Baccarat Rules Step by Step (Punto Banco)

Baccarat looks mysterious at the table — giant score sheets, a croupier calling out cards, and bets named Player, Banker and Tie without it being clear who plays whom. Mechanically it's simpler than blackjack: you make exactly one decision per round (which of the three bets), everything else runs on fixed rules.

**Before your first hand.** Punto Banco (the dominant variant worldwide, including EU casinos) offers three bets: Player, Banker, Tie. Player and Banker aren't people — they're two card positions on the table that any bettor can back. The croupier deals and turns every card; you only decide where your chip goes.

**Card values.** Ace = 1. 2–9 = face value. 10, J, Q, K = 0. The hand value is the last digit of the sum: 7+8=15 → 5. 4+6=10 → 0. There are no values above 9. This single rule is the core of baccarat.

**Round flow (fixed order).** Bet: chips on Player, Banker or Tie. First deal: Player position gets two face-up cards, Banker position the same. Instant win on a 'Natural': if either side already totals 8 or 9, the round ends and the higher total wins.

**Third-card rule for Player.** If Player has 0–5 (and Banker has no 8/9), Player automatically draws a third card. At 6 or 7: Player stands. No one decides — the croupier draws per the rules.

**Third-card rule for Banker.** Only if Player did not draw: Banker draws on 0–5, stands on 6/7. If Player did draw, a specific matrix applies: Banker with 0/1/2 always draws. With 3, Banker draws unless Player's third card was an 8. With 4, only if Player's third was 2–7. With 5, only on 4–7. With 6, only on 6/7. At 7, always stand. The table is printed at the felt — you don't need to memorise it, but it explains why Banker wins more often.

**Payouts.** Player wins: 1:1. Banker wins: 1:1 minus 5% commission (0.95:1). Tie: 8:1 (some casinos 9:1). Losing side pays the stake. On a tie, Player and Banker bets push (stake returned); only Tie bets win.

**Why the 5% commission on Banker?** Because the third-card rules give Banker a statistical edge (Banker wins ~45.86% of rounds, Player 44.62%, rest tie). Without commission, Banker would be strictly better and no one would bet Player. With commission: Banker house edge 1.06%, Player 1.24%, Tie 14.36%.

**What that means for you.** Banker is statistically the best bet — a house edge lower than blackjack played without basic strategy. Player is nearly identical. Tie is a mathematical trap: the 8:1 payout looks attractive but doesn't compensate for the 9.52% probability. The [house-edge calculator](/en/house-edge-calculator) works it out concretely.

**Score sheets and 'patterns'.** The red and blue markings on the big screens are histories of the last rounds. They have no predictive value — each round is independent (freshly shuffled shoes, usually 6–8 decks). Betting 'Banker was 6 in a row, Player next' is the classic gambler's fallacy.

**Common variants.** Mini-baccarat: smaller table, lower limits, croupier handles all cards. Squeeze/Big Baccarat: players turn cards themselves — pure ritual, no rules change. Live baccarat online: identical rules, streamed from studios (Evolution, Pragmatic) with published RTP figures.

**Bankroll guidance.** Baccarat has medium variance (lower than slots, higher than blackjack with basic strategy). A ~2h session at €10/hand typically needs a €250–400 bankroll. The [bankroll simulator](/en/bankroll-simulator) shows the distribution of outcomes.

**Bottom line.** Baccarat looks complex but is one of the simplest casino games: one decision per round (Banker), fixed flow, low house edge. Bet Banker, avoid Tie, and you take the mathematical maximum out of the game. Everything else is theatre.