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The uncomplicated baccarat rules are as follows:
By participating, you are considered the “player,” and
you are able to either bet on the banker’s hand or the player’s
hand, or even a tie between the two. When you bet on a hand, it
means that you think that will be the winning hand.
Two cards are then dealt each to the player and the banker.
If the hand on which you’ve placed your bet has won, you
win even money - which means that the odds are 1 to 1. If there
is a tie, and you have bet on a tie, you are paid 8 to 1 (which
means you receive 8 times your original bet!).
The winning hand is that which has come closest to totaling
9. In baccarat, an Ace is worth 1 point, the cards 2-9 are worth
their face value, and the cards 10 and face cards have zero points.
Nothing complicated there so let’s look a little closer.
However, there is one small fiddly part. In baccarat, there
is no such thing as a “bust” -such as the case in
blackjack when you score over 21 - but there is also no such thing
as a score over 9. Here’s why: When a hand scores a two-digit
total, the first digit is dropped, leaving the score at only the
second digit. For example, if you have been dealt an 8 and a 7,
the numeric total would be 15, but the baccarat score is 5 because
the first digit is dropped.
If the first two cards that have been dealt in a hand score
an 8 or a 9, the hand is automatically considered a “natural” and
will win, unless a tie occurs between two naturals. If a natural
hand occurs, both hands are made to stand, and the natural hand
is declared the winner.
If neither hand has achieved a natural, another hand is dealt
for both the player and the banker to determine which hand is
the winner.
The average casino tax on a winning banker hand is 5%. As anyone
can be the banker, not only casino employees, it is wise to keep
this in mind to keep an advantage, since if the casinos are taking
a cut in only one hand, it is likely that this is the hand with
the better chance at winning.
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