How to Play Baccarat | OLG PlaySmart
How to Play Baccarat | OLG PlaySmart
Baccarat is an exciting game of pure chance. While it’s often shown as formal and elegant in the movies – James Bond’s favourite! – it’s actually an easy, slow-paced game that’s great for new players. No strategy or skill is needed, and Baccarat offers some of the best odds in the casino. Read on for the complete guide on how to play Baccarat.
The Goal of the Game
In essence, Baccarat is a simple guessing game. You bet on which of two hands – the Banker’s hand or the Player’s hand – will come closest to a total of 9 points. That’s it. The hand with the highest points (up to a maximum of 9) wins.
Key Elements of Baccarat
Before you play, it helps to know the parts of the game and what they’re called.
The Table
Baccarat tables have between 7 and 14 player seats, plus a dealer area. No matter how many players are seated, only two hands are dealt: the Player’s and the Banker’s. Players don’t receive their own cards; instead, each player has their own betting area.
The Three Betting Areas
Above each player’s numbered spot on the felt table, you’ll find three bet boxes: Player, Banker, and Tie. You place your chips in one of these boxes to make your bet.
The Dealer
The dealer stands at the centre of the table, in front of the players, so they can easily reach every seat. The dealer handles the cards and manages all bets.
The Commission Box
The casino takes a 5% commission on all winning Banker bets. On a full Baccarat table, a long rectangle with numbers (the commission box) sits next to the dealer to track how much each player owes. On other tables, a commission circle appears next to each player’s betting area. Every time a player owes commission, the dealer marks it until the player pays and leaves the table.
How Baccarat Cards and Points Work
Point calculation in Baccarat is different from most card games. The highest possible score is 9, and a hand’s value can never exceed that. Here’s how cards add up:
- Picture cards & Tens: Worth 0 points.
- Numbered cards (2–9): Worth their face value.
- Aces: Worth 1 point.
When the total of a hand reaches a double-digit number, only the second digit counts. For example:
- 10 becomes 0
- 11 becomes 1
- 12 becomes 2
So if you have a 9 and a 6, the total is 15, but the hand’s value is 5. The hand closest to 9 wins.
4 Steps to Play Baccarat
1. Start with a Game Plan
Set a budget. Baccarat is exciting, and you don’t want to get carried away. Decide how much you’re willing to spend before you start, and treat it as the cost of a night out – not as money you expect to bring home.
Leave credit cards at home. Use cash so you stick to your plan.
Set a win limit. It’s no fun to win and then lose it all. Decide when you’ll walk away – many players stop when they double their money.
2. Place Your Bet
Baccarat is a guessing game, so bets go down before any cards are dealt. Choose one of three options:
- Banker’s Hand – Pays even money (1 to 1), minus the 5% commission.
- Player’s Hand – Pays even money (1 to 1).
- Tie – Pays 8 to 1.
3. How a Round Works
How cards are dealt: After bets are placed, the dealer slides out four cards:
- First card goes to the Player box.
- Second card goes to the Banker box.
- Repeat so each box has two cards.
Natural win: If either hand totals 8 or 9 on the first two cards, that’s a natural win, and the game ends immediately. Bets are paid.
When is a third card drawn? If neither hand has 8 or 9, the dealer may draw an extra card for one or both hands. The rules are very clear and always followed.
Third Card Rules for the Player
The Player always goes first. The Banker’s hand depends on what the Player does. Here are the rules:
- If the Player’s first two cards total 8 or 9 → Natural win, no further cards. Player stands.
- If total is 6 or 7 → Player stands.
- If total is 0 to 5 → Player draws a third card, unless the Banker already has 8 or 9 (in which case the Banker wins and no more cards are drawn).
Third Card Rules for the Banker
When the Banker’s first two cards total:
| Banker’s Total | Action |
|---|---|
| 0, 1, or 2 | Bank draws unless Player has a natural 8 or 9. |
| 3 | Bank draws if Player’s third card is 0–7 or 9. Stands if Player’s third card is 8. |
| 4 | Bank draws if Player’s third card is 2–7. Stands if Player’s third card is 0, 1, 8, or 9. |
| 5 | Bank draws if Player’s third card is 4–7. Stands if Player’s third card is 0–3, 8, or 9. |
| 6 | Bank draws if Player’s third card is 6 or 7. Stands if Player’s third card is 0–5, 8, or 9. |
| 7 | Bank stands. |
| 8 or 9 | Natural – no third card for either hand. |
Don’t worry about memorizing these – the dealer handles them automatically.
4. Understand a Winning Hand
Once all cards have been dealt and played, the hand closest to 9 points wins. Neither hand ever gets more than three cards. In the case of a tie, neither hand wins nor loses; bets on Tie are paid, while Player and Banker bets are returned.
The dealer collects lost bets and pays winners. A 5% commission is taken on all winning Banker bets – that’s how the casino makes money. The dealer tracks this in the commission box and collects it when you’re ready to leave.
Baccarat Variations & Side Wagers
Baccarat is so popular that several variations and extra betting options have developed. You can find side bets and mini‑Baccarat at many casinos. Check out the details to see which version suits you best.
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