Baccarat Game Rules

Baccarat is an exciting game filled with suspense and intrigue. It’s easy to learn and simple to play. There are three possible outcomes in a game: Player win, Banker win, or a tie. Keep in mind, “Banker” doesn’t mean the house. Players have the option to either bet on the player’s hand or the banker’s hand. For an equally thrilling experience, join BLITZPOKER, one of India’s top online poker platforms, where the stakes are high and the rewards even higher.

History

The exact origins of Baccarat are debated. Some sources suggest it began in the 19th century, while others trace its introduction to France in the late 15th century by soldiers returning from the Italian Wars under King Charles VIII.

Baccarat gained popularity among French nobility during the 19th century. Before casino gambling was legalised in 1907, it was commonly played in private gaming rooms. The earliest version, Baccarat Banque, is a three-player game mentioned in the book Album des jeux by Charles Van-Tenac. From this, Chemin de Fer, a two-player zero-sum variation, evolved.

Baccarat Punto Banco, which introduced betting on whether the Player or Banker hand wins, marked a key shift towards modern baccarat. This version became a house-banked game in Havana during the 1940s and is now the most widely played form.

In recent years, American casinos have seen a sharp rise in revenue from baccarat. For instance, in Nevada, baccarat accounted for 18.3% of table gaming revenue in May 2012, but this surged to 45.2% by May 2014.

In Macau, Baccarat is the leading table game, generating the majority of public revenue through taxation on its play.

Gameplay

Players usually bid to determine who will take the bank. The bank remains until the banker either loses all funds or chooses to withdraw it. Like other banking games, each deal pits a player against the banker. First, the banker places a stake on the table. Any player can declare “Banco” to challenge the banker, matching their stake in one go. If this happens, only the banker and that player are involved.

Otherwise, the game follows normal play. Non-banking players are split into two sides—those to the right and those to the left of the banker. Each round, a representative from each side is selected to play against the banker. Initially, these are the players next to the banker, but if a player loses, the role moves down the line until everyone on that side has played. Then, the responsibility returns to the player closest to the banker. Essentially, each deal sees the banker play against two chosen representatives from each half of the table.

The banker starts by placing their stake, and players on each side take turns adding their own until their total matches the banker’s stake. The banker then deals two cards to themselves and to each representative. If any hand totals 8 or 9, it must be shown immediately, and the other hands are revealed as well, settling the bets.

If no one has an 8 or 9, each participant can take a third card, starting with the player to the banker’s right and ending with the banker. If neither representative takes a third card, the banker must take one. Any third card is dealt face-up. Then, all hands are revealed, and bets are settled.

If a player’s hand is better than the banker’s, the banker pays out all bets on that side. If the player’s hand is worse, the banker collects those bets. If the hands are equal, no money is exchanged.

How to Play Baccarat

You start by placing a bet on either the Player or the Banker using your chips. Once all bets are placed, the dealer announces “no more bets” and deals one card to the Player box, followed by one to the Banker box. This process is repeated until each box has two cards.

If your chosen bet matches the box with the highest total, you win. Otherwise, you lose that round. There’s also a third-card rule, which is covered below.

It’s important to note that Baccarat’s card-ranking rules differ from most other casino games.

Baccarat Game Key Rules to Know

Betting Options: Baccarat offers five types of bets: Player Bet, Banker’s Bet, Tie Bet, Super Six Bet, and Pair Bet.
Card Rankings: In Baccarat, 9 is the highest value. 10, face cards, and picture cards count as 0 points. Cards 2-9 keep their face value, while an Ace is worth 1 point.
Scoring: If the total points exceed 9, only the second digit counts. For example, 10 becomes 0, 11 becomes 1, 12 becomes 2, and so on.
Winning: The bet closest to 9 wins. If neither the Player nor Banker has 8 or 9, the dealer might draw a third card.
Tie Outcome: In a tie, no hand wins or loses. Optional bets are resolved as per the payout table.
Dealing Order: The dealer always deals to the Player first, then to the Banker.
Player Bet Wins: If the Player’s hand totals 8 or 9, the bet wins and pays even money.
Natural Nine: This occurs when the first two cards add up to 9 (e.g., an Ace and an Eight, or a 9 and a Jack).
Banker Bet Wins: If the Banker’s hand totals 8 or 9, the bet wins and pays even money.
Banker’s 6-Point Win: If the Banker wins with exactly 6 points, the payout is 50% of the initial bet.
Tie Bet: If both hands have the same value, it’s a tie (also called “Egalité”). A winning tie bet pays 8x the bet amount.
Super Six Bet: This is an optional side bet that pays 12x if the Banker wins with 6 points.
Pair Bet: Another optional side bet where you win if the first two cards form a pair (e.g., two Kings). This bet pays 11x the bet amount.

Baccarat Game Drawing Rules

When neither the player nor the banker is dealt a “natural” 8 or 9 in their first two cards, drawing rules are applied. The player’s rule is checked first, followed by the banker’s.