How to Play Baccarat: A Beginner’s Guide

Baccarat has long held a reputation as the most exclusive, intimidating game on the casino floor.

Many beginners assume that a game favored by the elite must have incredibly complex rules and require deep strategic knowledge.

The massive irony is that Baccarat is actually the simplest table game in the entire casino.

Furthermore, Baccarat offers some of the absolute best mathematical odds available to a casino player.

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.

Tens, Jacks, Queens, and Kings are worth absolutely zero points in Baccarat.

For example, if a hand is dealt a 7 and an 8, the sum is 15. You drop the “1”, making the true value of the hand a 5.

The highest possible score is a perfect 9, and the lowest possible score is a 0 (e.g., a hand of two Queens).

The Third Card Rule (Why You Don’t Need to Learn It)

The rules governing whether a third card is drawn are incredibly complex, based on a rigid mathematical matrix.

Looking at the third-card chart can cause a beginner to instantly panic and walk away from the table.

The casino dealer has memorized the complex matrix and handles all the card drawing strictly according to the rules.

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.

Why the Banker Bet is the Best Option

To do this, we must look at the house edge associated with each of the three possible wagers: Player, Banker, and Tie.

However, because of the complex third-card rules, the “Banker” hand is mathematically designed to win slightly more often than the Player hand.

Even with this 5% tax, the Banker bet still carries the lowest house edge in the entire game: an incredibly low 1.06%.

Betting the Banker minimizes your long-term losses and gives you the absolute best odds of walking away a winner.

Finally, you must avoid the “Tie” bet at all costs; it is famously one of the worst sucker bets in the entire casino.

Quick Reference Guide to Baccarat

• Scoring: Add the cards together and drop the first digit (e.g., 8 + 7 = 15. The score is 5).
• The Player Bet: Pays 1 to 1. House Edge is 1.24%. A perfectly fine, safe bet to make.
• The Third Card Rule: A complex set of rules the dealer follows. You do not need to memorize or understand it.
• Commission: Do not forget that the dealer will take 5% of your Banker winnings; they usually keep track and collect it when you leave.

Why Play Baccarat Instead of Blackjack?

Baccarat is the ultimate paradox of the casino: it looks incredibly sophisticated but is actually the easiest game in the building.

If you are tired of memorizing Blackjack charts or staring blankly at slot machines, Baccarat is the perfect escape.

Enjoy the elegance of the game, have fun tracking the massive scoreboards, and watch the nines roll in.