How to Play Baccarat
Learn how to play The sophisticated game of baccarat!
Baccarat is played on a table that can seat 12 to 14 players. While the seats are numbered so commissions and buy-ins can be tracked, the number 13 does not exist because it is considered to be an unlucky number. Baccarat is played with 6 or 8 standard English decks each with 52 cards. A cut-card is inserted 16 cards from the shoe’s end and when it is drawn it means it is the last hand of that shoe.
Once players place their wagers, a 2-card hand is dealt to the Banker and Player beginning with the Player. These hands are the only ones that are dealt and every wager at the table is based on the outcome of these hands. The totals are then compared and specific rules determine if the player receives a 3rd card. Next, the value of the cards received by the player will determine if the banker should receive a 3rd card. The game’s outcome is based on the totals of the two hands.
Values of Cards
• Kings, Queens, Jacks and Tens equal 0
• Aces equal 1
• All remaining cards (between 2 and 9) count as their face value
Hand totals are between 0 and 9 because 10 is subtracted from totals greater than 9. For instance, if a player has a hand of 9, 3 and 4 it is a total of 16 which then becomes 6. Tie bets are also a possibility but they are not recommended as the house edge is too high.
Game Objective
The goal of this game is to correctly choose the winning hand – the Banker and the Player. The object of the Banker and Player hand is to get a total that is closest to 9.
