Baccarat Rules

Baccarat, a timeless classic in the world of casinos, belongs to the oldest games of chance with a history spanning centuries. Its origins trace back to medieval Italy, where the game derived its name from the Italian word for "zero," signifying that face cards and tens held zero value.

Baccarat enjoys worldwide popularity due to its rich tradition, as well as its association with one of cinema's most iconic figures: James Bond. While it has long been a favorite in Asia, this captivating game is now attracting a growing following in Swiss online casinos.

The rules of Baccarat are straightforward to grasp, offering excitement and entertainment in every round.

 

Learn the baccarat rules and play the following game:

 

How to Play Baccarat?

Just as in poker, Baccarat can be player-versus-player (Chemin de Fer) or banker/house variant versions (PuntoBanco). In this regard, we will focus on the regulations of the Punto Banco variant because it is the most popular one that you can find in casinos.

A Punto Banco Baccarat table features a simple layout, comprising three betting fields: Banker bet, Player bet and Tie. Only by betting on one of these fields will you become a participant in this game. Some tables may also provide a range of side bets.

In a Chemin de Fer table, the arrangement is even easier with special areas where bets are placed and cards dealt.

 

Scoring and Payout

We use 6 to 8 standard decks of playing cards with four suits (hearts, spades, diamonds and clubs) each one having thirteen numbers as mentioned above. In Baccarat, cards 2 to 9 hold face value and an Ace is counted as a single point. Cards 10, Jack through King are worth zero points.

The value of a player’s hand is the sum total values individual cards. For instance, 3 +4 =7. But if the total is more than 9, only the unit’s digit is used. For example, 4 + 6 equals to zero and five plus six equals one.

 

 

 

Game Objective

The player’s goal in classic Baccarat (Chemin de Fer)is to acquire a score that comes close enough to 9 using as few cards possible or closer than the other committee member. For example, if the player has 5 points and the dealer has an eight. When scores are equal, a draw is achieved. Similarly, these Baccarat rules apply to Punto Banco where the player doesn’t attempt to beat the banker but bet on game outcome from the outset. In other words, the player can wager:

On their own to win the favor.
For the dealer to win.
On the tying of the game.

 

Game Flow

Punto Banco

In Punto Banco, the following Baccarat rules apply: When the round begins, the player is obliged to make a wager on which side will win in game; he has three options — banker, player and tie.

After the bets are received, two cards will be dealt to both banker and participating player by dealer. As opposed to the original Baccarat, where dealer deals player’s two cards face down a Punto Banco card game shows all cards are displayed with faces up. The hand value for both the player and banker is derived from dealt cards. If one or even both of them has a "natural hand" where the value is between 8 and 9, this game ends right away without anyone drawing any more cards.

Otherwise, the dealer deals a third card based on the following rules:

 

Player's Hand Value	Next Turn
0 to 5	Additional card dealt.
6 to 7	No additional card is dealt.

 

The banker then receives additional cards according to these rules:

 

Banker's Hand Value	Next Turn
0 to 2	Additional card drawn.
3	Additional card drawn unless the player's third card was an 8.
4	Additional card drawn unless the player's third card was an Ace, 8, 9, or a card with a value of 0.
5	Additional card drawn if the player's third card is between 4 and 7.
6	Additional card drawn if the player's third card is a 6 or 7.
7	No additional card is dealt to the banker.

 

If no third card is drawn, the banker follows the same rules as the player and chooses whether to draw or not. This implies that if the value of first two cards is 0 to 5, then an additional card is given for banker. When the value is 6 or a seven, he keeps the first two cards.

It should be noted that the combinations determining if or when the player and banker take another card conform to standard rules. Nevertheless, some table laws may introduce slight adaptations of the classical Baccarat rules. Thus, it is important to check the rules for playing Baccarat in a casino before starting play.

 

Chemin de Fer

The player that sits on the right of the croupier plays a banquier in Chemin de Fer Baccarat. The card carriage moves around the table causing changes in the banker role to different players as relevant. The banker wagers on the house and puts his or her stake with a croupier, while other players - called “pointeurs” – place their bets in opposition to that of the lender. The pointeurs are arranged so that the player with the highest bet becomes “Ponte” and takes cards for all of them.

Players’ bets should always equal the bankroll. If the bankroll is greater than the total bets of other players, excess goes to a banker. But if the combined bets by players are more than bankroll, then all excess bet is turned down. The bets are taken from right to left starting with the banker’s next door neighbor.

When the wagers are set, play proceeds with a banker placing cards facedown. The Ponte receives the first and third card, while the banker has four cards.

Once all the cards are dealt, ponte looks at their hand and sums up its value. Depending on the Ponte's score, they react as follows: 

 

Ponte's Hand Value
0 to 4	Place cards face down and politely request an additional card by saying "Carte s'il vous plaît" (French for "Card please").
5	Decide whether to request an additional card or stand.
6 or 7	Stack cards face down and declare "Remains" (or "Passe") to signify no further card is desired.
8 or 9	Reveal cards and declare either "huit" (eight) or "neuf" (nine). The banker then reveals their cards, and if it's a "naturel," no additional cards are drawn.

 

After the Ponte's move, it's the banker's turn. The banker exposes their cards for the first time. If the banker's hand totals 8 or 9, no additional third card is drawn, and the game is immediately evaluated. However, if the banker has 7 or fewer points, further actions follow based on these drawing rules:

 

Banker's Hand Value	Next Turn
0 to 2	Additional card drawn.
3	Additional card drawn unless the Ponte received an 8. If the Ponte got a 9, the banker can choose to draw an additional card or not.
4	Additional card drawn unless the player's third card was an Ace, 8, 9, or a card with a value of 0.
5	Additional card drawn if the Ponte's third card has a value between 4 and 7, or if the Ponte passes. When a fourth card is dealt, the banker has the freedom to draw or not.
6	Additional card drawn if the Ponte's third card is a 6 or 7.
7	No additional card is dealt to the banker.

 

Once both parties have completed their actions, the scores are tallied, with the higher score emerging as the winner. A tie results in a draw.

If the banker prevails, the payout is 1:0.95 (usually with a 5% commission going to the casino). In this case, the banker retains the position and adds the winnings to their bankroll. If the pointeurs' new bets in the next round are smaller than the bankroll, the banker can collect the difference. However, when pointeurs win, they receive a 1:1 payout, and the banker must relinquish the bank, which then transfers to the next player to the right.