Baccarat

Baccarat is a popular casino card game, also known as Punto Banco, where players bet on the outcome of a hand between the 'Player' and 'Banker' with the goal of reaching a total closest to nine. In this elegant game, famously associated with fictional spy James Bond, the participant makes no decisions after placing their initial bet, as the dealer manages all card movements according to a strict set of rules known as the 'Tableau'.

The Bets

• Player: This bet pays 1:1 if the Player hand wins. The house edge for this bet is approximately 1.24%.
• Banker: This bet also pays 1:1, though a 5% commission is typically deducted from winnings. The Banker bet offers a slightly lower house edge of approximately 1.06%, making it statistically the best bet.
• Tie: This bet pays 8:1 (or sometimes 9:1, depending on the casino) if both the Player and Banker hands result in the same total. However, it carries a significantly higher house edge, often around 14%, making it the least recommended bet.

Scoring

• Aces: Count as 1 point.
• 2-9: Count as their face value.
• 10, Jack, Queen, King: Count as 0 points.
• The Rule of 9: If a hand's total value exceeds 9, the first digit is dropped. For example, a hand totaling 12 (like a 7 + 5) becomes 2. A hand totaling 18 (like a 9 + 9) becomes 8. The goal is to get as close to 9 as possible.

The Third Card Rule

While often automated in online baccarat games, understanding the Third Card Rule is key to knowing how hands are played:

• Natural Hand: If either the Player or Banker hand immediately totals 8 or 9 with the first two cards (a 'Natural'), both hands stand, and no further cards are drawn.
• Player's Turn: If the Player's hand totals 0-5, the Player draws a third card. If the Player's hand totals 6 or 7, the Player stands.
• Banker's Turn: The Banker's actions depend on both their hand total and, crucially, whether the Player drew a third card.
• If the Player stood (had 6 or 7), the Banker hits on 0-5 and stands on 6-7.
• If the Player drew a third card: The Banker's decision to draw is based on a more complex set of rules involving the Player's third card, though generally, the Banker will draw on lower totals (0-2) and stand on higher ones (7). Specific rules vary slightly by casino, but the core 'Tableau' dictates the exact actions.