How to Play Baccarat Guide

Step 1- Place a bet. Before any cards are dealt, a player will place their bet. Players can place a bet on either their own hand or on a dealer/banker/house’s hand. Bets on players’ own hands have a better possible payout than those placed on a banker’s hand.

Step 2– Cards are dealt with. The dealer/house (who can also be the banker) will deal with cards to players. Two cards are dealt with each, to both player and the house.

The first card is dealt with the player, face-up, and the second to the house. The third then again to the player, and the fourth to the house.

Step 3- Announce. The value of each hand is then announced. Baccarat card values, regardless of suit, are counted as:

Ace: 1

Cards 2-9: Card’s face value

10, Jack, Queen, King: 0

Baccarat also has an interesting way of tallying card totals. If a player’s hand totals more than 9, the second digit of the total is counted as the hand’s value.

For example, a hand that consists of an Ace and 9 totals 10 but is counted as zero. A hand that is made up of two 8’s totals 16, but is counted as 6.

Step 4- Check to see if additional cards are to be drawn. Players’ hands are always checked first. If a player or banker has 8 or 9, they are not allocated any additional cards in the round.

But if they have 6 or 7, they stand until the dealer draws, after which they are again given the choice to draw or not. A table outlining when a player and banker can draw is at the bottom of these steps.

Step 5- Wins are called. It is quite possible to have nine on the first deal. This is called a “natural” hand, and the round is over.

This ‘natural’ hand can be held by either the house or the player. If a player wins on the house hand, they are declared the winner. Bets that have been placed are then cashed out to the winner.

Below is a table that outlines exactly when a player or banker draws a third card

How to Play Baccarat – When to Draw

Player Hand	Draws Third Card?
5 or less	A player is automatically dealt a third card.
6 or 7	The player stands until the dealer has been dealt a third card if required.
8 or 9	If either the player or the banker has 8 or 9, both stand without exception.

Banker Hand	Draws Third Card?
0, 1 or 2	Banker draws a third card.
3	Banker draws if the player’s third is 8.
4	Banker draws if the player’s third card is 2-7.
5	Banker draws if the player’s third card is 4-7.
6	Banker draws if the player’s third card is 6-7.
7	Banker stands and waits if the player’s hand requires a third card.

In short. Baccarat is easy enough to play, as long as players know when to stand and when to take a third card. Baccarat has been a favorite of casino experts and suave, British spies for many years, and is sure to entice you too. Best USA Casinos is your only guide for, not just to learn how to play Baccarat, but to learn all about the most popular casino and table games.

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