Rules of the game

The basic rules of Baccarat are fairly simple. There are two hands dealt in the game, the banker's and the player's. The player has a choice of betting on either hand or betting on a tie between the two. Bets must be placed before the hands are dealt.

Each hand is initially dealt two cards (usually from 6 or eight decks). The value of each hand is determined by adding the values of the cards dealt. The value of tens and face cards is zero. Other cards, ace through 9 are worth face value, aces being one and nines being nine. Of the total value of the card, only the last digit is used as the value of the hand.

After the two cards have been dealt, a third card may be drawn. The rules for the draw of the third card differ for the player's and banker's hands. If the players first two card have a final value of 5 or less, a third card is drawn. If the first two cards total six or more, the player must stand with the value of the two cards. The banker must draw a card if the two card total is less than two, and must leave the two card value (not draw a third card) if the total is more than 7. However, if the banker's total is between 3 or 6, they draw a card based on the player's draw card (and if their was one).

Whichever hand has the highest total value (in other words, the highest final digit) wins.

Winning bets are payed out depending on which hand you bet on. The player is payed out 1:1, which essentially doubles your bet. The banker is also payed out 1:1, but there is often a four or five percent commision charged on those bets making the pay out .95:1. (For example, if you correctly bet one dollar on the banker you would be payed 95 cents, and your total bet would be $1.95. Winning bets on the tie are payed out 8:1 or 9:1.