Baccarat is famous worldwide as the game of choice for James Bond and high-rolling Asian billionaires.
In fact, Baccarat is arguably the easiest table game in the entire casino, functioning almost exactly like a simple coin flip.
The Basics of Baccarat Scoring
The objective is to bet on the hand that you believe will have a total point value closest to the number 9.
If a hand's total exceeds 9, the first digit is dropped; for example, a 7 and an 8 equals 15, which drops the 1 to become a 5.
- The dealer distributes two cards to the Player hand and two cards to the Banker hand
- Depending on the exact totals, a complex set of casino rules determines if a third card is drawn for either side
- You do not need to memorize the third-card drawing rules; the dealer executes them automatically
Mini-Baccarat and Other Popular Variations
While the core math remains the same, casinos offer several variations to speed up the game or cater to different budgets.
In Mini-Baccarat, the dealer handles all the cards quickly, players cannot touch them, and the minimum bets are much lower.
| Game Term | Definition | Action |
|---|
| Natural | Dealt an 8 or 9 on the first two cards | Hand ends immediately, winner declared |
| Chemin de Fer | A French version where players bet against each other | Extremely rare outside of Europe |
If you want a low-stress game with fantastic mathematical odds, Baccarat should be your primary destination on the floor.