Baccarat is commonly depicted as one of the most classy, glamorous of all casino games available. It brings to mind tuxedos, martinis, and elegant bettors chatting leisurely while they place their next wagers at the table.
Maybe you don’t feel that elegant from the comfort of your home, but that doesn’t mean baccarat isn’t for you. Learning baccarat’s simple and straightforward rules allows new players to quickly grasp the pace and rhythm of the game.
The best baccarat strategy comes from understanding that you won’t be able to anticipate which cards are coming next. A baccarat deck is made up of six to eight 52-card decks that are shuffled together to form the hands that the banker and player will use to assemble their respective hands.
The baccarat table has three set roles: the dealer, the banker, and the player. The dealer’s role is simply to provide the player and banker with their cards and determine if or when a third card should be dealt to their hands (we’ll get to the rules of that third card shortly). The banker is the opponent of the player and represents “the house.” The banker does not strategize or make plays based on the player’s cards or positions—the banker follows set rules that determine if they will draw or stand. The player also follows set rules to determine if they will stand or draw.
The banker and the player each attempt to assemble a hand whose point values are the closest to nine. Bettors on each round of baccarat have three choices: a win for the banker, a win for the player, or a tie.
One important item to note when understanding the point scoring for baccarat hands is that unlike blackjack, where players “bust” if they go over 21, a hand does not bust if it goes over nine.
In baccarat, the ace is worth one, cards 2 through 9 carry their face value, and 10 and face cards are all worth zero. Since hands do not go bust over 9, hands that equal 10 or more have 10 subtracted from their total. For example, a 9 and a 3 would equal 2 (or, 12 minus 10).
The banker and player begin a round each receiving two cards. The dealer will determine if either player will receive a third card—a baccarat hand never has more than three cards.
Here are the rules on if the banker or the player will receive a third card:
Player | Banker |
If opening cards equal 8 or 9, this is called a “natural.” The player wins the hand and neither player receives more cards. | If opening cards equal 8 or 9, this is called a “natural.” The banker wins the hand and neither player receives more cards. |
If the player’s opening cards equal 0-5, they will draw a third card. | If the banker’s opening cards equal |
The player will stand on 6 or 7 | The banker will stand on 7. When the player stands on 6 or 7, the banker will draw on 0-5, and also stand on 6 or 7. |
Baccarat’s “best” strategy, like all gaming, is nearly impossible to predict. However, it is important to note that the rules tend to make the banker the more reliable bet. That said, it is also important to note that a banker's win charges a five percent commission to the house; so, in exchange for this reliable bet, you get a slightly lower payout.
Typically, a baccarat session amounts to wagers over the course of multiple rounds, so your wager might shift depending on the outcomes you have been observing. For example, the banker has won five hands in a row, so you place a bet on the player. There’s no guarantee, or even improved likelihood that the banker won’t win a sixth hand in a row. Further, because a tie is the least likely outcome, it carries the highest payout and largest risk. No matter which position you choose, your bet carries the risk of losing money.
Betting with DraftKings should be for entertainment value, first and foremost. You should never bet in an attempt to pay your bills or to chase or recoup losses from another game.
Practice responsible gaming by setting clear limits for yourself, and hold yourself to those limits to maintain focus on your entertainment. Your gaming experience should be fun, not stressful. If you want to learn more about how to play baccarat, check out this guide!
Check out our casino blog for all the tips, tricks and strategies you need to take your gameplay to the next level.
Check out our casino blog for all the tips, tricks and strategies you need to take your gameplay to the next level.
