How to Play Baccarat – Rules and Gameplay Explained

last updated

04 Sep 2025

by

Maros Gasparik

Baccarat is a simple card game that has captured the attention of high rollers and casual players alike. The game is easy to learn, but there are some basic rules that you need to know to play it correctly.

In this baccarat gameplay guide, we cover the essentials of how to play baccarat online. This includes everything from the game's rules and how the cards are valued to the best side bets you can place. So, keep reading, and learn how to play baccarat by the end of the day.

Baccarat rules

Baccarat is a straightforward game to get the hang of ; we already explained this in our baccarat beginner's guide . Still, there are a few baccarat rules that you need to follow to ensure the game is fair and enjoyable.

Baccarat's goal is to achieve a hand total of nine or as close to nine as possible. Players are dealt two cards each, and the person with the highest hand total is the winner. In the event of a tie, only players who have placed the specific tie bet win.

You can wager on the player, the banker, or a tie. Online baccarat rules usually let you bet on one or more of these options. For example, you can place wagers on the player and the banker or the banker and a tie. If you bet on the player and they win, you'll be paid even money (1:1). If you bet on the banker and they win, the payout is still 1:1, usually minus a 5% commission. If you bet on a tie and there is a tie, you'll be paid 8:1.

Note: While this is a general overview of the rules, there are other things to note. For instance, the card values in this game are specific and explained below in this guide. Moreover, different baccarat variants may have some rule variations as well as payouts.

Short baccarat gameplay overview

The gameplay is typically the same regardless of whether you play baccarat online or in land-based casinos. Below, we'll give you a step-by-step overview of how the action unfolds. This way, you'll know what to expect and what your options are.

At this point, you are either seated at a baccarat table or have already loaded an online baccarat game at one of our trusted online casinos.

Select your bet size and place it on one of the three options – player, banker, or a tie.
Wait for the dealer to deal the first two cards or hit the 'Deal' button.
Depending on your hand score, you either draw a third card or stand.
Depending on their hand score, the dealer either draws a third card or stands.
The hand scores are compared, and the winner is determined.
Lost wagers are removed while winning bets get appropriate payouts.
You can now leave the table or start a new round.

Most popular baccarat side bets

So far, we've mentioned the three main bets you can place during your baccarat game. However, it doesn't stop there. Besides wagering on the player, banker, and a tie, you can also bet on alternative outcomes.

These side betting options add an extra level of excitement when you're playing baccarat online and can potentially result in some big payouts. In this section, we'll take a closer look at some of the most popular baccarat side bets and how to make them.

Player Pair – This side bet is a wager that the player will be dealt two cards of the same rank. The payout is an impressive 11:1. This means that for every $1 you bet, you will win $11 if the player is dealt two cards of the same rank.
Same Suit Opening – This is a simple wager that's pretty self-explanatory. You bet that your first two cards will be of the same suit. The player's payout is 2.87:1, while the banker's is 2.86:1.
Super Six – This is a side bet that pays out if the banker's winning hand totals six points. The payout is set at 12:1, while the house edge is 29.98%.
Royal Match – With this wager, you bet that either the player or banker will be dealt a King and Queen in the opening hand. The odds of winning this bet are about 1 in every 75 hands.
Bellagio Match – This bet entails that either the banker or player will be dealt a hand with three cards of the same rank. The banker usually gets a 68:1 payout with a house edge of around 8.57%. The player's payout is 75:1, while the house edge is 5.27%.
Dragon 7 – Also referred to as the Tiger 7, this wager requires the banker to have three cards worth seven points. If successful, the Dragon 7 bet pays out 40:1.
Banker Pair – This wager is similar to the first one on our list, with the goal that the Banker's first two cards will be of the same rank. The payout is the same – 11 to 1.
Perfect Pair – Here, you bet on two identical cards being dealt to either the player or banker. This wager pays out at odds of 25 to 1.

