Baccarat is one of the most loved casino games. When discussing the most played casino games at most, if not all, online casinos, baccarat ranks high. What makes baccarat highly popular is that it’s an enterprising game that offers some handsome payouts. More impressive than this is the fact that it’s a simple game with straightforward gameplay rules. As such, it accommodates different player types, including newbies who are just starting out.
Those who would love to join in the fun hence play the fascinating and highly exciting game of baccarat simply need to spare a few moments to read this comprehensive how-to-play baccarat guide.
The Objective When Playing Baccarat
To better understand how to play baccarat, one must know the objective behind playing the game. The objective of playing the game is to predict which hand is more valuable between the player’s hand and the banker’s hand. The hand that’s closest to 9 wins. At times it’s possible for the two face-up cards which are dealt to both the player and the banker to be of the same value. If this is the case, then it means it’s a tie. As such, when playing baccarat, the player has to bet on either the player, the banker or a tie.
General Baccarat Rules
When it comes to baccarat, there are a few rules that guide the gameplay experience. All players who play the game should know these rules and they should be guided by the rules in their gaming adventures. The rules are as follows:
- If the value of the two cards dealt to either the player or the banker exceeds a total of 9, the first number is dropped leaving only the second number (unit digit) as the hand value. For example, if the player is dealt an 8 and a 7 bringing the total to 15, the first number that is ‘1’ is dropped leaving a hand value of ‘5’
- If either the player or the banker is dealt a total of 8 or 9, they automatically stand
- If the value of the player’s hand is 5 or less, another card may be dealt
- If the player chooses to stand with a hand value of 5 or less, the banker will in turn hit on a total of 5 or less
Baccarat Winning Odds
As more motivation to push players to give the game a try, players ought to note that baccarat is a highly enterprising game to play. Any bet placed for the player if successful will pay double the bet. This in essence means a $10 bet for the player if successful will pay out $20. The bigger the payout, the bigger the reward. Any bet placed for the player if successful will pay 95% of the wager. A bet for a tie if successful will payout 8-to-1.
The Step-by-Step Guide on How to Play Baccarat

1. Choose a Trustworthy Online Casino to Play At
The first thing that players need to do is to find a trustworthy online casino to play at. In choosing the casino to play at, players need to pick one that offers an extensive range of baccarat games. On this front, players ought to note that there are RNG baccarat games as well as live baccarat games (available in live dealer sections). Depending on the game mode players prefer, players should select casinos that offer those games.
2. Select a Baccarat Game that Suits Your Bankroll
Like most casino games, baccarat is a game that has both low-roller and high-roller variants. As such, players must pick a variant whose betting range is friendly to the pocket. For beginners, it is recommended to go with low-roller games at first. This is necessitated by the fact that these games enable the player to practise and get a good hang of the gameplay rules without risking much money.
3. Choose the Bet Option You Want
After choosing the game you want to play, you can proceed to launch it. Once you do, your focus should turn to the bet options. On this front, you need to choose the bet option you want to go for between the player, the banker or a tie.
4. Place Your Wager and Let the Fun Begin
The next step is to place the wager. Once you place a wager, all that’s left is for the betting window to close and when it does, the fun will begin. The dealer will deal two face-up cards both to the player and the banker. Depending on the nature and type of the cards dealt, the game may end once the player and the banker calculates their hand or the gaming action may extend as more cards are dealt.
Hand Ranking
Baccarat is different to other table and card games when it comes to hand ranking. Before players start playing the game, they need to understand how to count their hand. This is necessitated by the fact that counting the hand determines if the player is going to win or not.
In baccarat, all face cards (King, Queen and Jack) and Tens are worth zero points. Ace is worth one point while all other face cards are worth their face value. Jokers aren’t part of the deck that’s used when playing baccarat.
There is a thing called a ‘natural win’ in baccarat and this win occurs when either the player or the banker is dealt an 8 or a 9 (hand value) in the first round. After a natural win, the game ends and any bets that may have been placed will be cashed out.
Baccarat Strategy


Players may implement various baccarat strategies if they so wish. However, it’s important to note that baccarat is a chance-based game hence luck is the one thing that determines if the player is going to win or not. While baccarat strategies are there, they are not a guarantee that they will bring the desired results. What the strategies may do is simply enhance to a lesser extent the chances of winning. Instead of relying on baccarat strategies, it’s recommended for players to prioritise practice and more practice over anything else. Well, they do say practice makes perfect and this statement couldn’t be truer when it comes to mastering baccarat and playing it like a pro. Players ought to note that some top online casinos offer baccarat in demo mode and hence can be enjoyed without using any money.
Round Up
Baccarat is a fascinating game to play. It’s a game which is quite accommodative as it can be enjoyed by different player types including the newbies who are just starting out in the gambling industry. Those who would love to play the game and enjoy it ought to note that they can do so as pros when they use the guidelines contained in this article.