Baccarat Rules

Baccarat, which etymologically comes from the Latin word baccara, originally hails from Europe, although you will most likely run across the American version when playing baccarat in an online casino.  The game is reportedly credited as being the invention of the Italian, Felix Falguierein.  Records show that baccarat was brought to France in the 15th Century, making its way to America in the late sixties when Las Vegas casinos needed a makeover of sophisticated gambling games.  And although the rules of the game itself are not at all sophisticated, baccarat does have a reputation of being a high-class game for high rollers.

The layout of the baccarat table is relatively unchanged since its royal beginnings.  Each side mirrors the other, and consists of fifteen places for players to sit at one time, with 4 half circles directly in front of the players.  The first row of numbers is simply a position marker.  The second row has the word Players marked on it, which conveniently has one letter corresponding to each number marker.  This is where wagers on the Player Hand are set.  The following half-circle has the word Bankers marked on it, which also conveniently has one letter corresponding to each betting position. This box is where bets on the banker's hand are set.  The last and remaining circle says the word 'Tie' and 8 to 1 (or 9 to 1), depending on what odds the casino pays tie bets.  This is where bets on a tie hand are set.  A series of numbered boxes (one for each player) is where commission fees are kept track, since the casino does not collect its commission fees from players every game.  The three boxes behind these numbers are the drop box, discard tray, and tip box.  There are usually two dealers and one caller, also called a croupier, who directs the game.  In online baccarat you will only be confronted with probably three betting seats and the corresponding player, banker, and tie wager boxes.

Two hands are dealt and the players have to bet which side will win or whether there will be a tie. Each hand consists of at least two, but sometimes three cards. The dealer will place two cards face down under the dealer-shoe and will hand two face down cards to the player who has placed the largest bet on punto. The punto player then looks at the cards and hands them back to the dealer, who will then turn the cards over. One of the casino dealers will announce the results and the winner.

Card Values
The object of baccarat is to bet for a side whose point total will be the closest to 9 in value. In baccarat, card values are as follows:

• Aces = 1
• 2-9 = their face value
• 10, J, Q, K = 0

The totals in baccarat never reach over 9 and a player can never go bust. This means when a hand is dealt 7 and 9 the hand total is not 16, but rather 6. The ten value of every hand is discarded and only the last digit is used. IE: if a player is dealt a 3 and an 8, the total is not 11, but rather 1.

If either the punto or banco are dealt an 8 or a 9, the hand is called a ‘natural’ and no more cards are dealt. If the point value of both sides is the same then a tie is declared. If, after receiving two cards, neither the punto nor banco have reached a natural or no tie is declared, one additional card needs to be dealt, usually according to very specific rules.

Third Card Rules
A third card is dealt to either the punto or the banco, or both, based on the following third-card rules:

• If the player or the banker has a total of 8 or 9, then a natural is declared and no further cards are dealt – the hand is over.
• If the player’s total is less than or equal to five, the player draws a third card.
• If the player does not take a third card, then the bank’s hand will stand on a six but will draw on a five or less.
• If the bank’s total is two or less, then the bank draws a third card, irrespective of the player’s third card.
• If the bank’s total is three then a third card is drawn, unless the player’s third card is an eight.
• If the bank’s total is four then a third card is drawn, unless the player’s third card is a zero, one, eight or nine.
• If the bank’s total is five then a third card is drawn, unless the player’s third card is a four, five, six or seven.
• If the bank’s total is six then a third card is drawn, unless the player’s third card is six or seven.
• If the bank’s total is seven, then the bank stands.

Third Card Rules Chart