Baccarat looks complicated when you first open a live table — two hands, coloured scoreboards, cards being drawn and not drawn. In reality it is one of the easiest casino games to learn, because you make only one decision: where to place your bet. Everything else follows fixed rules. This guide explains those rules in plain language, including the full third-card table, so you always understand why a hand won.
18+ only. Knowing the rules helps you follow the game, but it does not change the odds. Play within your budget.
The goal of baccarat
Two hands are dealt: Player and Banker. These are just the names of the two hands — you are not "the player", and you are not playing against a banker. You bet on:
- Player – the Player hand will finish closer to 9.
- Banker – the Banker hand will finish closer to 9.
- Tie – both hands finish with the same total.
The hand with the total closest to 9 wins.
Card values
| Card | Value |
|---|---|
| Ace | 1 |
| 2 to 9 | Face value |
| 10, Jack, Queen, King | 0 |
Suits don't matter. Most baccarat tables use a shoe of eight standard decks, but check the deck count shown in each table's rules.
How totals work
A hand's total is the last digit of the sum of its cards. Totals therefore always run from 0 to 9.
- 7 + 8 = 15 → total 5
- King + 9 = 9 → total 9
- 6 + 4 = 10 → total 0 (sometimes called "baccarat")
- Ace + 5 + Queen = 6 → total 6
How a hand is played
- Bets are placed.
- The dealer gives two cards to Player and two cards to Banker, alternating.
- If either hand has a natural (a two-card total of 8 or 9), both hands stand and the round is settled.
- If not, the Player rule decides whether Player draws a third card.
- Then the Banker rule decides whether Banker draws a third card.
- The hand closest to 9 wins. Equal totals are a Tie.
Each hand gets at most three cards.
Player's third-card rule
| Player's first two cards total | Player action |
|---|---|
| 0 – 5 | Draws a third card |
| 6 – 7 | Stands |
| 8 – 9 | Natural — both hands stand |
Banker's third-card rule
If Player stood (with 6 or 7), Banker follows the same simple rule: draws on 0–5, stands on 6–7.
If Player drew a third card, Banker's action depends on Banker's total and the value of Player's third card:
| Banker's total | Banker draws if Player's third card is… | Banker stands if Player's third card is… |
|---|---|---|
| 0, 1, 2 | Any card (always draws) | — |
| 3 | 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 | 8 |
| 4 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 | 0, 1, 8, 9 |
| 5 | 4, 5, 6, 7 | 0, 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 |
| 6 | 6, 7 | 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 |
| 7 | — | Always stands |
| 8, 9 | Natural — no drawing | — |
You do not need to memorise this. On a live table the dealer and the system apply it automatically. But knowing it helps you understand results that look surprising — like Banker drawing on 5 in one hand and standing on 5 in the next.
Worked examples
Example 1 – A natural
Player: 4 + 5 = 9. Banker: King + 7 = 7.
Player has a natural 9 — no more cards. Player wins.
Example 2 – Player draws, Banker stands
Player: 2 + 3 = 5 → draws a 10 → total stays 5.
Banker: 3 + 3 = 6. Player's third card is a 10 (value 0), so Banker on 6 stands.
6 beats 5 — Banker wins.
Example 3 – Both draw
Player: Ace + 2 = 3 → draws a 6 → total 9.
Banker: 4 + Jack = 4. Player's third card is 6, so Banker on 4 draws → gets a 4 → total 8.
9 beats 8 — Player wins.
Example 4 – Tie
Player: 7 + Queen = 7 (stands). Banker: 3 + 4 = 7 (stands, because Player stood).
Tie. Tie bets win; in standard baccarat, Banker and Player bets are returned (a "push").
Commission and how winning bets are paid
| Bet | Standard payout |
|---|---|
| Player | 1:1 (even money) |
| Banker | 1:1 minus 5% commission |
| Tie | 8:1 |
The 5% commission on Banker exists because the drawing rules give Banker a small advantage — Banker wins slightly more often than Player. Some tables use no-commission rules instead, where most Banker wins pay 1:1 but a Banker win with a specific total (commonly 6) pays only half. Check the table's info screen. Our baccarat bets & odds guide compares the house edge of each option.
Common beginner mistakes
- Thinking you can choose to draw. You can't — the rules decide.
- Treating Banker as "the house". Banker is just a hand you can bet on.
- Betting Tie because it pays 8:1. The payout is high because Tie is rare — and its house edge is far higher than Banker or Player.
- Reading meaning into roadmaps. Scoreboards record the past; they don't predict the next hand.
- Missing the countdown. Live tables close betting when the timer ends.
Where to practise
Watching a few rounds before betting is the easiest way to learn. Many casinos let you open a live table and observe without placing a bet. For an overview of the AE Sexy live studio, see our Sexy Baccarat guide.
If you are looking for somewhere to play, MCC888 is one Malaysian online casino offering live casino, slots and sportsbook, with local bank and e-wallet deposits and 24/7 support: see MCC888 live casino.
Related guides
FAQ
What is a natural in baccarat?
A two-card total of 8 or 9 for either hand. When a natural appears, neither hand draws more cards.
Why does Banker sometimes draw on 5 and sometimes stand?
Because Banker's rule depends on Player's third card. On 5, Banker draws only if Player's third card was 4, 5, 6 or 7.
What happens to my Banker or Player bet on a Tie?
In standard baccarat it is returned to you as a push. Check the table rules, as some variants differ.
What is the highest total in baccarat?
9. Totals above 9 drop the first digit, so 15 counts as 5.
Do I need to remember the third-card rules?
No. They are applied automatically. Knowing them simply helps you understand each result.
18+. Gambling involves risk. Set limits, take breaks, and never chase losses. If gambling stops being fun, stop.