Basic Baccarat Rules

Baccarat is one of the easiest games. Here we give the basic baccarat rules which will help you to understand the process of the game. First of all, remember that in baccarat game the players make their betting decisions before dealing the hand, but not during the game. The players can bet either on the dealer’s hand, the player’s hand or bet for a tie.

The object of baccarat game is to place bet for that side whose point total is the closest to 9. The point totals are calculated in such a way:

• Aces are valued as 1 
• Cards from 2 to 9 are valued as indicated
• 10 and face cards are valued as 0. 

It is worth mentioning that in baccarat game it is impossible to have the hand whose point total is more than 9. So, according to the baccarat rules if you have a 8 and a 6 or a 4 and a 7 the point total is 4 and 1 correspondingly rather than 14 and 11. 

The dealer deals 2 cards for each player and the house. In case the point total of one side or both sides is 8 or 9, it is called “a natural” and the dealer stops dealing the cards. If both the dealer and the player have the same point total it is called “a tie”. If there is no a natural or a tie the dealer deals one additional card.

The player stands and doesn’t get an additional card if after the initial dealing his point total is 6 or more. If the point total is 5 or less an additional card is dealt. If at the same time the dealers hand counts up to 7 and more he doesn’t take an additional card and must stand. If the dealer’s total is 0, 1 or 2 he takes one additional card.

In case the house total adds up to 3 and the player’s third card is any card except 8, the house hits. If the house total adds up to 4 and the player's third card is any card except 1, 8, 9, or 0, house hits. If the house total adds up to 5, and the player’s third card is a 4, 5, 6, or 7, again the house hits. And if the house total adds up to 6, and the player is dealt a 6 or 7, the house hits.

The payouts in the baccarat game are very simple. According to the rules if you bet that the player’s hand will win, the payout is 1 to 1. In case you bet that the house hand will win, the payout is the same, 1 to 1. But if you bet that the dealer’s and player’s hand tie, you’ll be paid 8 to 1. As usual in most casinos the minimum bet is $1 while the maximum one is $250. If you play online baccarat you have an opportunity to familiarize with the bets and odds specific for this or that online casino.