Guide to Playing Real Money Baccarat Games

The favourite of James Bond, Baccarat may be a luck-based game, but there’s still things you need to know. This guide is packed full of tips and advice to get you started, including the best baccarat casinos online at which to play.

Jonny Jackpot Casino

UP TO 500 BONUS SPINS
18+. New players only. One welcome package per player. Max bonus bet $/€5, Min deposit $/€20, 1st deposit: get 100 bonus spins, 2nd Deposit: get 75 bonus spins, 3rd deposit: get 125 bonus spins, 4th deposit: get 50 bonus spins, 5th deposit: get 150 bonus spins. All spins are on slot game Book of Dead only. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days and bonus spins within 7 days. Spins winnings credited as bonus. Bonus funds separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 35x wagering and withdrawal requirements. Terms Apply. BeGambleAware.org

Party Casino

50 FREE SPINS
18+. New depositors only. UK residents only. Minimum deposit $/€10. Free Spins are valid only on Starburst and expire in 7 days. Excludes deposits made via Skrill and Neteller.  

21 Casino

$/€300 BONUS
18+. New players only. Min deposit $/€10. Bonus funds are 121% up to $/€300 and separate to Cash funds. 35x bonus wagering requirements apply. Only bonus funds count towards wagering requirement. $/€5 max. bet with bonus. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days, otherwise any unused shall be removed. Terms Apply. BeGambleAware.org

Magic Red Casino

100% UP TO $/€25 + 25 FREE SPINS
New accounts only. Min. $/€10 deposit, debit card only. Up to 50x wagering, game contributions vary, max. stake applies, 7 day expiry. See full terms.

bgo Casino

UP TO 500 FREE SPINS
UK ONLY. WIN UP TO 500 FREE SPINS FROM MEGA WHEEL ON 1ST DEPOSIT. 24-HOUR EXPIRY. MAX BET $/€2.50, MAX SPINS WIN $/€8 PER 10 SPINS, MAX BONUS WIN $/€150, SELECTED GAMES & 65X WAGERING ON WINNINGS. NO NETELLER/SKRILL. DEPOSIT/WITHDRAWAL FEES APPLY. FULL T&CS APPLY. JOIN NOW 18+. SELECTED CUSTOMERS. OFFERS ADDED TO REWARDS HUB DAILY UNTIL 25/12/19. DAILY OFFERS EXPIRE 23:59 GMT. SELECTED GAMES ONLY. WAGERING REQ. ON BONUS/FREE SPINS WINNINGS APPLY. MAX BET APPLIES. MAX WIN $/€2K. 7-DAY EXPIRY ON BONUS/FREE SPINS WINNINGS. MIN DEPOSIT APPLIES. NO NETELLER/SKRILL. DEPOSIT/WITHDRAWAL FEES APPLY. FULL T&CS APPLY. PLEASE GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY. BEGAMBLEAWARE.ORG
Basics icon
Basics
Play like an Expert icon
Play like an Expert
Play for Free icon
Play for Free
Rules icon
Rules
Strategy icon
Strategy
Types icon
Types
Tips icon
Tips
Glossary icon
Glossary

Baccarat Basics

Baccarat is a card game played between dealer and player, with quite a strict set of rules. There are three variants of baccarat- punto banco, baccarat chemin de fer and baccarat banque. The typical version played by most casinos and online casinos is punto banco, also called ‘North American baccarat’.

Punto banco baccarat is purely a game of chance. There is no skill element involved, as the outcome of each game is decided by the cards as they are revealed. There is a list of rules which the game must follow, a kind of automated program. With each round or ‘coup’, either the player or banker will win, or there will be a tie.

The cards in baccarat have a point value, with the cards 2 to 9 having their usual value, tens, jacks and queen are worth 0 points and aces are worth 1. If double figures are reached by adding cards together, the rightmost value is used, so a 13 becomes a 3. This means the maximum is 9. The term ‘punto’ refers to the player and ‘banco’ the banker, but these designations are not literally controlled by player and dealer, they are just representatives of the rules. With each coup, two cards are dealt to player and banker with the hopes of getting a total of 8 or 9. Should no resolution be found, more cards are dealt according to strict rules.

Baccarat is not quite as common as other online casino games, but the best casinos will host at least one version. These can vary slightly in rules and appearance.

How to Play Baccarat Like an Expert

Stick to these three simple principles and you will be playing baccarat like a pro in no time:

Who has the edge

With standard baccarat, unfortunately there’s little a player can do to moderate victory or failure. The game plays itself out with little input from the player, who can only bet on the banker, player or a tie. In essence, this is a coin toss, though house edge reduces the chances a little.

Banker bet payout

Typically a banker bet pays out 5% less than a player bet to even things out. The player bet is 1 to 1, while the banker is 19 to 20. However, the player bet has a slightly higher house edge than the banker bet.

Avoid the tie bet

The tie bet is usually 8 to 1 and it’s difficult to hit, so most players avoid it unless feeling very lucky.

Baccarat Rules

Punto banco baccarat follows a set of rules known as the ‘tableau’. The banker and player are each drawn two cards, adding the totals together to get a score, reducing double figures by only using the rightmost digit. If either banker or player has 8 or 9 (a ‘natural’), they win- if they both have it, it’s a tie.

