7? You stand.
• 0–5? You draw a third card.
Banker Hand Rules
If you stand, the Banker follows the same 6–7 stand, 0–5 draw rule. If you draw, the casino’s built-in Punto Banco Baccarat variation chart kicks in:
• Banker 7 always stands.
• Banker 6 draws only if your third card is a 6 or 7.
• Banker 5 draws if your third card is 4–7.
• Banker 4 draws if your third card is 2, 4–7.
• Banker 3 draws, except when your third card is an 8.
• Banker 2 draws all the time.
Keep these in mind as part of your bankroll management and basic winning strategies.