A fan of baccarat for quite some time? Do you want to master the top game but don’t dare to enjoy one of the oldest, most famous and classic card games because of the Baccarat rules? How do you play baccarat?

The rules sometimes seem confusing: confusing the terms “banker” and “player” can be a bit more challenging, but so can card values, or how to add them up during the game.

Still confused? Do not worry! You are right here! We’ll tell you the secret of the easiest way to learn baccarat! Are you ready? Here we go!

What is baccarat and how do you play baccarat?

Baccarat is a card game that is gaining popularity in many casinos. The Italian word for “zero” is behind the name “baccarat” because baccarat was first played in medieval Italy. Furthermore, according to historical evidence, Italy is the birthplace of this game, although baccarat’s origins have been disputed.

Gradually, the game gained wide attention worldwide, resulting in numerous game modes. Baccarat is a diverse game, as evidenced by both the history of the name and the set of rules.

So, as the name says, here with us you learn from the bottom up! To help you progress quickly from a beginner to an advanced player, we’re going to explain the rules step-by-step and in great detail in this section.

Baccarat Basic Rules

First things first: The whole game is based on making decisions. Baccarat is played against the croupier. There are three sections on the game table: Player, Banker and Tie. You slip into the role of the observer when playing, i.e. you can choose which of the three denominations above you want your bet to be placed on.

It is also possible to place a side bet. This possibility is related to the cards that appear. No matter how many players are seated at the table – the dealer always deals two cards for the player hand and two for the banker hand. The cards are placed face up.

The best hand is the one with a total of eight or nine. The aim of the game is to guess the winner. The player of this casino table game should guess whose card value is closest to 9 points and defeat the dealer.

Various Baccarat betting options

There are three outcomes when playing baccarat:

• player hand
• bank or
• draw

It is important to understand that the terms player and bank do not refer to the parties involved in the game. It is the name of the outcomes you are betting on, i.e. the three areas of the gaming table mentioned above.

It is, well, your decision on which of the three main bets you place your wager. After that, the players and the croupier get two cards. If the hand is over a certain number of points, the third card comes into play.

The total of nine counts as the best hand. All players who correctly place their bets on one of the three main bets at the beginning of the round collect the winnings. This counts as the end of the game round. If at the end of the round the players and the banker have the same number of points, it means a tie.

Before placing your bets, it is of great importance to understand the odds and the payout.

Bank

The odds of winning the bank hand are 45.86%. If you place your bets on the bank and they win, the payout is 1:1, but you will have to pay a 5% commission, meaning this commission will be deducted from your winnings.

Player

The odds for the player hand are 44.63%. If you place your bet on the player and he wins, the payout is 1:1. This time you don’t have to pay any commission.

Draw

If the player and the bank have the same number of points, the result is a draw. The draw odds are 9.51%. If you are betting on a tie and this bet occurs, the payout is 8:1.

Whether you’re playing baccarat online or in a brick-and-mortar casino, it all boils down to player hands and bank hands being pretty safe bets. Betting on a tie is more risky.

The card values and points

In order to be able to calculate the points correctly, it is important to know which card has which value:

• The ace is worth 1 point.
• Numbered cards have their corresponding value.
• The ten and the face cards do not score.

If during the game round the score is greater than the total of nine, counting starts again from one.

To learn baccarat, it is equally important to know the term “natural”. If the player or the bank gets a total of 8 or 9 when the first two cards are dealt, such an event is called “natural” and in this case either the player or the bank wins.

If the two parties involved achieve the same number of points, a tie results. Play continues if no natural is dealt.

If the player gets 5 or less points, the croupier will deal the third card for the player. The dealer can also deal a third card to the banker’s hand, but that depends on the stats received by the two parties.

Baccarat Strategies

Actually, there is no best strategy. There are only our tips and tricks and useful tools on how best to get around the game of baccarat. We find this advice extremely beneficial as it will help you maximize your chances of winning.

• Stick to the rules:

First you need to memorize the rules of the game. The decisions during the game have to be made relatively quickly. It is therefore important that you remember the rules of the game and at the same time stick to them.

• Familiarize yourself with different Baccarat variants:

Video baccarat in an online casino helps you to try baccarat without time pressure.

There are also free demos that give you the opportunity to practice and test strategies before playing for real money.

• Check payouts and determine budget:

Always have the withdrawal options on screen and always keep in mind that your money comes first. That’s why it’s especially important before the game to set your budget and stick to it.

Conclusion: Baccarat in a nutshell

Baccarat is a classic among the most popular casino games in the world. Although the origins of the game are disputed, baccarat is the focus of interest and remains popular among gamblers. Whether Punto Banco, Chemin de Fer or Mini Baccarat – every type of player will find something here.

With our guide, you’ll be up and running quickly and go from a beginner to an experienced baccarat player in no time.

Get ready to play this exciting game with its variants and soon become the number one baccarat! We are very enthusiastic about you and keep our fingers crossed for you!