Baccarat has long held a reputation as the most exclusive, intimidating game on the casino floor.

Novice players tend to stick to familiar games like Blackjack, completely avoiding the intimidating Baccarat pit.

The massive irony is that Baccarat is actually the simplest table game in the entire casino.

Once you strip away the velvet ropes and the aura of exclusivity, you are left with an incredibly fast, straightforward game of chance.

Let’s break down the rules, explain how the hands are scored, and reveal the only strategy you will ever need.
The Objective: Getting Closer to Nine
The entire premise of Baccarat is to bet on which of two hands will have a total score closest to the number 9.

It is crucial to understand that the “Player” hand does not belong to you, and the “Banker” hand does not belong to the casino.

The scoring system is very specific: cards 2 through 9 are worth their face value, and Aces are worth 1 point.

If a hand receives a 9 and a 9, the sum is 18. Drop the “1”, and the true value is an 8.

The highest possible score is a perfect 9, and the lowest possible score is a 0 (e.g., a hand of two Queens).
The Dealer Does All the Work
If the Player’s initial total is 0 through 5, they must draw a third card; if it is 6 or 7, they stand.

Looking at the third-card chart can cause a beginner to instantly panic and walk away from the table.

The casino dealer has memorized the complex matrix and handles all the card drawing strictly according to the rules.

You simply sit back, watch the dealer flip the cards, and wait to see if you won your bet.

Your only required skill is pointing at the table and placing a chip on one of the three options.
The Only Strategy: Always Bet on the Banker
To do this, we must look at the house edge associated with each of the three possible wagers: Player, Banker, and Tie.

However, because of the complex third-card rules, the “Banker” hand is mathematically designed to win slightly more often than the Player hand.

If you bet $100 on the Banker and win, the dealer will pay you $95 (keeping $5 as the commission).

Betting the Banker minimizes your long-term losses and gives you the absolute best odds of walking away a winner.

Finally, you must avoid the “Tie” bet at all costs; it is famously one of the worst sucker bets in the entire casino.
Quick Reference Guide to Baccarat

The Goal: Bet on the hand (Player or Banker) that will finish closest to a total score of 9. The Banker Bet: Pays 1 to 1, minus a 5% casino commission. House Edge is 1.06%. The mathematically superior bet. Pattern Tracking: Casinos provide scoreboards, but previous results do not influence future hands. Streaks are purely coincidental. Punto Banco: The official name for the version of Baccarat played in North America and Macau.

The Two Most Popular Card Games

Game FeatureBlackjack (Basic Strategy)Baccarat (Banker Bet) House Edge~0.50% (If played perfectly)1.06% (No skill required) Mental EffortHigh focus required to avoid expensive mistakesRelaxed; sit back and watch the cards flip Intimidation FactorHigh (Other players will yell at you for bad moves)Low (Your bets do not affect anyone else’s hand)

Baccarat is the ultimate paradox of the casino: it looks incredibly sophisticated but is actually the easiest game in the building.

Find a low-limit “Mini-Baccarat” table, place your $10 on the Banker circle, and experience the easiest game in Vegas.

Whether you play live in a casino or online from your couch, Baccarat is an essential experience for any gambler.