The Simplest Good Game in the Casino
Baccarat has a reputation as an exclusive high-roller game played behind velvet ropes by people in tuxedos. That reputation is outdated. Mini-baccarat is available on the main casino floor at virtually every major casino, with table minimums comparable to blackjack. The game itself is one of the simplest in any casino — simpler than blackjack, simpler than craps, simpler than most poker variants.
More importantly, baccarat offers one of the lowest house edges available at a casino table. The Banker bet carries a 1.06% house edge — better than nearly every bet in roulette, better than slots, better than most table game side bets and better than casual blackjack play. A new player can walk up to a baccarat table, make one decision and be playing at near-optimal odds with no preparation whatsoever.
The Object of Baccarat
Baccarat compares two hands — the Banker hand and the Player hand. Neither hand belongs to any individual player at the table. You are betting on which hand will have a total closer to 9. That is the entire game. You do not play a hand yourself. You do not make decisions about drawing cards. You pick a side before the cards are dealt and watch the result.
Card Values in Baccarat
Baccarat uses a unique card value system that differs from other card games. Understanding the values takes one minute:
Hand totals use only the rightmost digit. A hand of 7 and 8 totals 15 but in baccarat the hand value is 5 — only the last digit counts. A hand of 9 and 6 totals 15 but the value is 5. A hand of 3 and 6 totals 9 exactly. The highest possible hand value is 9. A hand cannot bust — the wrapping rule means even a very high total produces a single digit result.
The One Calculation Rule
Drop the tens digit from any two-card total above 9.
7 + 8 = 15 → value is 5
9 + 5 = 14 → value is 4
6 + 4 = 10 → value is 0
3 + 6 = 9 → value is 9 — a Natural
The Three Bets
Banker wins slightly more often than Player due to the drawing rules. The casino charges a 5% commission on winning Banker bets to offset this advantage. Even after the commission the Banker bet at 1.06% house edge is the better bet. Player is also a good bet at 1.24%. The Tie bet at 14.36% is one of the worst bets on any casino floor despite its tempting 8:1 payout — never place it.
How a Hand Is Played — Step by Step
Step 1 — Place your bet. Before cards are dealt, place chips on Banker, Player or Tie. Banker is almost always the correct choice.
Step 2 — Cards are dealt. The dealer deals two cards to the Banker position and two cards to the Player position, all face up. Both hands are evaluated.
Step 3 — Check for a Natural. If either hand totals 8 or 9 on the first two cards it is a Natural and the hand ends immediately. The higher Natural wins. If both are equal it is a Tie.
Step 4 — Drawing rules determine if a third card is drawn. If neither hand has a Natural, fixed drawing rules determine whether each hand receives a third card. You do not make this decision — the rules are automatic.
Step 5 — Hands are compared. Whichever hand is closer to 9 wins. The dealer pays winning bets. Banker wins pay 0.95:1 after 5% commission. Player wins pay 1:1.
The Drawing Rules — You Do Not Need to Memorize These
Baccarat has fixed drawing rules for when a third card is dealt to each hand. You never decide whether to draw — the rules are automatic and the dealer handles everything. These are included here for reference only:
| Player Hand Total | Player Action |
|---|---|
| 0 through 5 | Draws a third card |
| 6 or 7 | Stands — no third card |
| 8 or 9 | Natural — hand ends immediately |
The Banker drawing rules are slightly more complex and depend on the Player's third card if one was drawn. The dealer always handles this correctly — the rules are never your responsibility as a player. You place your bet and watch.
The complete baccarat player checklist: Sit down. Place chips on Banker. Watch the cards. Collect or pay. Repeat. That is the entire game as a player. Everything else — the drawing rules, the commission calculation, the card values — is handled automatically by the dealer.
Baccarat Etiquette
Do not touch the cards in most baccarat games. Mini-baccarat deals cards face up and players never handle them. In some full baccarat games players are offered cards to squeeze — the dealer or your host will indicate if this is the format.
Track your results if you want — casinos provide scorecards and pens. Players often track Banker and Player results looking for patterns. The outcomes are statistically independent events and the pattern sheets do not affect the odds, but using them is part of the baccarat culture and perfectly acceptable.
The commission is handled automatically. When you win a Banker bet the dealer takes the commission from the payout. You do not need to calculate it. A $20 Banker win pays $19 — the $1 commission is deducted at the table.
Mini-Baccarat vs Full Baccarat
Mini-baccarat is played at a standard casino table with one dealer, lower minimums and a faster pace. Full baccarat is played in a separate area with higher minimums, multiple dealers and a more formal atmosphere. The rules and house edge are identical. Mini-baccarat is accessible to any player at any bankroll level and is where most baccarat action occurs on casino floors today.
The Bottom Line
Baccarat is the simplest path to a low house edge in any casino. Place the Banker bet. Never place the Tie bet. Understand that the 5% commission on Banker wins is already accounted for in the 1.06% house edge figure — Banker is still the better bet even after commission. Sit back, enjoy the pace of the game and let the dealer handle everything else.
No other casino table game is this straightforward to play at near-optimal odds. That combination of simplicity and value is why baccarat generates more casino revenue worldwide than any other table game — and why informed players seek it out as one of the best games in the building.