Baccarat Rules and Strategy

Baccarat Rules and Strategy

Before playing Baccarat it is important to explore Baccarat rules and Baccarat strategy in order to get the most your of your game. Two hands are dealt in each hand of Baccarat – one to the Player box and one to Banker box. These cards rest in the middle of the layout.

The hand is then played out by the dealer according to a strict procedure, with no activity or decision-making required from the player, who is only a bystander during the game of Baccarat.

The Player hand is dealt first and Banker second. The aim of the game is to predict which hand will get the closest points value to 9. You can also bet on a tie. This prediction must be made before any cards are dealt to either Banker or Player.

Baccarat Rules – Hands Points Values

The points value of each card is simple enough: all picture cards have a value of zero, aces count as 1 and the rest of the pack counts as face value. Once the total goes over 10 it returns to single digits and the 10 is discounted.

Player is dealt first and then Banker. Both boxes are dealt two cards face up. For example, if Player has 7 and 5 Player’s points value is 12=2; if Banker has 8 and Ace, Banker has a points value of 9 (as this was scored with the first two cards, this is called a Natural). In this instance Banker has won the hand.

If both Player and Banker have the same points total, it is a tie; if Player or Banker has 8 or 9 from the first two cards, no more cards are dealt.

Baccarat Third Card Rule

If Player and Banker have a points total from 0 to 7, the dealer turns to the Third Card Rule to determine the next course of action in the game. No box receives more than three cards. Player acts first according to the following rules:
If Player’s two card total is 0 – 5, Player draws a third card
If Player’s two card total is 6 – 7, Player stands.
If Player’s two card total is 8 – 9, both Player and Banker stand.

After the Player it is Banker’s turn to act:
If Banker’s two card total is 0 – 2, Banker draws a third card.
If Banker’ s two card total is 3 – 6, Player’s hand determines draw or stand
If Banker’s two card total is 7, Banker stands.

If Banker’s two card total is 3 – 6, the dealer determines the next course of action by the following  rules:

If Player’s two card total stands (on 6 – 7), Banker’s two card total of 3, 4 or 5 must draw a third card. If Banker’s two card total is 6 in this instance, Banker stands.

Baccarat Payouts

Player wins      1 to 1
Bank wins       1 to 1
Tie                8 to 1

Baccarat Strategy

Baccarat strategy revolves mainly around which bet to place and which bet to avoid. Baccarat is a casino game of luck. You place your bet before the hands are dealt and then wait for the result.

The only strategy you can implement is to bet on the bet with the lowest house edge, that is, Banker – and always steer clear of the tie (egalitaire) bet.

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