Baccarat has long held a reputation as the most exclusive, intimidating game on the casino floor.
Novice players tend to stick to familiar games like Blackjack, completely avoiding the intimidating Baccarat pit.
It is, fundamentally, nothing more than a sophisticated coin flip disguised behind French terminology.
Once you strip away the velvet ropes and the aura of exclusivity, you are left with an incredibly fast, straightforward game of chance.
We will guide you through your first hand so you can confidently approach the table like a seasoned high roller.
The Objective: Getting Closer to Nine
The entire premise of Baccarat is to bet on which of two hands will have a total score closest to the number 9.
Before any cards are dealt, you place your chips in one of three betting circles in front of you: Player, Banker, or Tie.
Once bets are placed, the dealer deals exactly two cards to the Player hand and two cards to the Banker hand.
If a hand receives a 9 and a 9, the sum is 18. Drop the "1", and the true value is an 8.
The highest possible score is a perfect 9, and the lowest possible score is a 0 (e.g., a hand of two Queens).
Why Baccarat Requires Zero Skill
In some situations, the Player or the Banker hand (or both) will receive a third card.
The rules for the Banker drawing a third card are even more complicated, depending on the Banker's total AND the value of the Player's third card.
Unlike Blackjack, where you must actively choose to "Hit" or "Stand," Baccarat is played on autopilot.
Your involvement in the game completely ends the moment you place your chips on the betting circle.
Do not let the complex mechanics of the dealer deter you from playing this incredibly simple game.
The Mathematics of the Baccarat Bets
The math clearly dictates that one of these bets is significantly superior to the other two.
The Banker hand will win approximately 50.68% of the time (excluding ties).
Because the Banker bet has a built-in mathematical advantage, the casino charges a 5% commission on all winning Banker bets.
Betting the Banker minimizes your long-term losses and gives you the absolute best odds of walking away a winner.
While the Tie bet offers a tempting 8 to 1 payout, the true odds of a tie occurring are roughly 9.5 to 1.
The Baccarat Cheat Sheet
The Goal: Bet on the hand (Player or Banker) that will finish closest to a total score of 9. The Banker Bet: Pays 1 to 1, minus a 5% casino commission. House Edge is 1.06%. The mathematically superior bet. The Third Card Rule: A complex set of rules the dealer follows. You do not need to memorize or understand it. Punto Banco: The official name for the version of Baccarat played in North America and Macau.
The Two Most Popular Card Games
Game FeatureBlackjack (Basic Strategy)Baccarat (Banker Bet) Mathematical EdgeHighly dependent on player skillStatic, locked in by the rules of the game Skill Level RequiredHigh (Must memorize complex strategy charts)Zero (Just point at the Banker circle) Stress LevelCan be stressful making the wrong callZero stress once the bet is placed
Baccarat is the ultimate paradox of the casino: it looks incredibly sophisticated but is actually the easiest game in the building.
Find a low-limit "Mini-Baccarat" table, place your $10 on the Banker circle, and experience the easiest game in Vegas.
Enjoy the elegance of the game, have fun tracking the massive scoreboards, and watch the nines roll in.