How to Play Baccarat

Author: Isaac Payne | Last Updated: February 2025

Baccarat is preferred by many online casino goers because of its high return to player (RTP) rate of 98.94%, but many people are wary to play baccarat because of its complexity.

However, baccarat is actually an easy game to learn. In this guide, we'll show you how to play baccarat online, give you the full scoop on side bets and game variants, and let you in on some tips for success.

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How to Play Baccarat Online: The Basics

Baccarat has pretty straightforward rules when you get down to it. Baccarat is usually played using a six or eight deck shoe and can have more than one bettor, but the gameplay is between one player and the banker. Before cards are dealt, all bettors have the option to place bets on either the player’s hand, the banker’s hand, or a tie.

In baccarat, cards 2-9 are worth face value, 10s and face cards are worth zero and aces are worth one point. The total for each hand is calculated by adding the values of two cards. If the total is a two-digit number, only the second digit counts. For example, a hand of 4 and 9 is worth 3 in baccarat.

Here is how a game of online baccarat plays out, step by step:

Step 01

Placing Bets:

The people at the table bet on either the player’s hand, the banker’s hand, or a tie.

Step 02

Initial Deal:

The player and the banker are dealt two cards each.

Step 03

The Player Makes a Bet:

After the initial deal the player bets on whether their hand or the dealer’s is closer to nine, or if they will tie.

Step 04

Cards are Revealed:

Both the player and the banker reveal their hands. If either hand totals eight or nine, it is called a natural win, no more cards are dealt and the highest hand wins. If both hands are equal, it is a tie.

Step 05

Player’s Rule:

If a natural win does not occur, the player’s hand goes first. If the player’s hand totals 0-5, they draw a third card. If the player’s hand totals 6-7, they stand.

Step 06

Banker’s Rule:

The banker’s action depends on their hand and if the player drew a third card. If the player stands, the banker draws if their hand totals 0-5 and stands if they have a 6-7. If the player drew a third card, the banker must follow different rules based on the value of the card the player drew.

Step 07

Deciding the Winner:

Once the player and the banker have either stood or drawn cards based on the rules, the hand that is closest to 9 wins. If the total of both hands is equal, it is a tie.

Prev Step

Next Step

The third card rule can be difficult for new baccarat players. The chart below will help you know when the banker must draw or stand:

Player’s Third Card	Banker Draws	Banker Stands
2 or 3	0-4	5-7
4 or 5	0-5	6 or 7
6 or 7	0-6	7
8	0-2	3-7
Ace, 9, 10, or a face card	0-3	4-7

Baccarat Wagers

Baccarat Wagers:

Baccarat offers simple betting options, which adds to its appeal. There are three primary baccarat wagers, and they are:

Banker Bet: The banker’s hand is closest to nine.
Player Bet: The player’s hand is closest to nine.
Tie Bet: The banker and the players hand value are equal.

Baccarat Side Bets

Online baccarat offers interesting side betting opportunities as well. These bets usually offer higher payouts with lower odds and higher house edge. Here are the most popular side bets in online baccarat:

Side Bet	How You Win	Payout	House Edge
Pair Bets (Banker or Player)	The first two cards dealt are a pair (8♦️ 8♠️) You can bet on either the Banker or Player	11:1	10.36%
Perfect Pair	Either the Banker or Player’s first two cards are identical (9♥️ 9♥️)	25:1	13.03%
Either Pair	The first to cards of either the Banker or Player form a pair (4♦️ 4♠️)	5:1	14.54%
Big Bet	The total number of cards dealt to both hands is 5 or 6	0.54:1 or 2:1	4.35%
Small Bet	The total number of cards dealt to both hands is exactly 4	1.5:1	5.27%
Super 6	The Banker’s winning hand totals to 6	12:1	29.98%
Dragon 7	The Banker’s winning hand totals to 7 between three cards	40:1	7.61%
Panda 8	The Player wins with a three card total of 8	25:1	10.19%
Royal Match	The first two cards dealt to either the Player or Banker are suited King and Queen (K♠️ Q♠️)	75:1	2.13%
Tie Side Bet (8-8 or 9-9)	A tie occurs specifically between two 8s or two 9s	80:1	17.00%

Baccarat House Edge

The house edge in Baccarat is the casino’s built-in mathematical advantage over players, ensuring that the house profits over time. It represents the percentage of each bet that the casino expects to keep in the long run.

The house edge is different for each of the three baccarat wagers:

Wager Type	House Edge
Banker Bet	1.06%
Player Bet	1.24%
Tie Bet (8:1)	14.36%
Tie Bet (9:1)	4.85%

The Banker bet has the lowest house edge at 1.06%, making it the best option for players. It wins slightly more often than the Player bet due to the game’s rules, but casinos compensate for this by taking a 5% commission on Banker wins.

