Most card games consist of rules which can become complicating at times. That's why many people find learning the game of Baccarat to be such a relief since it consists of simple, straightforward rules. Most of learning Baccarat rules revolves around knowing how to place bets and understanding what the different sections of the table mean.
Baccarat TableEven though Baccarat is easy to play, the table can bring confusion for those who are unfamiliar with the game. Baccarat tables consist of various positions for players to stand, along with three different boxes where bets are to be placed. Baccarat is a very interesting game in that people can wager on either the "player" or the "banker" to win a hand or even bet that the hands will tie. The terms player and banker simply represent the hands that are played in each betting round.
Every player's first space will have a letter from the word P-L-A-Y-E-R-S and this is where a person bets on the player. The second space is for bets on the banker's hand as indicated by the fact that B-A-N-K-E-R-S is spelled out going around both sides of the table. The third space is marked by the words "Tie 8 to 1" and this is where wagers on the outcome being a tie are placed.
Dealer/CroupierMuch like the game of Craps, three different dealers (or croupiers) will work a game of Baccarat. One dealer stands in the center of the table opposite the other two dealers and makes calls on the Baccarat hands. The other two dealers handle the bets and chips on their side of the table. All three dealers must watch over the game together to ensure that the baccarat rules are followed since a total of 14 players can be on the table at once.
Hand RulesThe ultimate goal of a Baccarat hand is to have a point total close to, or equal to, the number nine with 2 or 3 different cards. Cards 2-9 will equal their number value, cards 10-K are worth nothing, and an ace is worth just 1 point. If a hand goes over the number nine then 10 points are dropped off of the hand score. Anytime a player's hand equals a point total of 8 or 9 with the first two cards, this is called a "natural" and the banker cannot draw another card. When a hand equals 6 or 7, the player stands while point totals of 0 through 5 require that the player draw another card since this is one of the baccarat rules. The banker's hand options depend upon the player's hand, if the player drew a card, and what that card was. The banker options are as follows:
| Player | Banker |
|---|---|
| Didn't draw | Draws with 0-5, stands with 6, 7 |
| Draws 2, 3 | Draws with 0-4, stands with 5-7 |
| Draws 4, 5 | Draws with 0-5, stands with 6, 7 |
| Draws 6, 7 | Draws with 0-6, stands with 7 |
| Draws 8 | Draws with 0-2, stands with 3-7 |
| Draws 9, 10, ace, other face card | Draws with 0-3, stands with 4-7 |
When winning hands are announced, winning bets will be paid out and losing bets will be collected by the croupier. If the player's and banker's hand tie, then those that made tie bets will be paid out 8 to 1 odds.
