Aug 04, 2018 The Mini Baccarat is played under the same rules as American Baccarat, but gives players the opportunity to play the game with the lower betting limits in the much more relaxed atmosphere - you can dress as casual as you like. The Mini Baccarat table is smaller than the one used in classic baccarat. However, playing baccarat is fun and relatively easy, and you can learn how to play in just a few minutes. A Crash Course in Baccarat The toughest thing about the game is how it is pronounced: 'baa-ca-rah,' with a silent 't'.
Most casinos offer punto banco as their baccarat game. So that’s the game we’ll explain the rules for below. We cover additional variations and side bets later on in this guide.
Baccarat’s a relatively easy game to learn.
The object of the game is to bet on who you think will have the best hand – the banker or the player. Or you can bet on whether you think they’ll tie. You can also bet on any two or all three of these outcomes.
Here’s what a sample hand will look like:
You and anyone else playing will place your bet(s). You can bet on the banker, player, tie, or any combination of those three options.
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Once the bets are made, the croupier will deal two hands – one for the player, and another for the banker.
The player hand is dealt with first. The dealer gives it a point value so he can decide whether you’re given a third card or not.
That’s based on the value of your hand, which is based on the following values assigned to each card:
- 10, J, Q, K = 0
- 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 = face value
- Jokers = not used
- Aces = 1
- Suits = doesn’t matter
The highest score possible is nine points.
Whenever you have two cards that make a higher (double-digit) score, only the right digit is used.
For example, say you’re dealt two 6s for a total of twelve points. Only the furthest right digit – the two – is used. Your score is two points.
Here are more examples. On the left is the actual (double-digit) value of your hand. On the right is what your score will actually be once the left digit is dropped.
- 11 = 1 point
- 12 = 2 points
- 13 = 3 points
- 14 = 4 points
- 15 = 5 points
- 16 = 6 points
- 17 = 7 points
- 18 = 8 points
Once there’s a point value assigned, a third card may or may not be dealt. In punto banco baccarat, this is determined by the croupier and done automatically (based on somewhat complicated rules).
Don’t worry; there’s no need to panic. We list the rules for both the player and banker below. But you don’t need to memorize them because whether you play online or off, the croupier or software will do it all for you.
But it’s a good idea to have a vague understanding so you know what’s going on and why so you’re not confused about why sometimes you’re dealt a third card and other times you’re not.
Here’s what happens based on the value of your hand:
- 0-5 – The player draws another card.
- 6-7 – The player stands.
- 8-9 (natural) – The player stands.
Once the player hand is dealt with, the dealer is next. Here’s what happens based on the total of their hand:
- 1-2 – Draws another card (no matter the player hand).
- 3 – Draws another card when the player hand is 1-7 or 9-10, and always stands on player 8.
- 4 – Draws when player’s hand is 2-7 and always stands on player 1 or 8-10.
- 5 – Draws when player’s hand is 4-7 and always stands on player 1-3 or 8-10.
- 6 – Draws when player’s hand is 6-7 and always stands on player 1-5 or 8-10.
- 7 – Stands (no matter the player hand).
- 8 or 9 (natural) – Stands (no matter the player hand).
Once both hands are done, they’re compared. You’ll win the hand if you:
- Bet on the tie and both the player and banker tie. This pays 8:1 or 9:1, depending on the casino. That means that for every $1 you bet, you’ll receive your $1 back PLUS an additional $8 or $9.
- Bet on the player and that hand wins. This pays even money. That means for every $1 you bet, you’ll receive your original $1 back PLUS an additional $1.
- Bet on banker and that hand wins. This pays 0.95:1. That means that for every $1 you bet, you’ll receive your original $1 back PLUS an extra $0.95. That’s because the casino takes a 5% commission on banker bets.
Bet on the wrong outcome, and you lose.
Then the money’s collected and/or paid out. Then another round starts.
That’s all there is to playing punto banco baccarat. There’s no strategy and no decision making. So this variation is easy to learn and play.
But there are other variations, including variants where you do make decisions. Let’s look at those now.