Baccarat looks formal, but it is one of the simplest casino games you can learn. You don’t make decisions about drawing cards, you don’t need to memorise a strategy chart, and every round is settled in seconds. Your only real choice is which outcome to back: the Player hand, the Banker hand, or a Tie. This guide walks through how online baccarat works, how the hands are scored, what each bet pays, and why the Banker bet carries a commission.
How a round of baccarat works
The most common version you’ll find online, including at live dealer tables, is Punto Banco. Two hands are dealt: one called Player and one called Banker. Neither belongs to you or the dealer. They are just the two positions you can bet on.
- You place your bet on Player, Banker or Tie (plus any side bets) before the betting window closes.
- Two cards are dealt to each hand, face up.
- Depending on the totals, a third card may be drawn for Player, Banker or both. This follows fixed rules, so nobody makes a choice.
- The hand closest to 9 wins. Winning bets are paid and the next round begins.
How the hands are scored
Card values in baccarat are different from most games:
- Aces count as 1.
- Cards 2 to 9 count at face value.
- 10s, Jacks, Queens and Kings count as 0.
When a hand adds up to 10 or more, only the last digit counts. A 7 and an 8 make 15, so the hand is worth 5. A King and a 9 is worth 9. That means no hand can ever be worth more than 9, and you can never “bust” the way you can in blackjack.
If either hand totals 8 or 9 with its first two cards, that’s called a natural. Both hands stand and the round is settled straight away.
The third card rules
You never have to apply these yourself, because the dealer or the game software does it automatically. Still, knowing them helps a round make sense when you watch it play out.
Player hand
If there’s no natural, the Player hand draws a third card on a total of 0 to 5 and stands on 6 or 7.
Banker hand
If the Player hand stood, the Banker hand follows the same rule: draw on 0 to 5, stand on 6 or 7. If the Player hand drew a third card, the Banker’s decision depends on its own total and the value of that third card:
| Banker total | Banker draws when Player’s third card is | Banker stands when Player’s third card is |
|---|---|---|
| 0, 1, 2 | Any card | Never |
| 3 | Anything except 8 | 8 |
| 4 | 2 to 7 | 0, 1, 8, 9 |
| 5 | 4 to 7 | 0 to 3, 8, 9 |
| 6 | 6 or 7 | 0 to 5, 8, 9 |
| 7 | Never | Always stands |
Baccarat bets and payouts
The three main bets are simple, but they don’t pay the same, and they don’t carry the same house edge. The figures below are for a standard eight-deck Punto Banco game. Always check the payout table at the specific table you join, because variants exist.
| Bet | Typical payout | Approximate house edge |
|---|---|---|
| Banker | 1 to 1, minus 5% commission | 1.06% |
| Player | 1 to 1 | 1.24% |
| Tie | 8 to 1 | 14.36% |
Why the Banker bet has a commission
Because of the third card rules, the Banker hand wins slightly more often than the Player hand. To balance that, most tables take a 5% commission from winning Banker bets. Even after the commission, Banker has the lowest house edge of the three main bets, which is why many players default to it.
What happens on a Tie
If you bet on Player or Banker and the round ends in a Tie, your stake is usually returned (a “push”). The Tie bet itself pays well when it lands, but it carries a much higher house edge than the main bets, so treat it as an occasional extra rather than a default.
Side bets you might see
Many online and live tables offer side bets alongside the main game. Common ones include:
- Player Pair or Banker Pair: wins if the first two cards of that hand are a pair. Often pays 11 to 1.
- Either Pair or Perfect Pair: variations that pay depending on suits and which hand forms the pair.
- Big and Small: bets on the total number of cards dealt in the round.
Side bets add variety, but they generally carry a higher house edge than the Banker and Player bets. Payouts differ from table to table, so check the help screen first.
Online baccarat vs live baccarat
You’ll find two broad formats. RNG baccarat uses a certified random number generator to deal virtual cards, so rounds are quick and you control the pace. Live baccarat is dealt by a real person from a studio and streamed to your screen, with a timer for placing bets. Live tables often add features such as the card “squeeze”, where the dealer reveals cards slowly for suspense, and speed versions with shorter rounds.
If you’re new to the game, a few rounds of RNG baccarat at a low stake is a calm way to see the rules in action. When you’re ready for the atmosphere of a real table, our guide to live dealer games explains what to expect, and you can browse the live baccarat tables on TWIN.
Table etiquette and practical tips
- Learn the scoreboard, but don’t over-read it. Live tables show “roads” that track past results. They’re fun to follow, but each round is independent, and past results don’t predict the next hand.
- Decide your stake per round before you sit down. Rounds are fast, so it’s easy to play more hands than you planned.
- Avoid progressive staking systems. Doubling up after a loss doesn’t change the house edge, and it can escalate your stake quickly.
- Keep the chat friendly. At live tables, the dealer and other players can see your messages.
The bottom line
Baccarat rewards understanding rather than skill. Once you know how hands are scored and what each bet pays, you know the whole game. The Banker bet has the lowest house edge of the main options, the Tie bet pays more but costs more over time, and no betting pattern can overcome the built-in edge. Play it for the rhythm and the drama of the reveal, at a stake that keeps it enjoyable.
Want to try other table games? Read our blackjack basic strategy guide or compare European and American roulette.
