How to play baccarat
One of the most sought after games in casinos is baccarat. They are exciting and don’t require much effort on your part. Playing baccarat online is not complicated at all – it is a two-sided game with very simple rules, so you should be able to grasp them quickly.
Baccarat is a fast-paced and exciting game because it has only three outcomes :
- Player wins
- The house wins
- Peace
Before the cards are dealt, you can bet that the Player Hand wins or the Banker Hand wins. There is also a third option, a Tie, but we will talk more about this later.
Baccarat table
At first glance, baccarat tables may seem like they have a lot of boxes. However, once you start playing, you will quickly get used to them.
A baccarat table can have up to 7 or even 14 players, depending on the variation you play, but no matter how many players there are, only two hands are dealt: The Player Hand and the Banker Hand.
On the table, you will notice a clear division between where the cards are dealt to the Player’s Hand and the Banker’s Hand. You will need to place a bet in the form of chips on the selection that has been made before the cards are dealt, but note that the dealer does not deal any cards to the players. The cards will be dealt out on the table in their respective areas.
Dealer
The dealer’s primary responsibility is to deal with the cards immediately after all the players have placed their bets. Since there may be more than 10 players at a table, the dealer will be placed in the middle of the table so that all players can see the cards.
When playing in a live casino, the dealer usually assists the player in adding up the points of the cards to avoid mistakes. When playing baccarat online, the system or dealer will be responsible for doing this.
Three options to bet on
There are very few options in baccarat, making the game exciting and fast.
You will notice three options, namely Tie, Banker Win and Player Win. Note that you are only betting on the outcome of the Player Hand winning or the Banker Hand winning. Most people skip the Tie bet as it is the least favorable option. Beginners should also avoid betting on the Tie outcome.
Commission fee
The house only charges a commission when the bet is placed on the winning hand of the house. This is because the house hand is considered to have the most advantage. The commission is 5% of the total amount, and this commission will only be collected when the player is ready to pay before they leave the game.
To keep the baccarat table organized and neat, each player has their own number. So when it is your turn to pay, you will see your number.
When playing baccarat online, the system will automatically manage the commission fee box.
Baccarat no commission
Natural8 offers a no-commitment baccarat option. This means that both the Player and the Banker get a 1:1 payout. However, there is a big difference in this variant. If the Banker wins with a 6, the payout drops to 0.5:1. This means that you only win 50% of your bet if you bet on the Banker and it wins with a 6.
In no-fee baccarat, you can also bet on Super 6 which pays 12:1. Betting here means you are predicting that the Banker will WIN with a score of 6.
Baccarat Rules: Cards and Points
Here you will find the answer to the important question, “How do you play baccarat?” – Surely, after this explanation, you can confidently participate in your first baccarat game at Natural8 casino.
There is no complexity with the cards as the player only bets with chips, choosing one of two sides: Player or Banker. The person you need to pay attention to is the dealer.
The dealer will deal cards to two sides: the Player and the Banker. Two cards are dealt to both sides. The side with the total value closest to 9 (the highest number in baccarat) wins. If the total value of the cards is higher than 9, for example, 12 or 25, the first number is removed and the result will be 2 or 5 respectively.
The three outcomes will have a slight difference in the amount of money you receive. Let’s say you bet $20, the following outcomes are possible:
- Win $20 minus commission if you bet on the Banker’s hand;
- Win $20 without commission if you bet on the Player’s hand;
- Pays 8:1 if the round ends in a draw.
Baccarat has some notable exceptions.
Natural Win
One of the exceptions is a natural win. You recognize winning bets when the first two cards total 8 or 9. Whether it is the Player’s hand or the Banker’s hand, the game ends, bets are paid, and a new hand begins.
Tie Bet
If the risk is more your style, you can bet on a Tie. A Tie bet only wins if the Player and Banker have the same number of points at the end of the game. Obviously, this is the most difficult bet, but it is also the one with the best payout. The total amount of bets placed on both the Player and Banker will be refunded.
Why is this bet not popular with experienced players? The reason is because it has the highest house edge of all bets. The fact that it takes up a large portion of your winnings makes many players avoid placing this bet.
