1. Placing Bets
At the start of each round, players place their bets on either the Player, the Banker, or a Tie. It's important to note that "Player" and "Banker" are not related to the player and the casino but are merely designations for the two hands in the game.
2. Dealing Cards
After bets are placed, the dealer will deal two cards each to the Player and the Banker. In some cases, a third card might be dealt based on specific rules, which we'll discuss later.
3. Calculating Hand Values
The hand value in baccarat is determined by adding the point values of the two cards and taking the rightmost digit of the sum. For example, if a hand consists of a 7 and an 8 (totaling 15), the hand value is 5 (the rightmost digit).
4. Drawing a Third Card
The rules for drawing a third card are based on the total value of the Player's and Banker's initial two cards:
▪️ If either the Player or the Banker has a total of 8 or 9 (known as a "natural"), both hands stand, and no more cards are drawn.
▪️ If the Player's total is 5 or less, the Player will receive a third card.
▪️ If the Player stands with a total of 6 or 7, the Banker will draw a third card if their total is 5 or less.
5. Determining the Winner
After all relevant cards have been dealt, the hand with a total value closest to 9 wins. If the Player's hand is closer, bets on the Player win and are paid at a 1:1 ratio. If the Banker's hand wins, bets on the Banker are also paid at a 1:1 ratio, with a 5% commission deducted. If a Tie occurs, bets on the Tie win at a higher payout, typically 8:1 or 9:1.