I
n baccarat rules, the player's objective is to get a hand that is
closer to 9 in value than the banker's. The game is
played modulo 10, that is if the total of the hand is greater
than 10, then 10 is subtracted from the total. (Thus the value
of a hand is always between 0 through 9)
For example, if the players cards total 15, 10 is
subtracted and the value of the hand becomes 5. An ace counts
as 1, two counts as 2, etc., up through nine counts as 9, but
tens (also jacks, queens and kings) count as 0.
To start a hand both player and banker are dealt two cards,
and the next move depends on the cards in the hands.
If the player or banker has a two card total of 8 or 9,
he/she turns the cards over immediately. The other must do so
also. (In online baccarat cards are always face
up) A 9 value wins over any lesser total, and if neither
player has a 9 then 8 wins over any lesser total. Tied 9s or
tied 8s are a stand off; no money changes hands. (unless ties
can be bet on, as with most online venues)
If neither the player or the banker has a natural (a total
of 8 or 9) then play goes to the player. The player stands on
a total of 6 or 7, but if the player has a total of 5 or less
he/she must draw one card (face up).
Now it is the bankers turn. With a total of 7, he stands.
With a total of 6 or less, his selection depends on the value
of his two card total and the value of the card that the
player drew. The rules are as follows:
The game must be played by the rules, there are
no options for either the player or the dealer.
|
Value
held
|
Action
|
|
0
(10, J, Q, K)
1
2
3
4
5
|
Draws a
card
|
|
6
7
|
Stands
|
|
8
9
|
Turns cards
over
|
|
|
|
|
Value held
|
Draws When
Giving
|
Does Not Draw
When Giving
|
|
0 (10, J, Q, K)
1
2
|
Draws a card
|
Draws a card
|
|
3
|
0 (10, J, Q,
K)-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9
|
8
|
|
4
|
2-3-4-5-6-7
|
0 (10, J, Q,
K)-1-8-9
|
|
5
|
4-5-6-7
|
0 (10, J, Q,
K)-1-2-3-8-9
|
|
6
|
6-7
|
0 (10, J, Q,
K)-1-2-3-4-5-8-9
|
|
7
|
Stands
|
Stands
|
|
8
|
Turns cards over
|
Turns cards over
|
|
Baccarat has a very reasonable set of odds for the player when
compared to most games. On player bets the house has a small
edge, to compensate for this the house takes a commission
(usually 5 percent) on winning bank bets.
Bets are made prior to any cards being dealt. The banker
plays against only one player at a time, but any or all the
other players may bet on the hand.
In regular casinos, baccarat is played on a kidney shaped
table that can sit up to 12 or 14 players depending on the
size of the table. Three dealers (croupiers) run the game; one
handles the cards, while the other two handle the wagers and
the commission that is paid on winning bank bets. Where the
players sit is not important, but bets must be made in a
marked area on the table that corresponds to the players seat.
Players may bet three ways: on the bank, on the players
hand, or for a tie. Players often switch from betting
on the bank to betting on the players hand and vice versa.
(Betting for a tie is not usually smart, while having a larger
payoff, it is considered one of the worst wagers in the
casino.) A bet is made by placing money on the table in your
marked area on the wagered spot. For example if you are player
number 3 and wish to bet on the bank you place the desired
wager amount on the table layout place for player number 3
marked bank.
Winning player and bank bets pay even money (excluding
banker bet commissions). Hands that result in a tie usually
pay off at 8 to 1 and a bank or player bet is treated as a
push with the money sitting on the table for the next hand.
