How to Play Online Baccarat: Rules

Baccarat is one of the easiest and most stylish card games to play online. You don’t need deep strategies — the only choice you make is where to place your bet: on the Banker, the Player, or a Tie. The winning hand is simply the one that gets closest to a total of 9. Before you sit down at the table, let’s quickly go through the rules so you’ll know exactly what to expect.

The Goal of the Game and Card Values

At its core, baccarat is one of the simplest card games you’ll ever play. Unlike blackjack, where you aim for 21, here the magic number is 9. That’s it — nothing fancy, no complicated math.

To see how it works, you just need to understand how the cards are valued:

• Cards 2–9 → worth their face value (a 6 is six points, a 3 is three points, and so on).

• Ace → always worth 1 point.

• 10, Jack, Queen, King → all worth 0 points.

So, a hand of 7 + King is worth 7 points. A hand of 5 + 4 is worth 9 points — the best possible outcome.

There’s one special twist: if your total goes above 9, you don’t bust like in blackjack. Instead, you drop the tens digit and keep only the last digit. For example:

• 7 + 8 = 15 → hand value is 5.

• 9 + 6 = 15 → hand value is 5.

• 4 + 9 = 13 → hand value is 3.

This is called the “drop the tens” system, and it’s what makes baccarat fast, smooth, and easy to follow. You never have to calculate complicated sums — the game naturally reduces every total back to a single digit between 0 and 9.

The closer a hand is to 9, the stronger it is. A total of 8 or 9 is called a natural, and it often ends the round immediately.

Main Bets and Payouts

One of the reasons baccarat is so welcoming to beginners is its simplicity. You’re not battling the dealer or outsmarting other players — none of that. All you do is decide where to place your bet before the cards hit the table. And you’ve only got three choices:

• Banker bet — this is the safest and most popular choice. It pays 1:1, but the casino takes a small commission (usually 5%) from your winnings. Why? Because the Banker has a slight statistical edge due to how the drawing rules work. Even with the commission, this bet still has the lowest house edge at around 1.06%, which makes it the best long-term option.

• Player bet — this bet also pays 1:1, but there’s no commission taken. On the surface, it looks better than Banker — but because of the rules, the Player hand wins a little less often. The result is a slightly higher house edge of around 1.24%. Still a solid bet, just not quite as strong as Banker.

• Tie bet — this is the “high-risk, high-reward” option. If both hands finish with the same total, you win big — 8:1 or sometimes even 9, depending on the casino. Ties are rare (less than 1 in 10 hands), and the house edge on this bet is enormous: around 14% with an 8:1 payout, or 4.85% if the casino offers 9:1. It might look tempting, but over time it’s one of the worst bets you can make.

Odds recap:

• Banker wins about 45.8% of the time.

• Player wins about 44.6% of the time.

• Ties occur only ~9.5% of the time.

If you want to keep it simple, stick with Banker bets. It may not feel glamorous paying a commission, but the math is firmly on your side.

The Drawing Rules (Third-Card Rules)

One thing that often confuses new players is the so-called third-card rule. At first glance, the chart of conditions can look overwhelming, but don’t worry — in online baccarat, the software or the dealer at a live table automatically applies the rules. You don’t have to memorize anything — but having a rough idea of how it works will help the game feel less mysterious.

Natural Win — if either hand totals an 8 or 9 with its first two cards, this is called a natural. The round ends immediately — no more cards are drawn. For example:

• Player has 9, Dealer has 6 → Player wins instantly.

• Player has 8, Banker has 8 → it’s a natural tie.

Player’s Rules — the Player’s hand is always resolved first. The rules are simple:

• If the Player’s first two cards total 0-5, the Player draws a third card.

• If the total is 6 or 7, the Player stands (takes no more cards).

• If the total is 8 or 9, it’s a natural, and the round ends.

Banker’s Rules — the Banker’s move depends both on their total and sometimes on whether the Player drew a third card. This is why the Banker’s side has a slight statistical edge.

• Banker total 0-2 → always draws a card.

• Banker total 3 → draws unless the Player’s third card is an 8.

• Banker total 4 → draws if the Player’s third card is 2-7.

• Banker total 5 → draws if the Player’s third card is 4-7.

• Banker total 6 → draws if the Player’s third card is 6 or 7.

• Banker total 7 → always stands.

• 8 or 9 → natural win or tie (just like the Player).

Example:

• Player has 4 + 2 = 6 → Player stands.

• Banker has 5 → because the Player stood, the Banker draws one more card.

Even though this looks like a lot, remember — you don’t make these decisions. The dealer or online system automatically applies the rules every time. Your only role is to place a bet and watch the action unfold.

This is why the Banker hand statistically wins a little more often — its rules are slightly more favorable than the Player’s.

Baccarat Variants You May Encounter

While the basic rules of baccarat rarely change, online casinos often offer different variants to keep things fresh. Each twist adds a slightly different flavor to the game, so it’s useful to know what you might run into:

• Punto Banco 

This is by far the most common version you’ll find online and in casinos worldwide. The casino (or “house”) is always the bank, and all drawing rules are fixed and automatic. When people say “baccarat,” they usually mean Punto Banco.

• Mini Baccarat

A faster, more casual version is often played on smaller tables with lower betting limits. The gameplay is identical to standard baccarat, just streamlined. If you’re new to the game or want shorter, quicker sessions, this is usually the best entry point.

• EZ Baccarat / Super 6 / No Commission

These variations aim to remove or reduce the 5% commission normally taken on Banker wins. But of course, there’s a trade-off: special rules are introduced to maintain the casino’s edge. For example, in EZ Baccarat, if the Banker wins with a total of 6, it only pays half instead of the full amount. It feels more player-friendly at first glance, but the math keeps things balanced for the casino.

• Chemin de Fer / Baccarat Banque

These are the traditional European versions where players themselves take turns acting as the bank. They’re more social, more strategic, and have a long history in old-world casinos. While rarely offered online, they’re worth knowing about if you ever dive into the classic side of baccarat.

Practical Tips

Baccarat is simple by design, but a few smart habits can help you make the most of your experience:

1. Stick with Banker — even with the 5% commission, the Banker bet consistently offers the lowest house edge. Over the long run, it’s the safest option on the table.

2. Avoid Tie bets — the big 8:1 or 9:1 payouts look exciting, but don’t be fooled. The odds of hitting a Tie are slim, and the house edge is huge. If you’re serious about playing smart, skip it.

3. Manage your bankroll — decide in advance how much you’re willing to spend, and stick to it. Playing shorter sessions, setting win/loss limits, and keeping your bet sizes steady helps you enjoy the game without pressure.

4. Don’t stress about the rules — you don’t need to memorize third-card charts or calculate hand totals in your head. The dealer or online software takes care of all of that automatically. Your only job is to place your bet and enjoy the game.

5. Play for fun, not for income — Baccarat is a game of chance. Even with optimal betting, the casino still has the edge. Treat your time at the table as entertainment, not a way to make money.