How to Play Baccarat and Win (SIMPLE Beginner's Guide)

January 30, 2022

If you have always wanted to know how to play Baccarat and get better chances to win, this is the article you need to read.

Not only you are going to learn Baccarat rules and all the basics of one of the most interesting games you can find at online Casinos, but you will also understand how to play the best way to get the highest chances to win your bets even before the dealer starts dealing the cards.

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Baccarat is one of the simplest casino games you can play, as the below video will teach you the basics of the game in just three minutes!

You don’t need to learn super complicated winning strategies before you come close to the Baccarat tables. With the help of this guide and my actionable tips, you will be able to start.

And if you decide to play for real money, make sure to read this article until the very end - because I have a surprise for you that is going to make your next game of online Baccarat a little better.

In this article

1. The Rules of Baccarat
2. Natural Winners
3. Dealing the Third Card
4. The Tie Bet
5. How to Play Optimal at Baccarat
6. Video Tutorial
7. Online Baccarat Sites

Baccarat Rules: How Do You Play Baccarat?

You don’t need to be James Bond to sit at the Baccarat table before the cards are dealt.

In fact, it’s so easy to learn how to play the game of Baccarat that I could bet you will advance from a beginner to a real pro by the end of this article.

Wanna bet?

Think about your answer because - betting is pretty much the only thing you can do in the game of Baccarat.

That’s right:

You sit down, count how many chips you want to invest in the game, and decide where to place them.

In a regular game of Baccarat, the dealer uses six to eight decks of cards. The game begins with two hands being dealt on the table:

• The Banker’s Hand
• The Player’s Hand

You are not limited to playing the Player’s hand and you don’t always win when the Player wins.

Since I know this might complicate things a little, I suggest you look at the two hands in Baccarat as:

• The Banker’s Hand (or) Hand A
• The Player’s Hand (or) Hand B

Once the dealer places two cards on each part of the table, it’s time to calculate the points and determine the value of each hand.

Note that the Tens and the face cards are all counted as zero points. The other cards are worth their face value and, not to create any misunderstandings, let me clarify that the Ace is counted as one point.

Also, if the value of your hand is a two-digit number, only the second-digit is counted.

Let me give you an example*.

• The Banker receives 10♠7♥
• The Player receives 9♥3x

In this hypothetical hand of Baccarat, the victory goes to the Banker because 0+7= 7 points, while the Player’s hand is of only 2 points (9+3 = 12 points, but since we only use the second-digit, it becomes of just two points)

*: this is a simplified example. As you are going to discover, things are a little more complicated. But not t-h-a-t much.

Natural Winners in Baccarat

No dear, I am not talking about you here. I am about to let you in on a very specific Baccarat rule that you need to keep in mind every time you bet on the Banker or the Player.

In case the point total of the first two cards is equal to 8 or 9, the Player who hits this score (which is referred to as a natural win) is the one who wins the hand.

When this happens, no more cards are dealt and the bets that were placed at the beginning of the action can be cashed out.

When Do You Need One More Card?

If no one hits a natural win, chances are you might need to see one more card on the table. That’s because the Player (who’s the first one to play) stands on a total of 6 or 7 but needs one more card on a 0-5 score.

And, how about the Banker?

Here’s where everything gets a little more complicated and you better continue reading if you are trying to find out how to play Baccarat online.

If the Player does not need to draw the third card, the Banker stays on a total of 6 or 7 and draws a card on a total of 0-5.

Otherwise:

• If the Player draws a 9, 10, face-card, or Ace as a third card, the Banker draws on a 0-3 score and stays on a 4-7 score
• If the Player draws an 8 as a third card, the Banker draws on a 0-2 score and stays on a 3-7 score
• If the Player draws a 6 or 7 as a third card, the Banker draws on a 0-6 score and stays on a total of 7
• If the Player draws a 4 or 5 as a third card, the Banker draws on a 0-5 score and stays on a total of 6 or 7
• If the Player draws a 2 or 3 as a third card, the Banker draws on a 0-4 score and stays on a total of 5, 6, or 7.

Once all the cards are dealt, you only need to count the points to determine the winner. The one who gets closest to nine points wins the hand.

The Tie Bet in Baccarat

In the game of Baccarat, - sometimes no one wins.

If the Player and the Banker have the same points, the game results in a Tie. In this case, the bets to the Banker and the bets to the Player are returned (no one wins, and no one loses) and only the bets on the Tie are paid.

The payout of Tie bets varies from 8:1 to 9:1.

The Best Bets in Baccarat

Now that you know how to play Baccarat, as well as all the rules of Baccarat, let's focus on the how to get more chances to win part.

Whether you are a high roller or not, the basic Baccarat strategy doesn’t change:

You should always bet on the Banker.

Here’s why:

Although most Casinos apply a commission to this bet (~5 percent), this is the best bet in the game.

The secret is in the house edge.

• The house edge of the Banker’s bet is 1.06 percent
• The house edge of the Player’s bet is 1.24 percent
• The house edge of the Tie bet is…it doesn’t matter

You have so few chances to hit the Tie bet that only a crazy, degenerate gambler would pick this third option.

That’s all there is to it - really!

Sit at the table, put your money on the Banker, and wait until it’s the right time to cash out the money you have won. And don’t forget to apply all the basic bankroll management tips every noob should know!

Playing Baccarat Online: The Best Baccarat Sites

The best Baccarat games on the internet can depend on your location. However, there are some great casinos in the US, UK, and all over the world.

Any casino site worth its salt features lots of different online Baccarat games (you can play with live dealers, too!) with limits that range from micro to high roller.

For a better overview of a great casino site, have a look at this page.

The Best Baccarat Site for US Casino Players

IMHO, the US is spoilt for choice with some amazing casino sites to play at - you can find a full list of them here

My current favorite, though, is FanDuel Casino, a great site that regularly offers bonuses and promotions to start you off on your Baccarat journey.

They have a fabulous new players’ offer that can help you give your bankroll the boost you need to play lots and lots of online Baccarat games.

If you sign up for a free account via this page, you receive up to $1000 to play Baccarat with their Play It Again bonus! Keep in mind this allows you to play with no risk for the first day up to $1000 - making it a great way to start.

The Best Baccarat Site for UK Casino Players

Like the US, the UK has some great online casinos to choose from, with a number of them offering brilliant Baccarat games and generous bonuses.

Sky Casino is an operator I really like, providing a wide range of dedicated Baccarat tables, both with and without live dealers.

The current bonus, Deposit £10 and Recieve £60, can be taken advantage of by signing-up as a new player - it's a great way to get going!

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