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Baccarat (pronounced with a silent "t") is a sophisticated casino game, often played by the higher classes in separate casino rooms. The game was enjoyed by French and Italian royalty hundreds of years ago and still attracts relatively large crowds. It can seem a little complicated to begin with, but once understood, it becomes clear that Baccarat is one of the more simple casino games to play.
How to Play
Baccarat is usually played with up to 14 players. However, none of the players are actually dealt a hand to play with. Two hands are dealt in the middle of the table, one known as the Banker's hand and the other the Player's hand. Prior to each deal, players submit wagers as to whether the Player's hand or the Banker's will be closest to a total of 9. Players also have the option of wagering on the occurence of a tie (i.e. both the Banker's and Player's hands securing the same total). 8 decks of 52 cards are used, and the cards are shuffled after each hand. In some casinos, players take turns in being the dealer, while in other casinos, a casino dealer is at hand.
Card Values
In Baccarat, all tens and picture cards are worth zero. Aces are worth 1, and all other cards are worth their face value. If the value of cards exceeds 9, the value is adjusted by subtracting 10 from the total.
| Hand | Hand Total |
|---|---|
| 9+8=17 | 7 |
| 5+5+5=15 | 5 |
| 10+9=19 | 9 ("Natural") |
Rules
After the Player and Dealer hands are dealt, a third additional card may be dealt. The dealing of this additional third card is subject to a "Third Card Rule". No hand receives more than three cards. When the Player and Banker hands equal the same total, the hand is declared a Tie. If, after receiving the initial two cards, the value of the cards in either the Player hand or Banker hand is an 8 or a 9 (the latter of which is known as a "natural"), no more cards are dealt to either hand. If the value of the cards in the Banker's hand on the first two cards is 0 to 7 inclusive, the Player's hand must draw in accordance with the Third Card Rules.
Third Card Rules
If the Player's two cards total:
| Player's Hand | Draw? |
|---|---|
| 0-5 | Player's hand must draw |
| 6-7 | Player's hand must stand |
| 8-9 | "Natural" (both hands stand) |
After the Player's hand acts on a third card draw, the Banker's hand receives a third card according to the following rules:
| Banker's Hand | Draw? |
|---|---|
| 0-2 | Banker's hand must draw |
| 3-6 | Third card to Player's hand determines draw or stand |
| 7 | Banker's hand must stand |
When the Banker's two cards total between 3 and 6:
| Banker's Hand | Banker's Hand Draws when Player's Third Card is: | Banker's Hand Does Not Draw when Player's Third Card is: |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9 | 8 |
| 4 | 2-3-4-5-6-7 | 0,1,8,9 |
| 5 | 4-5-6-7 | 0-1-2-3-8-9 |
| 6 | 6-7 | 0-1-2-3-4-5-8-9 |
| 7 | Banker's hand must stand | Banker's hand must stand |
| 8-9 | "Natural"; Bank stands | "Natural"; Bank stands |
If the Player's hand stands on two cards (6, 7), a two-card Banker hand totalling 3, 4 or 5 must draw and a Banker hand totalling 6 must stand.
Payouts
| Wager and Result | Payout |
|---|---|
| A winning Player hand wager | 1 to 1 |
| A winning Banker hand wager | 1 to 1 |
| A winning Tie wager | 8 to 1 |
If the hand that a player bets on wins, the player is paid 1 to 1. If a player bets on a tie, the player wins 8 to 1 (eight times the amount that the player bet). Please note that if a player wins after backing the Banker's hand, the House charges 5% commission.
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