Ins and Outs of Baccarat: A Guide for New Players

Baccarat is an elegant casino game that originated in France in the late 15th century. While it may look exclusive and complicated, baccarat actually has some of the best odds and simplest rules out of all casino table games.

Baccarat Table and Layout

Baccarat is played at a curved table with places for up to 12 or 14 players. There are three betting areas on the table – one each for the Player, Banker and Tie bets. Players at Zet Casino Online do not play against each other, they play against the dealer/banker.

The shoe containing 8 decks of cards rotates around the table counterclockwise after each hand. Two hands are dealt by the players acting as the dealer – the Player hand and the Banker hand. The object of the game is to bet on whose hand between Player and Banker will be closer to 9.

Card Values and Scoring

• Face cards (K, Q, J) and 10s are worth 0 points
• Aces are worth 1 point
• 2 to 9 cards are worth face value

When the cards in a hand add up to more than 10, the second digit is the value. For example, 8 + 9 = 17 would equal 7. The best possible hand is having a value of 9 with two cards dealt. This is called “natural”. An 8 is the next best hand. If Player and Banker both have the same total, it is a tie.

How to Play Baccarat

There are three types of bets in baccarat:

• Player: Betting that the Player hand will be closer to 9
• Banker: Betting the Banker hand will be closer to 9
• Tie: Betting that Player and Banker will tie with equal totals

You place your chips on the appropriate section of the table to make your desired bet before cards are dealt.

After bets are placed, two cards each are dealt – two to the Player hand and two to the Banker hand by the players designated. If the point totals of either hand equals 8 or 9 (a “natural”) – then no more cards are drawn. If not, a third card may be given to either or both based on the rules shown below:

Player’s Third Card Rule

Banker’s Third Card Rule

Once all cards are dealt according to the chart above, the hand with the highest point total wins.

Odds and Payouts

Baccarat offers some of the lowest house edges in the casino, at around 1.06% for Player bets and 1.24% for Banker bets. Below are the payouts and odds for the three bet types:

While the payout for a Banker bet looks lower, they statistically win a little over 50% of hands – so casinos apply a 5% commission to winning Banker bets to adjust the payouts closer to even with Player bets.

Baccarat Strategies and Tips

While baccarat depends purely on the luck of the draw, there are some strategies beginners can use to boost their odds when first learning the game:

• Bet Banker: Banker bets have slightly better odds, so this is the most common wager. Avoid Tie bets due to the high house edge.
• Manage Your Money: Set betting limits, use proper bankroll management and avoid chasing losses. Lock in profits when ahead.
• Understand Trends: Look for trends of Player and Banker wins while you play – although past hands don’t predict future results, some trends can signal when to possibly change bets.
• Practice Online First: Try free online baccarat games to learn rules and develop strategies risk-free.

The beauty of baccarat is its simplicity – the dealer does much of the work while you focus on placing smart bets. By learning proper strategy for drawing rules, odds and payouts, even beginners can enjoy baccarat success with some practice.

So now that you know the ins and outs for beginners, step into the elegance of the baccarat table – and place your bets.