How To Play

Baccarat is a guessing game with three bets: Player, Banker, or Tie. Two hands are dealt and the one closest to 9 wins. Tens and face cards count as zero, aces as one. If a hand totals more than 9, only the last digit counts (a 7 and an 8 = 15 = 5). Drawing rules are fixed - you make no in-hand decisions.

House Edge

BetHouse EdgePayoutBanker1.06%0.95:1 (5% commission)Player1.24%1:1Tie14.36%8:1

These figures assume an 8-deck shoe. Banker wins slightly more often than Player because of the favorable third-card draw rules, which is why the house charges commission.

Basic Strategy

• Bet Banker on every hand. It is mathematically the best bet at the table.
• Switch to Player only if you find a no-commission table that pays full even money - then check the rules for a half-pay on Banker 6.
• Never bet Tie. The 14.36% edge is one of the worst on the casino floor.
• Ignore the scorecard. Past hands have zero predictive value.

Common Mistakes

Chasing streaks on the bead-plate scoreboard and switching bets to "follow the shoe." Each hand is independent. Betting Tie because of the 8:1 payout - the true odds are closer to 9.5:1. Using progressive systems like Martingale on Banker; table limits guarantee a catastrophic loss eventually.

Example Hand

Player draws 5 and 4 (total 9, a natural). Banker draws 3 and 2 (total 5). Banker must draw a third card per the rules. If Banker pulls a 6, total is 11 = 1, and Player wins. The decisions are automatic - you only choose your bet.

Bottom Line

Baccarat is fast, simple, and offers the second-lowest house edge in the casino on the Banker bet. There is no skill component, so success is purely about bankroll discipline. Set a session loss limit before you sit down and walk away when you hit it.