A quick overview of baccarat rules
Playing baccarat for free is a great way to get to know how the game works, and the good news is that the rules are quite simple. In fact, we can summarize them in just a few short paragraphs.
The game is centred on two hands – the banker hand (also known as bank or banco) and the player hand (known as punto) – and the objective is to bet which one gets a total closest to 9, or whether it will be a tie.
To calculate the hand total, the cards are treated as follows:
- 10s and 'face' cards hold a value of zero
- Aces hold a value of one
- All remaining cards hold their face value
If a hand scores higher than 9, then 10 is taken from the original total to make a new score.
Depending on the online casino, there might be a third card available to the player and banker under strict conditions
(which you can read about in the
baccarat rules article)
but, either way, three cards is the maximum.
A winning player hand bet pays out 1 to 1, so a stake of $10 would give you $10 profit ($20 back).
A winning banker hand bet also pays out 1 to 1, but minus a 5% commission (under most baccarat versions), so a stake of $10 would give you $9.50 profit ($19.50 back).
However, the tie is where you can really make money, although it's by far the least likely and has a low Return to Player (RTP): a winning bet will give you an 8 to 1 pay-out, so a stake of $10 would give you a profit of $80 ($90 back).
Types of baccarat games
Over several centuries, players have modified baccarat into several variations, and you may come across three of them, as follows:
Punto Banco
This is the version that you're most likely to see in online casinos and it's often referred to as Nevada Baccarat or American Baccarat. It involves no skill whatsoever, making it a game of chance, so players will be entirely dependent on luck.
Baccarat Chemin de Fer
As the name suggests, this an old-fashioned version typically played in France. It differs from Punto Banco in that the player has the power to influence the outcome of the game, so it's possible to use a baccarat strategy. They are allowed to participate more actively by drawing cards and shuffling the decks. Take note, though: it's very difficult to find a casino with the Chemin de Fer version.
Baccarat Banque
A slight variation on Chemin de Fer where the banker is usually the player with the most money available to gamble. Although nowhere near as popular as Punto Banco, you may find the Banque version in some European casinos.
Note: It's best to check which version of Baccarat that you're playing on, so that you're aware of the rules. To do this, just look up the rules in the game description if the version isn't mentioned in the game title.
Mobile baccarat games
The popularity of mobile-friendly casinos means you can play many of the baccarat games on this page on your phone or tablet. To see these, just click on click on 'Advanced filter' and click the 'Mobile Devices Supported' tab.
Take note, however, that several of these games may still require Flash player, a technology that is now obsolete. Over time, though, more and more games are updated to work with newer technology, so this should become less common.
Baccarat strategies
Baccarat is effectively a game of chance, so strategies aren't very effective. You shouldn't put too much faith into any methods that you find online — such as the Martingale and Fibonacci strategies — as these offer no guarantee of a return, and you should never pay for 'expert' advice.
Having basic principles, though, such as only betting in favorable casinos and having a loss limit in mind behind before you start, can help you avoid losing a large sum of money.
You can find other sensible principles in our
How to gamble safely article.
Other free games you can play on Casino Guru
Casino Guru has thousands of free casino games that span the entirety of the iGaming industry. As well as baccarat, you can try out progressive slots games, video poker and table games such as free roulette and free blackjack. Other types include bingo, keno and craps, to name a few.
Our free games page has all of these, and you can find your preferred choice by using the multiple filters on there. The 'Game Provider' filter, for example, will help you find your favorite providers, so selecting favorites such as Rival and NetEnt will show you exclusively titles from these.
Free baccarat FAQ
How do I play baccarat for free online?
You can start playing free baccarat games right away by browsing through the selection on this page. There are filters to help you find your preferred title, including different gaming providers and mobile-friendly versions.
Once you've made you choice, just click on it to start playing. You simply place your first bet, press the spin button and wait for the result. The game will tell you if you've won or not, then you can repeat the process as many times as you want.
Do I need to download extra software to play free baccarat online?
No, all of the titles are in-browser games, so you don't need to download anything extra or set up an account.
You'll also find that mobile-friendly titles will normally run just as well on mobile phones as on desktops.
Can I be sure of a random result in online baccarat?
Yes. Land-based casino ensure fairness by using a random number of cards, whereas their online equivalents use technology to do so.
All games on our database are governed by a Random Number Generator (RNG) that ensures a completely random result each time.
Does free baccarat work the same as the real-money version?
Yes. Both options will operate by the exact same rules, game mathematics, and RNG, however you obviously risk losing money in the real version.
Is there anything else I should bear in mind while playing free baccarat?
Whether playing for money or for fun, it's always smart to practice good gaming habits so that it'll be second nature to you. While there are no effective baccarat strategies, you can keep some principles (other than the safe gambling rules) in mind as you play.
Never bet on the tie. While the 8/1 odds are tempting, the house edge is often significantly higher (especially in a six-deck game), so as well as taking a risk, you're also getting bad value.
Bet on the banker. The banker bet pays out the least because the banker has more options depending on the player's third card, giving them more power. It offers the likeliest win, though, and the best RTP, so it's statistically the most sensible bet.
Avoid side bets. Some baccarat variations offer tempting side bets with juicy odds, but these are often higher than the actual pay-out you receive.
