In today’s how-to-play guide, we’ll be taking a look at the rules of online baccarat, an incredibly simple yet entertaining table game that has grown in popularity in recent years. Baccarat players must predict which of the two hands—the Player's Hand or the Banker's Hand—will be worth more. It's just a simple guessing game. The game uses eight decks, with a maximum value of nine for the winning hand.
Step 1: Pick Your Game at Set Your Bet
Browse through the extensive selection of baccarat games available at our online casino, and pick the one that speaks to you. All our games can be played on any device, so you can load the game easily regardless of whether you play on desktop or mobile devices.
When your game is loaded you’ll need to set your stake using the bet selector menu featured on the UI (here you can also tinker with optional settings). Your wager will need to be within the table limits indicated.
Since baccarat is a guessing game, wagers must be made prior to the cards being dealt. Pick a wager from the following three options:
- The Banker’s Hand: A successful wager pays even money, or 1 to 1. If you wager £10 and win, for instance, the payout is £10 (minus the commission charged by the casino which is usually 5%)
- The Players' Hand: A successful wager on the player's hand pays out in the same way as bets on the Banker’s hand but commission is not taken out of these wagers.
- Tie: This is a wager that the Banker’s hand and the player’s hand are equal. Tie bets pay out eight to one.
Step 2: The Round Begins and Cards Are Dealt
Four cards in total are dealt to the table. The dealer first deals a card into the player box, and then a card into the Bankers box, as is customary in this table game. This process is repeated once more so that both the player and banker have 2 cards each. All cards are dealt face-up.
The game will immediately end if, after the first two cards are dealt, the points total for the Player's or Banker's hand is 8 or 9. All bets placed are paid out. This is known as a ‘natural win’.
It is possible for the player or the banker to be dealt a third card depending on their current total, so long as no hand has been revealed as an 8 or 9. This is known as the ‘third card rule’ and it can vary from game to game. However, one of the best things about Baccarat is how transparent the rules are regarding when a third card is dealt; which keeps the game very beginner-friendly.
According to the rules of baccarat, the player always goes first. The Player's hand determines the Banker's hand. Players don’t need to be aware of how the third card rule applies to the banker, but this information is always clearly displayed in the game rules.
The typical third card guidelines for the player are as follows:
- There won't be any more cards drawn if the player has a hand total of eight or nine points as this is a ‘natural win’. The player will hold their hand.
- Additionally, the player's hand always stands on totals of six or seven points.
- The Player draws a third card on any total between 0 and 5 unless the Banker has 8 or 9. The Banker achieves a natural win in such a scenario, and no more cards are drawn.
Step 3: Scoring Hands (And Winning Hands)
Once all cards have been dealt (including any third cards) the hand that comes closest to a total of nine points wins. When two hands are tied, neither side wins or loses. The dealer gives out prizes to those who wagered on a tie and gathers in losing bets.
There are few things you need to know about how hands in baccarat are scored:
- Aces are low and are worth 1 point
- 10, Jack, Queen, and King are worth 0 (unline in baccarat where they’re worth 10)
- All other cards are worth their numerical value.
- Hands totalling over 10 will have their first digit discounted. For example, a hand with a 9 and 7 equals 16. But as the first digit is discounted, the total hand value becomes 6.
Only winning wagers on the Banker's hand are subject to a 5% fee charge by the dealer which is known as commission. When all payouts have been made a new round of baccarat can begin.
Is There a Difference on How to Play Baccarat Online?
When playing online, players have far more choices than when playing baccarat at real-world casinos. Online players will find a larger range of variants, such as Chemin de Fer. Players also have the choice between playing online baccarat, where they play against a computerized banker, or live baccarat, which is played in real-time and live-streamed to players' devices with a real dealer and banker in a live casino setting.
The house margin is frequently smaller in online games, mostly because online casinos can offer smaller minimum wager amounts than brick-and-mortar casinos, which lowers the house edge overall. Apart from this, online and live baccarat generally adhere to the same basic principles as land-based casinos, and any deviations from the norm will be clearly displayed within the game's information page.
Takeaway
Baccarat is a very fun and beginner-friendly casino table game that, for many years, has existed in Baccarat's shadow. Thanks to the rise of online casinos, more and more players are discovering the game, and we hope our step-by-step guide helps you play your first baccarat game with confidence at Prime Casino.
Of course, no matter the game, one thing remains the same, and that is to always gamble responsibly. Set yourself a budget and a time limit for your session and stick to it. Never take excessive risks, and if you feel your mood changing, take a step away.