The Tie bet has a significantly higher house edge—14.36% when paying 8:1—because ties occur less frequently. Some casinos offer a 9:1 payout, reducing the edge to 4.85%, but it remains a riskier bet.

Over thousands of hands, the house edge ensures the casino profits, but in the short term, players may experience wins and losses due to luck. Because of this, the best strategy in Baccarat is to stick to the Banker bet, which provides the most favorable odds for consistent play.

Baccarat Game Variants

There are many ways to play online baccarat. Here are the most popular versions of baccarat you can find at online casino sites:

Punto Banco (Standard Baccarat)

This is the most common version of baccarat, where Punto means player, and Banco means bank. Essentially betting on the Player and the Banker. In this variant, a dealer handles everything, making it a fast, straightforward game. Most live games and RNG titles are standard baccarat with a 5% commission.

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Dragon Tiger

Dragon Tiger is a simplified, high-speed Baccarat variant where players bet on Dragon (one card) or Tiger (another card)—whichever gets the higher card wins. This variant does not have a third card, and is most popular online and at Asian casinos.

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Live Dealer Baccarat

Baccarat is one of the most popular live dealer games you can find at online casinos. Because the game accommodates multiple players, it’s a solid option if you’re looking to play Punto Banco. Fresh Deck and ViG are two of the best developers for live Baccarat

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Mini Baccarat

Mini Baccarat is a faster-paced version of Punto Banco played on a smaller table with lower betting limits. Because of its quick nature, Mini Baccarat often uses only 6 decks instead of standard 8, giving it a slight boost in house edge. This variant is quite popular at land-based casinos, but is a rare sight online.

Tips for Baccarat Success

Winning at online baccarat involves a combination of luck and keen decision-making. It is important to be familiar with the rules of baccarat and the betting options to have a chance of winning more frequently. There is no definitive way to win at baccarat or gain an edge, but there are a few tips you can apply to your gameplay to increase your chances of success:

Play Smaller Shoes

If possible, play baccarat games with smaller shoes. Baccarat with a 6-deck shoe actually has a 0.50% reduction in house edge. While it seems minimal, over dozens of hands, that lower percentage can make a difference.

Find No Commission Games

The typical baccarat commission is 5%, which can quickly become a big sum if you end up winning an awesome hand. The best way to avoid this and still play the Banker bet is to find no commission games. El Royale and BetWhale both offer no commission baccarat.

Avoid Side Bets in the Long Term

Side bets are essentially the casino’s way of increasing the house edge to make baccarat more profitable for themselves. You’re paying an additional wager on a bet that has a much lower chance of hitting than a traditional Banker bet. You are welcome to try side bets for a few hands, but don’t invest heavily into them.

Expert Answers to Baccarat Questions

There are a lot of questions out there about how baccarat works, so we figured it was a good idea to answer some of them here!

Can you count cards in baccarat?

Answer

Isaac Payne,

Counting cards in baccarat is a bit more difficult than in blackjack, but it is possible. Card counting gives you a bit of an advantage if you’re playing certain side bets, but overall it’s much easier to focus on basic strategy than to gain an edge with counting cards.

What are the odds in baccarat?

Answer

Isaac Payne,

The odds of hitting a banker bet is 45.8%, and the player bet is 44.6%. The tie bet wins around 9.6% of the time.

How many baccarat hands are dealt per hour?

Answer

Isaac Payne,

The answer really depends on the variant of the game, whether it’s RNG or live, etc.

But on average, a live dealer baccarat game will deal out 40-70 hands per hour, while RNG games are between 150-200.

Responsible Gambling

Online gambling, whether you’re playing baccarat, slots, or betting on sports, can easily become addictive. Don’t chase your losses, and always set a budget. Make sure you gamble responsibly, and reach out to these resources if you think you have a problem:

Now You Know How to Play Baccarat

Well, now you know how to play baccarat online, and it was much simpler than you imagined, wasn’t it?

As you start playing baccarat, remember that betting the Banker is better than betting the Player or a Tie because it has a lower house edge. And don’t forget to look for no commission games, which offer a better shake for players looking to make profit.

If you’re ready to take your skills to the baccarat board, check out some of our recommended gambling sites specifically for baccarat.

About the Author

Isaac Payne Author

Isaac E. Payne is an experienced technical blogger, creative writer, and lead content manager at GamblingSites.org. As a published author, he enjoys finding interesting and exciting ways to cover any topic. In his four years on the team, he has covered online gambling and sports betting and excelled at reviewing casino sites. In his free time, he enjoys playing blackjack and reading science fiction.

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How to Play Baccarat

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