The 3rd card
Typically, each side is dealt two cards. If either the Player’s hand or the Banker’s hand has a total of 8 or 9, it is an instant win. In some cases, a third card will also be dealt.
Rules for players
- If the player’s hand has a total of 0 to 5, the player draws one more card.
- If the player’s hand has a total of 6 to 7, the player stands.
- It is possible for a player to stand even with a total of 8, while the dealer has 9.
Rules for bookmakers
The dealer only draws a third card when the player has a certain point value of the cards. The dealer will draw another card when the total of the dealer’s points is 0, 1 and 2, and when the player has less than 5 points.
The dealer will also draw additional cards in the following situations:
Bookmaker’s total score | Player’s 3rd card | Action to take |
3 | Any card except 8 | The dealer draws another card. |
4 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 | The dealer draws another card. |
5 | 4, 5, 6, 7 | The dealer draws another card. |
6 | 6, 7 | The dealer draws another card. |
The exception is when the dealer has 7 or more and will stand, regardless of what the player has. Looking at the rules for the third card, it is clear that the dealer has a clear advantage, which explains why a 5% commission is paid to the house every time a bet is placed on the dealer’s winning hand.
Points of the cards
The last thing on the list is to learn how to count cards to keep up with the game. The points of cards are quite different from other casino games like poker.
The cards have points shown that correspond to the number on them. For example, 2 is 2, and 9 is still 9. The Ace of Spades is only 1 point. The cards with no points are 10, J, Q, K.
Let’s practice! Let’s say the dealer deals the cards, and you see:
- The player’s hand consists of Jack and Ace of Spades;
- The Banker’s hand is 9 and 2.
The winner is…..nobody! It’s a tie. This is because the Player’s hand is 1 (J = 0 and Ace of Spades = 1), and the Banker has 11. You may recall that, when you have a number greater than 9, you drop the first number, so we’re left with 1.
What are the odds of baccarat?
Bet | Odds | House edge |
Bookmaker | 0.458597 | 1.06% |
Players | 0.446247 | 1.24% |
Peace | 0.095156 | 14.36% |
The dealer has a pair of cards. | 0.074699 | 10.36% |
The player has a pair of cards | 0.074699 | 10.36% |
The Banker or Player has a pair of cards of the same suit | 0.033450 |
Baccarat is a popular alternative game for poker enthusiasts. The fast pace and ease of learning are not the main reasons. The reason why many people like this game is because of the lowest house edge. As mentioned above, the commission fee when betting on the winning hand of the banker is 5% of the bet amount, which is included in the 1.06% house edge.
The player’s house edge is slightly larger, at around 1.24%. Tie bets have the largest share of the house edge compared to other bets. As a result, Tie bets are not popular with frequent bettors.
The house edge is a term used to describe the mathematical advantage that the casino has over you over time as you play. The house edge tells you how much each game pays on average and which games give the best return to the player. This advantage is a result of each game and is not set by individual casinos. So, no matter where you choose to play or what games you play, if you bet on a casino game, you cannot avoid the house edge.
Conclude
Let’s summarize how to play baccarat online. Get your wallet ready and allocate only the amount of money you can afford to spend. Join a table at Natural8 and bet any amount on Player or Banker (we don’t recommend betting on Tie if you’re a beginner). Wait for the dealer to deal with the cards, calculate, and cash out your winnings!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is ‘Natural’ in baccarat?
Answer: “Natural” is a hand made from TWO cards that total 8 or 9.
Q: Can I bet after the first two cards have been dealt?
Answer: No. For baccarat, all bets must be placed before the cards are dealt.
Q: Can I bet on both the Banker and Player?
Answer: No. You can only bet on the Banker or the Player, but you can bet on a Tie at any time, even if you have already bet on either side.
Q: What is Baccarat No Commission?
Answer: Baccarat tables typically charge a 5% commission on winnings resulting from bets placed on the Banker. No Commission Baccarat does not charge any commission on winnings resulting from bets placed on the Player or Banker, but if the Banker wins with a score of 6, the payout is 0.5:1.
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