How to Play Baccarat: Rules and Tips

Baccarat Game Terminology

Being aware of Baccarat terminology will settle you at ease the next time you launch the game in live mode. The live dealer may use the terms or not, but the players around will certainly make you feel like a rookie if you appear unprepared:

• Banco - the banker.
• Banker - one of the two hands.
• Banker bet - a bet made of the banker’s hand. Doesn’t refer to the dealer or the casino house.
• Coup - one game of Baccarat, a round.
• Face cards - J, Q, and K cards.
• House edge - the margin that shows how much profit the casino will get regardless of the game outcome.
• La Grande - a hand of 9 points in total (a slang word used in land-based casinos).
• La Petite - a hand of 8 points in total (a slang word used in land-based casinos).
• Natural - in case the first two cards (no matter who they are dealt with) make up 8 or 9 points, the term refers to this hand.
• Punto - the player.
• Shoe - referred to the box where the dealer keeps the cards he uses in the game.
• Tie - the third basic bet type of the game that shows the banker and the player have the same value hand.
• Upcard - cards that are shown to players.

How to Play Baccarat - Video for Beginners

Baccarat Table Layout

Baccarat card game is perhaps one of the oldest yet still most popular casino table games worldwide. Thanks to the simplicity of rules, low house edge, and highly engaging gameplay, it has become a favorite game on both offline and online platforms. The layout differs depending on the game variation.

Different Baccarat Table Layouts

Ground casino tables are bigger and are designed rather for high rollers. You can mostly find one in a secluded area in a ground-based casino. The limits of such tables are $50 to $150,000.

The Baccarat table has yellow numbers 1 to 15, yet the numbers 13 and 4 are omitted due to being considered unlucky. The table has a U-shaped cut in the middle for the dealer to stand. The table itself is divided into three sections - betting areas with one dealer per each. The three sections are signed as “BANKER”, “PLAYER”, and “TIE”. All the bets are to be placed here depending on what you want to wager.

The Mini Baccarat table has numbers up to 6 with the number 4 omitting again. The bets here range from $5 to $25 and can accommodate up to 6 players. The rest of the table is the same.

Online Baccarat Table Layout

Although the Baccarat game rules don’t vary based on whether you’re playing the game online or offline, playing online has its many advantages including the broad choice of tables. Accessing a gambling site, you will easily find a vacant place around a live dealer Baccarat table.

Actually, neither the virtual table nor the real one, if it’s a live game, have any differences from land-based casino Baccarat tables. Live Baccarat tables usually cater for 12 to 14 players (if it’s not a Mini-Baccarat table for 6 gamblers). The elliptical table has mirrored markings to find the places for bets easily. The Caller stands at the semi-circular areas marked “PLAYER” and “BANKER”. Up these marks lies the “TIE BETS” area.

The ordinary online Baccarat table accommodates only one player.

Baccarat Betting

Unlike other casino table games where players have a wide array of bet options, here the betting choice is limited. The three basic bets are Banker, player, and the Tie. Several side bets are available in the game, too. To understand how to play Baccarat at a casino, it’s essential to know the bets well.

Betting on Banker

Since the player is the first to get cards according to the Baccarat drawing rules, the Banker bet has the most favorable odds and the lowest house advantage. So the bet is the most popular one among gamblers. If you bet on the Banker and the dealer gets a higher hand than the Player’s, the casino will pay you off 1 to 1. However, mind that a 5% commission is always deducted from the winning bets.

Unlike the Banker bet, the Player bet is not as favorable. Yet it also pays 1 to 1 in case of a win. 

Betting on Tie

Betting on a Tie means believing the dealer and the payer will get an equal hand. Even though the payout of this bet is really big - 8 to1 or 9 to 1, the house edge is not in players’ favor. The house edge is almost 15%!

Side Bets

Side bets at Baccarat add a unique flavor to the simple gameplay. You can meet them at both online and offline casinos. Here is a table with the important details on several most popular side bets:

Pair Bets

This review on Baccarat casino rules couldn’t omit the introduction of a Pair Bet. This is a side wager on the first two cards (dealt either to the Banker or the Dealer) forming a pair. It can be K, K, or 9,9, etc. The bettor loses in case of any other outcome. As a player, you can place a pair bet on the Banker, the Player, or both. The odds are 11:1, while the house edge is either 10.36% (in an 8-deck game) or 11.25% (in a 6-deck game).

Conclusion

With the simplest playing rules, quite beneficial odds, and engaging gameplay (with side bets incorporated), Baccarat keeps its title as a widely played casino game in many countries. Regardless of the venue you are playing at, the Baccarat rules will remain identical, just as the bet options, odds, and the house edge. What we would recommend is just to keep some Baccarat tips up your sleeve to boost your winning chances. Don’t make the too risky Tie or side bets, mind your bankroll, and practice on free legal sites first.