Playing Baccarat is Easy

No matter the number of players, only two hands are dealt during baccarat, one known as the player hand, the other as the banker hand. Players may bet on either hand, or on a tie. The winner is the hand that comes closest to a total of 9. Each card is worth the face value of the card except for face cards, Ace is 1, deuce 2, etc. Face cards are worth 0. If totals reach 10 or more, the first digit is thrown out, so 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 would be 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, and 9 respectively. Let’s say you had a 7 and a 6 for a total of 13. The hand would now have the value of 3. After bets are placed, player and banker are each dealt two cards. Taking a third card or standing on the first two is done according to rules available in the chart at the table. You don’t need to know anything to play baccarat, the rules are predetermined so don’t worry about knowing them, it doesn’t matter. The player hand is completed first. If the first two cards total 8 or 9, it is called a natural, and the player gets no more cards. Player also stands on totals of 6 or 7, and draws on all others. If the player holds a hand of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and banker has a natural, banker wins without player getting another card. If player has 6, 7, 8 or 9 and therefore does not receive a third card, banker stands on 6 as well as 7, 8 and 9. All of these rules are completely predetermined so you don’t have to make any decisions. Your only decision is whether to bet on the banker or the player. That is all you have to do, you don’t have to know anything.

One thing to remember is to not use the tie bet. It pays 8-1, but has a house edge of 9.5 percent and that makes it one of the worst bets in the casino. Either the hand or the banker is a better bet. In fact, betting the banker or the player is one of the best bets in the casino. The Banker’s hand actually wins more than it loses, but the house charges a 5 percent commission on winning bets. That leaves a house edge of 1.17 percent – about as low as any game you will ever see. There's no commission on winning player bets, but the house edge is a little higher at 1.36 percent. That is another great bet. Baccarat has been known as a high rollers' game. Big bets are the norm, and that is why the house loves the game. Asians love to play and love to bet big.

For an easy game to play, baccarat is your best choice.