How to Play Baccarat | Beginners Guide 2025
Since it’s widely known as 007’s favorite game, baccarat has built a reputation for intimidating new players. Fear not – this casino classic is one of the simplest and player-friendly games you can find. Besides, our experts are here to teach you how to play baccarat online like a pro!
In our guide, you’ll find the basics of baccarat, top tips to help hone your strategy, game variations & more!
Best Baccarat Online Casino Sites
When you’re ready to try your hand at baccarat, check out the top-recommended US online casinos:
- Wagering Req: 35x
- Max. Cash out: $5,000
- Rollover: 25x Deposit and Bonus
- Min. deposit: $10
- Wagering Req: 25x
- Max. Cash out: $9,500
- Rollover: 25x
- Min. deposit: $20
- Bitcoin bonus 350% up to $2500
- Min. deposit: $10
- 100 free spins
- Min. deposit: $25
- Rollover: 35x
- Min Deposit: $20
- 30 free spins
- Min. Deposit: $10
- Drake Club
- Min. deposit: $15
- Free Demo Play for almost all games
- Min. deposit: $10 crypto/$20 credit card
How to Play Baccarat
Sit Down
The first step to playing baccarat is to find a table with a spare seat. You’ll then have to place your bet on the banker, yourself as the player or a tie.
The Deal
Two cards will be dealt to both you and the banker. The value of both hands will be revealed. If either of the hand totals 8 or 9 points, it wins the game and no more cards are dealt.
Third Card Rule
If neither hand is valued at 8 or 9 after the first two cards, a third card can be dealt with the player going first. The rules of baccarat for the third card are somewhat complex, so we’ll take a closer look at them later.
Baccarat Rules: The Basics of Baccarat
Card Values
In baccarat, each card has a value. Number cards are worth their number, aces are worth 1 and face and ten cards are worth 0.
9 is Best
The winning hand in baccarat is the hand which has a value closest to 9. A hand cannot have a value of more than 9, but we'll cover how to count the value later.
Baccarat Bets
To win, you'll have to correctly predict who'll have the winning hand. Your choices are yourself as the player, the dealer or a tie.
Play Free Online Baccarat: Baccarat Tutorial
Free online baccarat is the best way to learn how to play baccarat in a casino environment. Online casinos feature free versions of their games for promotional reasons. Visit one of our recommended casino sites, such as Wild Casino or Bovada. Navigate to the table games section, then click on the baccarat game icon. Once prompted, choose to play the free online baccarat version, which is marked “Practice” in the prompt.
If you have more questions, take a look at this baccarat tutorial video.
How to Play Baccarat and Win
The hand with a card value closest to 9 wins. To determine the value of any hand, add the card values together. If the value is 10 or more, subtract 10 to get your card value.
Here are a few examples:
- For a 3, 5 hand, the hand value would be 8 because 3 + 5 = 8.
- For a 7, 8 hand, the hand value would be 5 because 7 + 8 = 15, then minus 10 = 5.
- For a 9, 10 hand, the hand value would be 9 because the 10 card has a value of 0.
- For a 9, ace hand, the hand value would be 0 because the ace has a value of 1, so 9 + 1 = 10, then minus 10 = 0.
Once the initial two cards have been dealt, if there is no instant win, the ‘coup’ (game) continues per the drawing rules, with the player going first.
Player’s Rule
- If a player’s hand totals between 0 and 5 points, the player will be dealt a third card.
- If a player’s hand totals either 6 or 7 points, they stand.
Banker’s Rule
If the player ‘stands’ – i.e. has only two cards – the banker proceeds with the same rules the player had: drawing a third card if they had 0-5 points, or standing if they had 6 or 7 points.
If the player drew a third card, there are more complex rules:
| Dealer’s Total Points | Rule |
|---|---|
| 2 or less | Banker draws a card |
| 3 | Banker draws a card, unless player’s third card was an 8. |
| 4 | Banker draws a card, if the player’s third card was a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7. |
| 5 | Banker draws a card, if the player’s third card was a 4, 5, 6 or 7. |
| 6 | Banker draws a card, if the player’s third card was a 6 or 7 |
| 7 | Banker stands. |
