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How To Play Baccarat
Simple directions to get you playing casino Baccarat or MiniBaccarat. The elegant, high-rollers' game, or lower-stakes version.
Casino Baccarat is a rather high-limit card game usually played in separated, often roped-off rooms and its elegant ambiance is reminiscent of European casinos. In the film "Goldeneye," James Bond is seen playing the game, and of course winning. While the bet you may have to place to make the minimum is often steep, it is a simple game, and actually requires no decision-making after the bets are placed.
Everyone wishing to play places his bet in his betting spot at the table where spots are numbered 1-15. You may bet on the Banker's hand, the Player's hand, or a tie. The tie is a poor bet with an extremely high house advantage, and is better avoided. A 6- or 8-deck shoe is used, and each player gets to deal cards from it. (When one handles the shoe, he must bet the Banker's hand, but you may pass on the shoe to the next player if you wish.) Banker and Player each receives 2 cards, and perhaps a third according to certain rules. The total of those 2 or 3 cards is always 0-9, and the one with the total closest to 9 wins.
Aces are always counted as 1; 2-9 equal their numeric value; face cards and 10s equal zero. Furthermore, when two cards total over 10, you subtract 10 and that is considered the score. That is, if one has a 7 and a 5, which equals 12, your score is 12-10, or 2. So you can't ever bust.
There are no decisions to mull over about hitting or standing, as in Blackjack. You get a 3rd card, or not, according to prescribed rules. The Player's hand is resolved first.
First, the general rule is: If either person has a 2-card total of 8 or 9, which is called a Natural, both Banker and Player stand.
Secondly, if the Player has a total of 5 or less, he hits. If he has a total over 5, he stands.
Thirdly, if the Player stands (has a total of over 5), then the Banker must hit if he himself has a total of 5 or less.
If the Player gets a 3rd card (has 5 or less) then the Banker hits or stands according to the value of that 3rd card and his own score, according to these values:
If Banker's hand is 3, he hits if Player's 3rd card is anything but 8, and stands on 8.
If Banker's hand is 4, he hits if Player's 3rd card is 2 through 7, and stands on Player's 0, 1, 8, or 9.
If Banker's hand is 5, he hits on a Player's 3rd card of 4, 5, 6, or 7. Stands on Player's 0-3, 8, and 9.
If Banker's hand is 6, he hits if a Player's 3rd card is 6 or 7. Stands on all others.
If Banker's hand is 7, he stands on whatever 3rd card Player draws.
If Banker's hand is 8 or 9, he stands.
If the Player and Banker have the same score, it's a push or tie, and neither wins. A bet on the Banker's hand is slightly better and the house takes a commission of 5% on winning Banker bets. However, this 5% is usually tallied and collected later from each player at the end of a shoe so as not to slow play. Winning Player's hand bets are paid at 1 to 1.
Those without the means to play with the high rollers may go for MiniBaccarat, which usually has minimums of about $5 and has basically the same rules as Baccarat, but is very fast-paced. In MiniBaccarat, there is usually only 1 dealer instead of 3, and he handles the shoe.
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