Baccarat rules and strategy

Of all the table games, Baccarat is one of the easiest to learn. It is a game of chance, and is thought to be one of the most ancient card plays all over the world. The word baccarat is derived from the Italian baccara, which means zero. The term refers to the fache game cards and 10s, all of which have zero value in the game of baccarat. The game has a very low house edge of around 1% and unlike other casinos games with a low edge it is very easy to play. If you are new to casino games then it's a great place to start as it is a simple decision of one of three bets to play.

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Baccarat Rules

First, two hands are dealt. One to the baccarat player, one for the banker. The simplicity of baccarat rules is, you can bet on either one or the other, or a tie. If the hand you bet on wins, you get an even money payoff, that's one to one. If you bet 5 and win, you get your 5 back, and another 5. If you bet on a tie, you get an 8 to 1 payoff (bet 5 get 5 plus 40). This is of course because a tie occurs less than once out of every ten hands, making it quite a gamble.
Each hand gets two initial cards. The hand closest to 9 wins. Tens and face cards (except the ace) count as zero. The ace counts as one, and cards 2 through 9 are worth face value. Baccarat rules state that the hand closest to a count of 9 wins. There is no "bust" as in poker, and here is the tricky part. The first digit of a 2 digit total is dropped. This means, if a 6 and a 7 are drawn, the total is 13, but the first digit is dropped, so the count is 3.
If the first two cards achieve a count of 8 or 9 it is called a "natural", and as such wins automatically (excluding the event of a tie of equal valued "naturals").
If neither initial hand is a natural, additional cards are drawn to determine a winner. Baccarat rules state that winning banker bets are subject to a 5% house commission. This is of course because there is more of a chance for a banker win.
What's interesting, and what you wont learn from reading any standard baccarat rules pages, is that even after the 5% house commission, there is still an advantage to betting on the house. The margin is slim at 0.19%, but it does exist.
All bets are made before the cards are dealt. In real life baccarat each player gets the chance to deal if they want to, or they have the option of passing to the next player.

Baccarat Strategy

It is a good idea to avoid tie bets all together, since they give the house a significant advantage, close to 20%, in fact. By sticking to only the banker and player bets, the house advantage will remain at a minimum, thereby maximizing your chances of winning.
Betting on the player gives the house a 1.36% edge
Betting on the banker gives the house a 1.17% edge
Either way, the house has the edge and should win in the long run.
Some baccarat players believe in streaks and will bet on whatever won the last hand. This strategy does not give you better odds though as each hand is like the flip of a coin.

Tips you can use when playing Baccarat:
1: In baccarat, the casino takes a commission whenever a player wins a bet placed on the banker side. This is because betting on the banker has an inherent 1.06 percent advantage. Bets are paid at 0.95-to-1.
2: Twos through nines are counted at face value; tens and all jacks, queens and kings count as zero; and aces count as one. Suit is irrelevant in baccarat.
3: First and third cards are dealt to the player. Second and fourth cards are dealt to the banker.
4: For any total over nine, only the last digit is taken - for example, a total composed of a six of clubs and a six of diamonds is two. If either the player or the banker has a total of eight or nine, it's called a "natural" and automatically wins - unless the other hand also has a natural, in which case the two hands tie.
5: If the player holds a total of less than six or seven, the player draws.
6: With a total from zero to two the bank always draws; with a total of seven the bank always stands; with a total of three the bank draws, unless the player drew and its third card was an eight; with a total of four the bank draws, unless the player drew and its third card was an eight, nine or ace; with a five the bank draws, unless the player drew a third card outside the range of four through seven; with a six the bank stands, unless the player drew a third card of either a six or a seven.