Online Baccarat Rules: A Quick & Easy Guide
Baccarat (also known as Punto Banco) is a comparing card game between two hands: the Player and the Banker. You don’t play against the house or other players — you bet on which hand you think will win.
The Objective
The goal is to bet on the hand that gets closest to 9.
There are 3 main bets you can place:
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Player hand wins
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Banker hand wins
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Tie (both hands end in a draw)
Card Values
| Aces | 1 |
| 2–9 | Face value |
| 10, J, Q, K | 0 |
Total hand values are calculated by adding the two cards and taking only the last digit.
Example:
7 + 6 = 13 → Hand value is 3
9 + 8 = 17 → Hand value is 7
How the Game Works
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Player and Banker are each dealt 2 cards
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Total points are compared
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In some cases, a third card is drawn based on strict rules (you don’t decide when)
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The hand closest to 9 wins
When Is a Third Card Drawn?
Player rules:
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If Player total is 0–5, they draw a third card
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If total is 6 or 7, they stand
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If total is 8 or 9, it’s called a “Natural” — no more cards
Banker rules depend on the Player’s third card:
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It’s more complex, but the casino handles this automatically in online games — you don’t need to memorize it unless you're deeply into strategy.
Payouts
| Banker | 1:1 (minus 5% commission) | ~1.06% |
| Player | 1:1 | ~1.24% |
| Tie | 8:1 or 9:1 (depends on casino) | ~14.4% ???? |
Best value: Banker bet (lowest house edge)
Simple Baccarat Strategy
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Always bet Banker for the best odds
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Avoid Tie bets — tempting but risky
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Set a budget and stick to it (Baccarat is fast-paced)
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Use a simple flat-betting system to keep it consistent
Playing Online
When you play Baccarat online:
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You’ll see clear betting areas (Player, Banker, Tie)
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The game deals cards automatically
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Most online casinos offer Live Baccarat with real dealers for a more immersive feel
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Some versions include side bets like "Player Pair" or "Perfect Pair" — fun, but high-risk
