Baccarat may have a reputation as a high-stakes game for the elite, but it's actually one of the easiest casino games to learn. It offers some of the best odds in the casino and requires very little strategy, making it a great choice for both beginners and experienced players.

How to Play Baccarat
Baccarat is a comparing card game played between two hands: the "Player" and the "Banker". Your goal is to correctly predict which of the two hands will get a point total nearer to 9. Your betting options are simple: Player win, Banker win, or a Tie between them.

How Points are Calculated

Cards 2-9: Are worth their face value. 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings (Face Cards): Are worth zero points. Aces: Are worth 1 point.

The score of a hand is the rightmost digit of the sum of the cards. A 7 and an 8 would total 15, so the hand's value is 5. A "natural" is a two-card hand totaling 8 or 9, and it is an automatic win unless both hands are a natural of the same value (a tie).

Which Bet is Best?
Your involvement ends after you place your bet. The game proceeds based on a predetermined set of drawing rules. Understanding these three bets is key to playing smart.

Wager Type Casino Advantage What to Know

Bet on Banker Just over 1% This is statistically the best bet in baccarat. It wins slightly more often than the Player bet. Winning Banker bets are subject to a 5% commission, but it's still the most favorable wager.

The Player Bet Very Low (1.24%) This wager is almost as good as the Banker bet and is a perfectly acceptable choice.

Tie Extremely High (over 14%) The high payout of 8:1 or 9:1 is designed to attract players, but the odds are terrible. This is considered a sucker bet.

If you want to play with the best possible odds, your strategy should be to bet on the Banker every time. While this may not be the most exciting approach, casino it gives you the best mathematical chance of winning over the long term. It is this mix of easy rules, great odds, casino and thrilling gameplay that has made baccarat a casino favorite for generations.