Rules of baccarat

The decks used in Baccarat (Punto Banco) are generally 6 or 8.

 

How to Play

Each player has two boxes in front of him: one for placing bets on the player, and the other for placing bets on the banker. It is also possible to bet on a "tie" in a designated area and often are allowed side bets.

 

The player has only two decisions to make before the cards are dealt:

1. Choose the position to bet on.

2. Decide the amount of the bet (obviously within the minimum and maximum limits set by the table).

 

The dealer draws four cards: the first and third are for the player, the second and fourth for the banker.

 

Cards have face value, while face cards and tens are worth 0.

 

The highest score achievable in Baccarat is 9.

 

The score of the hand is obtained by summing the cards, and if the total exceeds 10, is needed to subtract 10 whenever possible. For example, if the player's two cards are 4 and 8, the total will be 12, so the score will be 2.

 

The score always varies from 0 to 9.

 

A third card may be dealt to the player, the banker, or both.

 

Scores of 8 and 9 (natural) from the first two cards confer the right to "stand" to both the player and the banker, meaning both stop, preventing the opponent from drawing a card.

 

The player acts first. The player draws or does not draw the third card based on the score they have achieved.

 

Player Actions

- The player draws a card with: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

 

- The player stands with: 6, 7, 8, 9.

 

Banker Actions

- The banker draws a card with: 0, 1, 2.

- The banker stands with: 7, 8, 9.

 

With scores of 3, 4, 5, 6, the banker must follow the draw table below, which depends on the player's actions:

 

 

Banker's Hand

Banker Draws if Player's Third Card is:

Banker Stands if Player's Third Card is:

   

3

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-10

8

4

2-3-4-5-6-7

1-8-9-10

5

4-5-6-7

1-2-3-8-9-10

6

6-7

1-2-3-4-5-8-9-10

   

 

The Player's and Banker's scores are compared, and the higher score wins.

 

Winning bets placed on the Player are paid 1 to 1, those on the Banker are paid 19 to 20 (even money minus a 5% commission), and those on a Tie are usually paid 8 to 1.

 

Note: In the case of a "Tie," all bets placed on the Player or Banker are returned to the player.