How to Play Baccarat
Since there is little for the participant to do other than bet every deal, baccarat really is an easy casino game to enjoy. Everything that takes place during a game is based upon a standard set of rules, with no decisions made by the player or dealer.
The aim of the game is to get closer to 9 with your hand count then the dealers hand does. Different from Blackjack, you can’t “bust”. In baccarat when a hand total is 10 or better, then ten is taken from that total so the total is always less than 9.
Once the player has decided to put money on a tie, the bankers or players hand, each receives two cards.
If either hand is dealt a hand total of eight or nine it is referred to as a natural, that hand wins and the hand is finished. When both hands receive 8 or 9, it is a tie.
If neither one receives a “natural” following the initial deal, what occurs next is dependent on their hand totals.
The player goes initially:
| The Players Hand Is: | The Dealers Hand Is: |
| 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 | Takes a third card |
| 6, 7 | Stay |
After the players turn, the bankers hand receives an addional card (or not) based on the players draw:
| The Bankers Hand Is: | ||
| 0, 1 or 2 | Any hand | Draws a card |
| 3 | 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 | Draw a card |
| 8 | Stay | |
| 9 | No further cards | |
| 4 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 | Takes a card |
| 0, 1, 8 or 9 | Stays | |
| 5 | 5, 6 or 7 | Takes a card |
| 0, 1, 2, 3, 8 or 9 | Stays | |
| 4 | Draws a card | |
| 6 | 6 or 7 | Draw a card |
| 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 or 9 | Stay | |
| 7 | Anything | Stays |
Following the deal, the hand valued closer to 9 wins the round.