Should neither have 8 or 9, the game follows the rules of the tableau to see what happens next. The player’s rule is checked first, then the banker’s. If the player has an initial total of 0-5, he draws a third card. If the total is 6 or 7, he stands. If the player stands, the banker follows the same rules, drawing on 0-5 and standing on 6-7.

However, if the player drew a third card, the banker has a more complex action:

  • If Player drew a 2 or 3, Banker draws with 0–4 and stands with 5–7
  • If Player drew a 4 or 5, Banker draws with 0–5 and stands with 6–7
  • If Player drew a 6 or 7, Banker draws with 0–6 and stands with 7
  • If Player drew an 8, Banker draws with 0–2 and stands with 3–7
  • If Player drew an ace, 9, 10, or face-card, the Banker draws with 0–3 and stands with 4–7

Depending on the casino, in the event of a tie, current bets may remain in place for the next round or they may be reset.

Baccarat Strategies

Improving your chances is difficult with baccarat, since the base punto banco game does not have any player input. However, there are players who swear by using certain betting strategies which help to control how much is being risked. For example, the 1-3-2-4 strategy is recommended, but as with any, there’s no guarantee of success and players must still be willing to risk all money wagered.

The strategy is simple- place the first bet, if it succeeds then place the second. Continue up to the fourth. If a bet fails at any point, start again from the first. The first bet is a single unit, so this might be a bet of $/€5.

The second bet is three units, so this would be $/€15. The third is two units, therefore $/€10. The fourth is four units, which is $/€20 in this example. The idea is that if the first two bets land, even if the third fails, the player has a profit.

When playing chemin de fer, the generally agreed strategy is to hit on a score of 0 to 4 and stand on a 6 and 7. On a 5, the player can essentially play at random.

Types of Baccarat

There are several variations on baccarat, both historical and modern.

Super 6 or Punto 2000 is a version where even money is paid on winning banker bets instead of 19 to 20, except when the banker wins with 6, when only 50% of the bet is paid. This has a higher house edge on the banker bet but it’s faster to play.

Chemin de fer is named after the railway because it’s a quicker version of baccarat. A player is designated banker and this changes each round. The banker places a wager and the players have the option to ‘go bank’ and match it, or place their own wagers.

The banker gets two cards as normal but the other two are held in common by the other players. One player is chosen to decide if a third card is drawn, adding an element of choice to the game.

Baccarat Banque is similar to chemin de fer, but the bank stays with one player and the players are dealt cards as two groups, split into two sides, around the chosen banker. Each side wins or loses by the cards dealt to them as a group. Players may choose when to draw a card.

You want to win at Baccarat? Try our top Baccarat Tips

  • Accept that the game is guided by chance and bet accordingly.
  • Research betting strategies.
  • Bet on the banker as the player bet has a higher house edge.
  • In chemin de fer, hit on a 0-4 and stand on a 6 or 7.

History of Baccarat

Baccarat has a disputed origin, but it seems to have appeared in the 19th century. Some sources believe that it was originally named ‘baccara’ and came to France from Italy, as early as the 15th century, by soldiers returning from the Franco-Italian War.

The term ‘baccara’ means zero and seems to refer to the face cards having 0 value in this game. Some attribute the creation of the game to a man named Felix Falguiere. The original game had four different dealers, each player could be the banker and players could get against each other.

In France, the game became a favourite of King Charles VIII and took off among the aristocracy. Much later in England, the game was popularised by Ian Fleming’s portrayal of it in the James Bond novels. It is believed that punto banco baccarat began in Cuba, catching on as that version of the game spread to mainland America.

Though it never became a common casino game played by the public, it is considered a high-class game played by VIPs, for amazingly high stakes.

Baccarat Glossary

Betting on the result of a baccarat game to be a banker win. This will have a 5% commission.
A round of baccarat.
The cards King, Queen and Jack, which are word 0 in baccarat.
The set of cards a player is holding, also the name for a constructed combination of cards.
Scoring an 8 or 9 from the first two cards in punto banco.
Baccarat cards are sometimes manipulated using a wooden board called a palette.
Betting on the result of a baccarat game to be a player win. This has a higher house edge.
The most common form of baccarat, meaning ‘player – banker’.
A device used by the casino to deal cards in table games, most notably blackjack.
French for ‘board’, this is the set of rules that baccarat follows.
An Italian precursor to baccarat.
To discard a number of cards at the beginning of the shoe.
This version of baccarat allows players to make some choice regarding the card draw. Also called ‘chemmy’ or ‘shimmy’.
In chemin de fer, asking for another card. Players can also stand and take no more cards.
The built-in advantage that casinos have across all of their games, making it possible for the casinos to stay in business and make profit.
The ‘big one’ or the best hand in baccarat, a natural totalling 9.
The ‘little one’, a natural hand totalling 8.
A smaller, faster way to play the game, usually with lower stakes.
A bet that neither wins nor loses. This is typically held over to the next round.
Betting on the result of a baccarat game to be a tie. This usually pays 8 to 1 or 9 to 1.

Top 5 Best Baccarat Casinos 2019

RankBrandOfferPlay here
1stJonny Jackpot CasinoUP TO 500 BONUS SPINSPlay here
2ndParty Casino50 FREE SPINSPlay here
3rd21 Casino$/€300 BONUSPlay here
4thMagic Red Casino100% UP TO $/€25 + 25 FREE SPINSPlay here
5thbgo CasinoUP TO 500 FREE SPINSPlay here
UP TO 500 BONUS SPINS