Baccarat is a very simple game and can be learned in minutes. It is a game of chance where you place a bet on the banker, the player, or a tie. Two cards are drawn for both the player and the banker and whoever has the total value closer to 9 wins. In some variations of the game, a third card can be drawn for either or both the banker and the player.

In online baccarat, the computer will do the dealing while at live dealer baccarat an actual dealer will draw the cards and you may play along with four other people. Have a look at our quick guide below what the steps of the game are.

Step-by-step baccarat guide

● Select your bet by clicking on the chip

● Click on “player”, “banker” or “tie” to place the selected bet

● Side bet options may be available

● Click on “deal”

● Two cards are dealt for both parties and a winner is determined

● If you won, the sum will be added to your balance

● Place the next bet

The objective of the baccarat game is to try to guess if the banker or the player will have a hand value closer to 9. It is all about luck and there is no strategy to use. In an online version, there is usually a scoreboard where you can check past results, however, as games use RNG technology, future results don’t depend on past ones. The three main bets you can place are these:

Banker

The banker bet has the lowest house edge and slightly higher odds of winning than the player bet. However, usually, there is a 5% commission if you place this bet.

Player

This is the second-best option to bet on. There is no commission involved and your chances of winning are just slightly lower than with the banker bet.

Tie

This is the riskiest bet of the three as chances of the banker and player having the same card value are slim. However, the payout is high on this bet.

More variations of bets in baccarat

There are a few additional (side bets) you can place in baccarat, however, they may vary from casino to casino.

Player pair – pays if the player’s first two cards are a pair

Banker pair – pays if the banker’s first two cards are a pair

Perfect pair – pays if either the player or the banker has a pair in both rank and suit

Either pair – pays if either the banker or the player has a pair

Panda 8 – pays if the player wins with three cards with a total value of 8

Lucky 8 – pays if the total hand value of either the player or the banker is 8 and it beats the other hand

Baccarat has a low house edge compared to other games of chance - that is if you place one of the two main bet types: the banker (1.06%) or the player (1.36%) bets. You will also have odds close to 50% with either one of these two bets. However, when you bet on a tie or place one of the available side bets, your odds reduces significantly and the house edge will be higher. On the other hand, also the possible win will be higher.

Baccarat can be played with different numbers of decks and this also influences the house edge and the odds. The main bet types will have the same payout though. You can check the exact figures in the below tabula.

Six Deck Baccarat

Single–Deck Baccarat

We all want to get bonuses and double our bankroll to boost our chances of winning, however, not all bonuses can be used for baccarat. This game has a low house edge and with certain bets, almost 50% chance of winning so understandably casinos are not so keen on you playing this game with their money.

In most casinos, baccarat only counts as 10% towards wagering or it might not count at all. If we find a good bonus that can be advantageously used for baccarat, we will list it here.

Baccarat is a game of chance and it isn’t much you can do to ensure winning. However, you can adjust your bet levels to maximize your winning or minimize your loss. There are two progression systems for adjusting your bets. One reduces the bet level after a loss and increases it after a win, while the other does just the opposite.

When you play baccarat at an online casino, most likely you can choose between a few variants. You can try free baccarat games or play them for real money. Many baccarat casinos offer live dealer games as well – not only for high rollers.

Big Baccarat

● A full-size version of the baccarat game

● Up to 14 players can sit down at the table

● There are three dealers at the oval-shaped tables in land-based casinos

● Places are marked with yellow numbers between 1 and 15

● There is no number 13 as it is considered unlucky in many cultures

● Maximum and minimum table limits apply

Mini Baccarat

● Mini version with lower bet limits

● Is a popular version in casinos in the main game area

● The table is a shape of half a circle and has space for 5 or 7 players

● Places are marked 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6

● Number 4 is not marked on the table as it is considered unlucky in Asian cultures

● The game has one dealer who stands opposite the players

Live Dealer Baccarat

● Normally there are 5 or 7 players at the table

● Real-time video connection with the studio

● You can interact with other players through chat

● Table limits are set by the online casino

● There can be high-roller tables that are suitable for punters with a large bankroll

● Some variants of the game allow side bets

Chemin De Fer

● Is popular in France and Monte Carlo and other casino locations in Europe

● American casinos normally don’t offer this version of baccarat

● Players bet against each other

● One player holds the bank and sets aside his bet to cover the bets of the opponents