The Basics of Baccarat

The rules of baccarat are relatively simple. Players choose a player hand or a banker hand and bet their cards on a combination. The goal of the game is to get as close to nine as possible. If a player’s hand has a higher total than the other, the first digit is dropped. Aces and 10-count cards count as one and zero, respectively. If the player has a higher score than the banker’s, he wins.

In baccarat, the value of a hand is determined by adding up the individual cards. Face cards are zero, while tens count as one. The digits on each card are the “pips.” A hand’s value is from 0 to nine inclusive. In a tie, the higher hand wins. The first two cards of the player hand must be 6 or more. The second and third cards of the player’s hand must be drawn.

The shoe containing the eight decks of cards is passed around the table counterclockwise when a player’s hand wins. This encourages active participation from players. Afterward, a player should place a bet on the side they believe will win. However, players must place their bets before the dealer calls “no more bets”. So, a player who bets too much can end up hurting the casino.