How to Play Baccarat

Discover the classic yet simple casino card game of baccarat.

Baccarat holds the reputation of being the game of choice for the elite upper class and is one of the oldest games in the casino. However, it is actually one of the most simple and is purely a game of chance.

The objective of baccarat is to bet on the hand with the highest total value, that is, a total nearest to the value of 9. Up to 12 or 14 players can play in a single game, however, regardless of the number of people sitting around the table, only two hands are dealt. These hands are known as the ‘banker hand’ and the ‘player hand’. Before the hands are dealt, however, all the players must place a bet on the hand they think will win. Or they can choose to bet that the hands will tie. Thus there are only three betting options. Once all bets are placed, the hands are dealt according to fixed rules and there are no more opportunities to bet.

There are a few variations of baccarat including baccarat chemin de fer (railway), baccarat banque and punto banco (or North American baccarat). The last one is the most common form of baccarat and what you are likely to find on offer in an online casino.