How to Play Online Baccarat
Baccarat is one of the most popular online casino games, largely due to its simplicity. In the game, players can bet on which hands they believe will end up closer to nine than the other. Players can either bet on the player’s hand or the dealer’s. You can also bet on a draw. In the game, all tens and face cards have a value of zero, and if a hand exceeds nine, then you subtract ten to determine its value. A maximum of three cards can be drawn in a hand.
Getting a winning hand will pay out 1:1. However, a winning hand for the dealer also pays out 5% commission in most versions of the game. As such, the payout for a bet on the dealer is closer to 19:20.
How to Play Baccarat step-by-step
Playing baccarat is easy. Players should follow these steps:
Play for free
Make sure you understand the game before you play for real money. We recommend playing baccarat for free online first to adjust to how the game works.
Place your bet
Before the cards are dealt, you will need to decide whether to bet on the player hand, the dealer’s, or a tie.
Cards are dealt
Two cards are then dealt for both the player and the dealer. You will need to make sure you understand the rules regarding a third card, as these may vary with different variations.
Find out the winner
You will then find out which hand has won.
Collect any winnings
If you have won the round, your winnings will be paid out, with the 5% commission for the casino removed if the dealer hand wins.
Best Sites to Play Baccarat Online
Baccarat is available at a wide range of top online casinos, and knowing which one is the best for you can be tricky. We have rounded up some of the best online casinos to play baccarat right here to help you make your decision.
Lord Ping
£50 First Deposit
Match Bonus
Genting Casino
All New Players
Get a 100% Bonus
Up to £50
Grosvenor Casino
New Players
Deposit £20
Play with £50
Baccarat Types of Bets
When you begin playing baccarat, you are presented with three main betting options: player’s hand, the dealer’s hand, or a tie.
Player’s Hand
A player's hand bet will need the player’s hand to be higher than the dealer’s. A winning hand for the player does not take any commission. This will pay out at 1:1.
Banker’s Hand
This is a bet on the banker’s hand to win. If you win with the banker’s hand bet, then you will need to pay a 5% commission on the winnings.
Tie
It is also possible to bet on the round ending in a tie. This is paid out at 8:1.
Rules of Baccarat
Unlike blackjack, the aim of the game in baccarat is not to defeat the dealer. Instead, you are placing a bet on which hand will win a round or whether it will be a tie. In the game, tens and royal symbols are valued at zero, and any time the total of a hand is over ten, you remove ten from the total. For example, if you draw a nine and a four, this is worth three, not thirteen.
A maximum of three cards can be drawn in baccarat, but the rules for drawing a third card can be quite complicated. The rules for when a third card can be drawn might vary between different games, so be sure to check the table we have provided that details when a third card should be drawn so you understand the rules.
For the player, if their hand is worth 6 or 7, they will not receive a third card, but if it is five or less, they will. The bank will receive another card on 5 or less and will also stand on 6 or 7. If the banker’s total is less than three, they will add a third card regardless of the player’s hand. If the banker has three and the player does not have an eight, they will receive another card.
The banker will also draw another card if their total is four or five and the player’s third card is 2-7 or 4-7, respectively. If the banker has six and the player’s third card is six or seven, they will get another card. Finally, if the banker has seven from their first two cards, they will stand.
Baccarat Card Values
To be able to play baccarat online, you need to make sure you understand the rules of the game and the way the card values work.
Numbered Cards
Numbered cards are worth their face value. Except for ten, which is zero.
Face Cards
Face cards, which are Kings, Queens, and Jacks, all have a value of zero.
Aces
Ace does not have an interchangeable value and is only worth one.
Popular Baccarat Variations
You will find plenty of baccarat variations at online casinos. The following are the most popular ones you will encounter.
Baccarat Banque
In Baccarat Banque, the role of the banker is auctioned at the start of each round to the player who will risk the highest amount. In the game, two hands are dealt to the player, and they must choose which hand they want to bet on. However, they are not allowed to bet on the dealer’s hand.
Punto Banco
Punto Banco is one of the most popular baccarat variations. This is the game you will find most often in casinos and online. The game sticks fairly closely to standard rules for third cards, but it is always good to check the paytable to be sure.
Mini Baccarat
In Mini Baccarat, the game is played on smaller tables and is sped up considerably. During the game, only the dealer touches the card, playing out hands at fast speeds to keep the action exciting.
Chemin de Fer
Chemin de Fer, or ‘Chemmy’ as it is also known, is extremely popular at land-based casinos. In the game, each player takes a turn at being the banker, and they are in charge of all aspects of the game. In the game, the aim is to beat the banker, unlike standard baccarat, where the aim is to bet on which hand will win.
European Baccarat
The main differences between European baccarat and standard baccarat are based on the third-card draw. In the game, players can choose whether they stand or draw on five. Outside of this, the game uses the same rules.
Other Baccarat Variations
The above are the most common baccarat variations, but there are several other popular variations you might encounter.
Dragon Tiger
Dragon Tiger is probably the simplest card game you will ever play at an online casino. In the game, a card is dealt to the player and the dealer, with the highest winning. In most versions of the game, a range of side-bets are available to keep the action interesting.
3-card baccarat
3-card baccarat, as its name might imply, is when three cards are dealt at the start of the game, not two. Unlike normal baccarat, there can be no extra cards drawn. A tie is also only awarded if the face cards in a hand are equal as well as the hand value.
Super 6 Baccarat
Super 6 Baccarat is a popular version of the game because it features no commission on a winning dealer’s hand. Also, there is a super-six bet, which will pay out instantly if the banker’s hand is worth six. This will pay out 12:1.