Note: We want to highlight that, even though thrilling, most baccarat side bets have terrible odds. While the baccarat house edge is generally favorable for players, some of these wagers have a house advantage of nearly 30%. That's why their payouts are so big and lucrative. It's up to you whether you'd like this extra excitement, but it's our responsibility to warn you not to get your hopes too high.

Baccarat card values explained

At this point, we know that your total score needs to be as close to nine as possible to have a winning hand. This raises the question – how are these baccarat hand points counted?

Tens, Jacks, Queens, and Kings all count as zero. All other numbered cards are scored according to their number. So, a three of hearts equals three points, and a five of spades counts as five points. Aces always count as a score of one.

One of the key things to remember when playing baccarat is that the hand's value is only determined by the last digit of the total score. So, for example, a hand totaling 16 would count as six, and a hand totaling 19 would count as the highly desired 9.

Here are some examples to help you understand the concept. We'll use the numbers and face cards only, as the suit doesn't play any role.

2 and 3 – hand count of 5
7 and 3 – hand count of 0
6 and 9 – hand count of 5
Jack and 9 – hand count of 9
King and 8 – hand count of 8
8 and 4, then 5 – hand count of 7
9 and 6, then 4 – hand count of 9
Jack and King, then 2 – hand count of 2

Banker's versus player's options – third card rule

Even though we learned how points are counted, there are still a few details you need to be aware of – especially if you want to understand the reasoning behind the best baccarat playing strategies and tips.

So, let's dive into the famous and essential third card rule.

Once the cards are dealt, both the banker and the player should have a "natural." Or, in simpler terms, they should have a total of eight or nine in the first two cards. If neither hand is a natural, a third card is to be drawn.

The first turn belongs to the player. If their initial total is five or less, they're allowed to draw a third card. If, however, the total is six or seven, they stand. Now, if the player didn't draw any cards, the banker follows the same rule. The banker gets an extra card if their hand totals less than five, but not if it totals six or seven.

Overview of the banker third card rule in baccarat

If the player drew an extra card, the banker needs to follow these rules:

If the banker's hand count is 2 or lower, the banker should draw a third card without paying attention to the player's third card.
If the banker's total is 3, they can draw a third card unless the player's third card is 8.
If the banker's hand equals 4, they can draw a third card if the player's third card is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7.
In the case the banker's total is 5, a third card can be drawn if the player's third card is anything from 4 through 7.
If the banker's hand total is 6, they can get a new card if the player's extra card is 6 or 7.
Lastly, if the banker's hand totals 7, they stand.

Though these rules are a bit more complex and can feel overwhelming initially, they're not hard to get the hang of. In fact, the third card rule helps ensure that both the banker and the player have a fair chance of winning and makes the game more exciting and suspenseful.

Note: When you play baccarat online, the software does all the calculations and simply presents you with your options, if you have any. Meaning, you won't have to bother with anything aside from placing wagers, standing, and drawing, when possible.

Playing baccarat online step by step

Now that you have a good knowledge of how online baccarat works, it's time to put your skills to the test. We broke down all you need to do to get started into quick and easy steps. Simply follow our instructions, and you'll learn how to play baccarat at online casinos in no time.

Start by selecting a top-rated online casino to play at. We strongly recommend that you pick a site from our list. These real money gambling sites have gone through rigorous checks, and we've ensured to include trustworthy and reliable iGaming destinations.
Once you go to the casino of your choice, click on the registration button. The page will then refresh, and you'll be presented with the operator's sign-up form.
Now you need to fill in some personal details. These will likely include your name, address, date of birth, and e-mail.
Once you're registered, the casino will probably provide you with a welcome bonus. Please note that some casinos won't let you play online baccarat with bonus funds. So, we advise you to double-check what casino games you can play and their wagering contribution.
Make a real money deposit using one of the supported payment methods.
Go to the casino's game menu and search for baccarat. Choose the variant that seems the most appealing to you and open it.
The game will load within seconds, and you can start placing bets.

Note: If you're playing baccarat in demo mode, you can learn to play it without risking any money. Once you get the hang of it and feel confident, you can start enjoying online baccarat for real money.

Published:

04 Sep 2025