Baccarat can initially look complicated, but the basic game is actually quite simple. Unlike blackjack, you don’t normally decide whether to take another card. Instead, you choose which outcome to bet on and the game’s rules determine how the cards are dealt.
If you’re looking for a beginner-friendly baccarat guide, NetBet Casino‘s got you covered. Below, we explain the rules, card values, available bets, odds and some basic strategy considerations. Enjoy!
What Is Baccarat?
Baccarat is a card game involving two hands: the Player and the Banker.
The aim isn’t for you to build your own hand. Instead, you bet on which hand you think will finish closest to a total of nine.
You can generally bet on:
- Player
- Banker
- Tie
The winning hand is the one closest to nine.
Baccarat Card Values Explained
Understanding baccarat card values is simple.
| Card | Value |
|---|---|
| Ace | 1 |
| 2–9 | Face value |
| 10 | 0 |
| Jack | 0 |
| Queen | 0 |
| King | 0 |
The value of a hand is determined by adding the cards together and ignoring the tens digit.
For example:
7 + 2 = 9
But:
7 + 8 = 15 → 5
The hand’s value is therefore 5.
How to Play Baccarat
A standard round works broadly like this:
- Choose your bet.
- Place it on Player, Banker or Tie.
- Two cards are dealt to the Player hand.
- Two cards are dealt to the Banker hand.
- Depending on the totals, a third card may be dealt according to fixed baccarat rules.
- The final totals are compared.
- The winning bet is paid according to the game’s rules.
The important point for beginners is that you don’t decide whether the Player or Banker takes another card. The drawing rules determine this automatically.
That makes baccarat different from blackjack, where the player actively chooses whether to hit, stand, split or double.
What Is a Natural in Baccarat?
If either the Player or Banker receives a total of 8 or 9 from their initial two cards, this is known as a natural.
In that situation, the drawing rules determine whether additional cards are dealt.
The game’s rules handle these decisions automatically, so you don’t need to memorise the full third-card table simply to play a basic game.
Banker vs Player Baccarat: What’s the Difference?
When choosing between the main baccarat bets, you’ll generally see Banker and Player.
The Player bet wins if the Player hand finishes closer to nine.
The Banker bet wins if the Banker hand finishes closer to nine.
In standard baccarat, the Banker bet usually pays 1:1 less a 5% commission on the winnings, although the exact payout can vary between variants.
The Banker bet has a slightly lower house edge than the Player bet under standard eight-deck rules: approximately 1.06% compared with 1.24%.
What Happens If Baccarat Is a Tie?
If the Player and Banker hands finish with the same total, the result is a Tie.
A Tie bet wins when this happens and generally offers a much higher payout than Player or Banker bets.
However, the higher payout comes with significantly longer odds. Under common eight-deck rules, an 8:1 Tie payout has a house edge of approximately 14.36%, compared with 1.06% for Banker and 1.24% for Player.
The exact odds and payouts can vary according to the baccarat variant.
What Are the Baccarat Odds?
The three main bets don’t have identical mathematical characteristics.
| Bet | Approx. probability of outcome | Typical house edge* |
|---|---|---|
| Banker | 45.86% | 1.06% |
| Player | 44.63% | 1.24% |
| Tie | 9.52% | 14.36% |
*The figures shown above are for common eight-deck baccarat rules, and can vary between games.
The probability of winning isn’t the same thing as the house edge. The Banker bet wins slightly more often, but its payout is reduced by commission.
Baccarat Strategy for Beginners
Because the drawing rules are predetermined, baccarat doesn’t require the same type of decision-making strategy as blackjack.
A common mathematical approach is to favour the Banker bet over Player or Tie when playing standard baccarat because it has the lowest house edge of the three main bets under conventional rules.
That doesn’t mean the Banker will win the next hand. It only means that, under the relevant rules, it has the more favourable long-term mathematical expectation.
Players should also be cautious about baccarat side bets. These can have substantially different odds and house edges from the main Player and Banker bets.
Do Baccarat Patterns Predict the Next Result?
You may see baccarat tables displaying previous results, sometimes using roadmaps or patterns.
These displays can be useful for recording what has happened, but they don’t make the next outcome predictable.
A run of Banker results doesn’t mean Player is “due”, and several Player wins don’t make Banker more likely on the next hand.
Past results don’t guarantee future results.
Online Baccarat vs Live Baccarat
Online baccarat can be available in different formats.
An RNG version uses software to determine the outcome, while live baccarat features a real dealer dealing physical cards in a streamed casino environment.
NetBet IE’s extensive online casino offering contains live baccarat titles such as Baccarat Lobby from Evolution, alongside live blackjack and roulette.
If you enjoy the atmosphere of a traditional casino, live baccarat can provide a more immersive experience. If convenience and speed are your priority, an online version may be preferable.
Start Exploring Baccarat at NetBet Casino!
Now that you understand how to play baccarat, you can explore the available baccarat games at NetBet.
You can also browse other table games or discover baccarat and other dealer-led games through the live casino.
Remember that baccarat is a game of chance. Understanding the rules and mathematical differences between bets can help you make informed decisions, but no baccarat strategy guarantees a winning result.
Before you begin playing, decide on a budget, take regular breaks and enjoy your gaming responsibly. NetBet Casino also offers a comprehensive range of Safer Gambling tools, including deposit limits, reality checks and cooling-off periods, helping players stay in control while enjoying their favourite games.
