What is baccarat?
Baccarat, or baccara, is a famous tash wala card game punters play at land-based and online casinos. To win baccarat, you must correctly guess whether the dealer (also referred to as banker) or player will get a hand equal to or closest to nine in value.
While portrayed as a slow-paced game in the famous James Bond movies, this game of chance requires limited strategy, making it thrilling to play. At online casinos, you can play RNG and live dealer baccarat games, which offer a more social experience thanks to HD real-time streaming and live chat functionality.
How to play baccarat online
Master how to play baccarat and win like a pro at top online casinos in India with this quick and easy step-by-step guide:
In both real money and free baccarat, you place bets before the cards are dealt. There are three types of bets: the banker, player, and tie. A winning bet on the banker or player generally pays even money (1:1), whereas a winning bet on a tie often pays 8:1.
Baccarat is played with eight decks, and once bets are placed, four cards are dealt (two for the banker and two for the player).
The dealer announces the total value of each hand and, if necessary, draws a third card for either side. In baccarat, number cards are worth their face value, while an ace is worth 1, and picture cards (J, Q, and K) have a value of 0.
A two-card hand worth 8 or 9 is dubbed a “natural win”, and if secured by either the banker or player, will immediately end the game.
If the game doesn’t produce a natural winner, an additional card is drawn to reach a conclusion. The dealer draws the third card for each side if they or the player have a total value of 0-5. There are other instances where the dealer or player can draw a third card, too.
Baccarat dealer rules
The dealer naturally wins on an 8 or 9 and stands if their hand is worth 6 or 7, unless a third card needs to be drawn for the player. However, there are rules governing when the dealer can draw a third card in baccarat, depending on the value of the player’s hand.
Here’s how the dealer’s third card is dependent on the third card drawn by the player:
| Dealer’s two-card hand | Draws if player’s third card is | Stands if player’s third card is |
|---|---|---|
6 | 6 or 7 | 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 or 9 |
5 | 4, 5, 6 or 7 | 0, 1, 2, 3, 8 or 9 |
4 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 | 0, 1, 8 or 9 |
3 | 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 9 | 8 |
0-2 | Always draws | Always draws |
Types of baccarat bets
There are three main bet types in baccarat, making it one of the most straightforward table games to play at online casinos. Here’s how each bet works:
Banker bet
This is a wager that the banker will win the next round. This bet commonly pays out 1:1 and has a house edge of 1.06%, the lowest of any bet in the game. Its favourable odds stem from the drawing rules, as the banker deals a third card last.
Player bet
This is a wager that the player will win the next round. The player bet also pays out 1:1 but has a slightly higher house edge of 1.24%, as the draw favours the banker. However, the odds of the player drawing a winning hand are greater at 45.86% compared to 44.62% for the banker.
Tie bet
A wager on the player and the dealer having final hands of the same value is called a tie bet. A tie bet typically pays out 8:1, but as the odds of this draw occurring is just 9.52%, the house edge is much higher at 14.40%.
How to play baccarat at a land-based casino
Playing baccarat at land-based casinos is the same as playing online, except you play against a real human dealer instead of a RNG computer or live dealer streamed to you. The dealer shuffles and deals the cards at a physical casino table.
Brick-and-mortar casinos also offer more direct social interaction. However, you can enjoy an equally immersive experience at live dealer baccarat casinos. Online casinos also provide greater flexibility, faster gameplay, and wider betting limits, making them equally accessible for casual players and high rollers.
Basic baccarat rules
If you want to become a pro baccarat player, understanding the game's rules is essential. While side bets can make the gameplay more complicated, we’ve put together beginner-friendly rules to consider when playing baccarat:
At online gambling platforms, the cards are automatically shuffled using RNG technology to ensure fairness. Once you’ve placed your bets, the computer will deal two cards each to the player and banker from eight decks.
A hand is determined by the value of the two cards dealt. Only the unit column is considered as the final figure. For example, if a player's hand has card values of 9 and 7, this equals 16, so the first digit is dropped and the hand value becomes 6.
If the player or banker holds a hand worth 8 or 9, they both stand, and no additional cards are dealt. The banker also stands on a 7, while a player must stand on a 6 or 7. If an additional card needs to be drawn and the player is dealt a 7, the banker must stand.
When a player receives a third card, the banker acts according to their hand. If the banker’s total hand equals 3, 4, 5, or 6, the draw is determined by what the player drew. The only instance where a banker draws a third card regardless of the player is if their hand is valued 0, 1 or 2.
Baccarat betting tips
There’s no way to guarantee a win in baccarat, as it’s a game of chance. However, these tips will help you master the rules and improve your gameplay:
Bet on the banker or the player, as these have the more favourable house edges compared to the tie bet.
Check the house edge before playing, as baccarat games have different RTPs, with some being higher than others.
Once you’re familiar with how to play, consider placing side bets to boost your payout potential.
Claim online casino bonuses to play baccarat with a boosted bankroll and extend your playing time.
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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
On baccarat scoreboards, coloured markers represent the player, banker, and tie bets in columns. The chart is filled in from left to right, and the number inside the cell shows the hand score.
Absolutely. Baccarat is a popular game in India, and Indian gamblers can play a range of titles at licensed casinos in Goa, Daman, and Sikkim, as well as the online casinos featured on this page.
The banker's bet is considered the best in baccarat, as it often has the lowest house edge of the three main types.
Any legit casino that has acquired a license from a reputable regulatory body is an excellent choice for baccarat enthusiasts. Some of the best real money baccarat casinos available to Indian players include 22Bet, Casino Days, and FairPlay.
No, as baccarat is a game of chance that uses RNG technology at online casinos and automatic shufflers at land casinos, there’s no way to predetermine whether the player, banker or tie bet will win in any round.
Mini baccarat is a variant played on a smaller table with up to seven people. In the traditional variant, the player and banker alternate between dealing cards, whereas only the banker deals cards in mini baccarat.
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