The information provided below will give you a basic understanding of the rules of baccarat punto banco as it is played in casinos in the United States. We will be adding the rules to the two other baccarat variations baccarat chemin de fer and baccarat banque soon.

Here are the primary areas of the Baccarat table as indicated in the layout above:

• 1. Dealer
• 2. Dealer
• 3. Caller or Croupier (french term)
• 4. Discard Tray

The primary Baccarat layout areas are:

• Player
• Banker
• Tie

Learning To Play Baccarat

Learning the game of Baccarat is fairly simple, unlike some other table games the layout of the baccarat table is simple to understand and become familiar with. Baccarat normally played in a separate area of the casino. There are three casino dealers and as many as 12 or 14 players. As the ‘three’ layout positions on the board would indicate there are only three types of bets available to players of the game and they are; banker, player and tie. On each side of the table there are seven numbered positions, 1-7 and 8-15 (excluding the number 13) with three betting areas associated with each number.

Three dealers work the table, in the example graphic above, you’ll note two dealers in positions (1 & 2) and a croupier or (caller) position (3) who is located at the opposite end of the table. The two dealers are responsible for taking player bets at their end of the table and the caller directs the play of the game and is responsible for calling the hands.

Betting Rules & Hand Values

As mentioned earlier, there are three betting options on the baccarat table layout, they are; betting on “player”, “banker” or betting on a “tie”. The object of the game is to bet on the hand with the highest total. All casinos will set a table minimum and maximum and you can bet anywhere within that range when betting on the player’s hand. The highest hand value you can have is nine, a two-card total of nine and eight is referred to as a “natural”, the nine cannot be beaten. If both the bank and player have identical hands this is known as a tie and neither the bank or player wins.

• If you place your chipsin the “P L A Y E R S” area directly in front of you, you are betting on a player hand. If you win the “player” bet, ie: the player hand is greater than the dealers you will be paid even money and not changed any commission.
• If you place your chips in the “B A N K E R S” area directly in front of you, you are betting on a banker hand. If you win the “banker” bet, ie: the banker hand is greater than the player’s you will be paid even money and charged a commission fee of 5% on the winnings.
• To bet on a “Tie”, place your chips in the “TIE” area or a number corresponding to your seating position. A “Tie” result pays 8:1 and there are no commission fees. If you win the “tie” bet, ie: the banker and player hands are equal, you will be paid 8:1 without any commission fees. It should be noted however that “tie” bets have a very high house advantage and is known to be the worst possible bet on the baccarat table. In a “tie” situation, “player” and “banker” bets are returned.

The Deal

The cards are dealt firstly to the “Player and then to the “Banker one at a time until both have two cards. At this time the rules of play “Tableau” which is a table of play is used to determine whether any further cards are to be drawn. No more than three cards per hand are drawn. The values of both cards in each hand are added together and the caller (croupier) calls the total and announces the winning hand as either “Player” or “Banker”.

• At the start of the game, the Player and Banker hands are each dealt two cards.
• If the score of either hand totals 8 or 9, the game is over and no further cards are dealt to either hand.
• If neither hand scored 8 or 9, the game proceeds as follows:
• The Player goes first and must play according to the following rules:
  • The Player hand draws another card if its total is 0-5, otherwise it does not draw another card.Play now proceeds to the banker.
  • If the Banker hand totals 7, 8 or 9, the Banker does not get another card.
  • If the Banker’s first two cards total 0,1 or 2, then the Banker draws one card, otherwise, the Banker draws cards according to this table:

  • Banker	Player’s Draw Card
    Total	-	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
    9	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
    8	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
    7	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
    6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	D	D	-	-
    5	D	-	-	-	-	D	D	D	D	-	-
    4	D	-	-	D	D	D	D	D	D	-	-
    3	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	-	D
    2	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
    1	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
    0	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D

Card Values

• Pictures and 10s count as 0. If the initial hand totals 8 or 9 no further cards are drawn.
• An initial “Player” total of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, the “Player” draws another card.
• An initial “Player” total of 6 or 7, the “Player” stands and doesn’t draw any further card.
• An initial “Player” total of 8 or 9, (a natural) neither the “Player” nor the “Banker” draw any further cards.
• An initial “Banker” total of 0, 1 or 2, the “Banker” draws another card.
• An initial “Banker” total of 3, the “Banker” draws another card but only if the “Player’s” third card is not an 8.
• An initial “Banker” total of 4, the “Banker” draws another card when the “Player’s” third card is a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7.
• An initial “Banker” total of 5, the “Banker” draws another card when the “Player’s” third card is a 4, 5, 6, or 7.
• An initial “Banker” total of 6, the “Banker” draws another card when the “Player’s” third card is a 6 or 7.
• An initial “Banker” total of 7, the “Banker” stands and doesn’t draw any further cards.
• An initial “Banker” total of 8 or 9, this is a natural and neither the “Player” nor the “Banker” draw further cards.
• An initial “Banker” total of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and the “Player’s” initial total is 6 or 7 and stands, the “Banker” draws another card.
• An initial “Banker” total of 6 must stand if the “Player’s” initial total is 6 or 7.