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How to Play Baccarat in Las Vegas

Baccarat in Las Vegas

Baccarat (pronounced BA-KA-RAH) offers some of the best odds and despite its appearance, is probably the simplest game to play. Baccarat involves just a few decisions. How much you want to bet and whether to bet on the Bank, the Player or on the Tie Bet.

Object of Baccarat

The object of baccarat is to bet on which hand will have the highest value. The highest hand in baccarat is 9 and the lowest is 0. Tens, Jacks, Queens, and Kings are counted as 0, an Ace counts as 1 and all other cards count their face value.

Playing the Game of Baccarat

The shoe holds eight decks of cards. During play it is passed around the table from player to player, counter-clockwise, every time a player hand wins. This is a way of encouraging each player to take an active part in dealing with the game.

Before each game, participants in the game of Baccarat place a wager on the side they think will win, either the Bank or the Player. All bets must be placed before the dealer calls "no more bets".

Play begins when the shoe is passed to the first customer who deals four cards alternately from the shoe (under the supervision of the dealers). First card to the Player, second to the BANK, third to the Player, and fourth to the BANK. (Forming two hands of two cards each, one called the PLAYER'S hand, the other the BANKER'S hand.)

Las Vegas Casino Free Gaming Lessons The croupier (the casino staff who collects and pays bets and assists at the gaming tables) announces the total of each hand and the winning side is then announced. Before announcing the winning side, If a third card is required for either side, the house dealer calls for it. If the point count of either hand is 8 or 9, it is called a "Natural," and no additional cards are drawn. If the Bank does not have a Natural, the Player will always draw a third card on totals of 0-1-2-3-4 and 5 and stand with 6-7-8 and 9.

The winning side is then announced, losing bets are collected and winning bets are paid even money.

Winning in Baccarat

The winning hand in Baccarat is the one which totals the closest to Nine. Tens, cards totaling 10, or picture cards count as nothing or have zero value. All other cards count as their face value. Aces always count as One. If the cards total a two-digit number, they acquire the value of the second digit. Example: 6 + 7 = 13 counts as 3. Cards totaling 10=0 17=7 20=0 23=3.

All wagers for the bank or the player pay even money. When betting on the Bank, the casino will collect 5% commission on money won.

There is one other bet called the “Tie.” You are betting that both the Bank and the Player hands will tie. If they tie, you will be paid 9-to-1 or 8-to-1, depending on the casino.

Player Hand 3rd Card Rule


When a player’s first two cards total:
Player’s hand:
Draws a card
Natural Stands

Banker Rules

When banker’s first two cards total:
Draws when player’s 3rd card is:
Does not draw when player’s 3rd card is:
Banker’s hand always draws on a two-card total of 0-1-2
Natural, Player cannot draw

When the PLAYER hand wins, the shoe passes to the next player.

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Things you should know about Baccarat

Tie Bet - With a tie bet, you are betting that both the player and banker hands will tie. If they are tied, you will be paid 9 for 1
Nine is the hightest hand
Player hand having 0 - 5 must draw one card.
Player hand having 6 or 7 must stand

Difference between Baccarat and Mini Baccarat


Baccarat House Edge
Baccarat House Advantage and Expected Loss
  House Advantage For Every $100 bet, the player can expect to lose
Player/Banker 1.1%-1.2% $1.10 - $1.20
Tie 14.4% $14.40
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