Baccarat may have a reputation as a high-stakes game for casino the elite, but it's actually one of the easiest casino games to learn. With a very low house edge and minimal decision-making, it's an appealing option for all skill levels.

How to Play Baccarat
Baccarat is a comparing card game played between two hands: the "Player" and the "Banker". The aim is to wager on the hand—Player or Banker—that will end up with a higher score. You can bet on the Player's hand to win, the Banker's hand to win, or for the hands to Tie.

Scoring the Hands

Cards 2-9: Are worth their face value. 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings (Face Cards): These cards have no point value. Aces: Count as one.

The score of a hand is the rightmost digit of the sum of the cards. For example, a hand consisting of a 7 and an 8 is not 15, but 5. A "natural" is a two-card hand casino totaling 8 or 9, and it is an automatic win unless both hands are a natural of the same value (a tie).

Understanding Your Options
Your involvement ends after you place your bet. The game proceeds based on a predetermined set of drawing rules. Here’s a breakdown of the three bets and their house edge.

Bet Casino Advantage What to Know

The Banker Bet Just over 1% Despite a 5% commission on wins, this is the smartest bet you can make. It has the lowest house edge of the three.

Bet on Player Around 1.24% A very solid bet with only a slightly higher house edge than the Banker. There is no commission taken on Player wins.

Tie ~14.36% The high payout of 8:1 or 9:1 is designed to attract players, but the odds are terrible. This is considered a sucker bet.

The clear strategy in baccarat is simple: consistently bet on the Banker. It might seem repetitive, but it is the mathematically soundest way to play the game. It is this mix of easy rules, great odds, and thrilling gameplay that has made baccarat a casino favorite for generations.