Basic Baccarat Rules
Baccarat is a relatively easy card game, so are the Baccarat rules. Watch the action unfold as participants place bets. According to baccarat rules players are not required to make decisions during the game, but only before the hand is dealt. Players can bet on the side of the house, the player, or for a tie.
The object of the game, as it is written in baccarat rules, is to bet for the side whose cards have a point total closest to 9. Point totals are calculated in the following way:
- Aces count as 1
- Cards 2 through 9 count at face value
- 10 as well as all face cards count as 0.
However, it's important to note that if you`re dealt a 9 and a 7, for example, the total is not 16, but 6. If you`re dealt a 3 and an 8, the total is not 11, but 1. In other words, it's impossible to have a combination of cards that totals more than 9.
The dealer deals 4 cards, 2 each for the house and player. If the point total of either or both sides is 8 or 9, it's called `a natural` and no more cards are dealt. If the point total of both sides is the same, of course, it's a tie. When the dealer's or the player's points, after the initial two cards, don't add up to a natural, or when there is no tie, one additional card is dealt according to specific baccarat rules as described below.
If the player's initial hand adds up to 6 or more, he must stand and will not be dealt additional cards. For 5 or less, the player will be dealt an additional card. If the house hand, meanwhile, adds up to 7 or more, the house must stand. Should the house total adds up to 0, 1 or 2, the house must take an additional card.
If the house hand totals 3, and the player's third card is anything other than 8 (the player receives his cards before the dealer), house will hit. If the house hand totals 4, and the player's third card is anything other than 1, 8, 9, or 0, house will hit. If the house hand totals 5, and the player is dealt a 4, 5, 6, or 7, house will hit. And if the house hand totals 6, and the player's third card is 6 or 7, the house will hit.
Payoffs in the game are very straightforward. If you bet on a winning player's hand, you`ll be paid at 1 to 1. If you bet on a winning house hand, you`ll also be paid at 1 to 1. If you bet on a tie, the payoff is 8 to 1. Casinos usually have a minimum bet of $1 and a maximum bet of $250. Your online casino can inform you on particular ranges and percentages.