How much do I win?
If the hand that you bet on wins, you are paid double your bet, unless you bet on a tie. If you bet on a tie, the payout is eight times the amount. If you bet on the Banker's hand, and win, the House charges a 5% commission - the vigorish.
NB if you play on Betfair Casino's Zero Lounge Baccarat, the commission is only 2.75%, resulting in a house edge of 0 and an expected payout of 100% - the highest casino payout anywhere! See below for more details.
The SPECIAL rule
The rule that sets Punto Banco/Baccarat apart from many other games is the rule that if you do not bet on a tie, and the hands tie, your bet is returned to you. In other words, you can consider the game as an evens chance bet (like a coin toss) between Player and Banker. Again, this is essential to understanding our Punto Banco/Baccarat winning strategy.
To see the odds against any bet in Baccarat / Punto Banco, click Baccarat odds.
For our recommended Baccarat / Punto Banco strategy, click Baccarat strategy.
If the hand that you bet on wins, you are paid double your bet, unless you bet on a tie. If you bet on a tie, the payout is eight times the amount. If you bet on the Banker's hand, and win, the House charges a 5% commission - the vigorish.
NB if you play on Betfair Casino's Zero Lounge Baccarat, the commission is only 2.75%, resulting in a house edge of 0 and an expected payout of 100% - the highest casino payout anywhere! See below for more details.
The SPECIAL rule
The rule that sets Punto Banco/Baccarat apart from many other games is the rule that if you do not bet on a tie, and the hands tie, your bet is returned to you. In other words, you can consider the game as an evens chance bet (like a coin toss) between Player and Banker. Again, this is essential to understanding our Punto Banco/Baccarat winning strategy.
To see the odds against any bet in Baccarat / Punto Banco, click Baccarat odds.
For our recommended Baccarat / Punto Banco strategy, click Baccarat strategy.
How to play Baccarat / Punto Banco
What is Baccarat / Punto Banco?
Baccarat is a card game played with a deck made up of 6 standard 52 card decks (ie 312 cards).
Baccarat is a card game played with a deck made up of 6 standard 52 card decks (ie 312 cards).
Punto Banco/Baccarat rules
Banker or Player?
The objective of the game is to predict whose hand,
the Banker's (Banco) or the Player's (Punto), will be
closest to the value of nine. You can also bet on the possibility of a tie.
Winning hands in Punto Banco/Baccarat depends on the hand you bet on, not the hand you play.
The objective of the game is to predict whose hand,
the Banker's (Banco) or the Player's (Punto), will be
closest to the value of nine. You can also bet on the possibility of a tie.
Winning hands in Punto Banco/Baccarat depends on the hand you bet on, not the hand you play.
RECOMMENDED
It is also known as Punto Banco or Chemin de Fer and has an aura of 'class' about it, mainly because it's the game that introduced James Bond to the world in Casino Royale.
It has the simplest set of rules of all the card games you'll find at the casino.
It has the simplest set of rules of all the card games you'll find at the casino.
BASICS
BONUSES
DEPOSITING
GAMES
Betfair Zero Lounge - the best online casino for Baccarat
As we discuss above, Betfair Casino's Zero Lounge offers a Baccarat with no house edge. The commission is 2.75% instead of the standard 5% and the expected payout to players is 100%!
In addition to this, Betfair are offering a £5 no deposit bonus to get you started. Wagering is only 20 times and Baccarat is eligible to play.
Other great casinos for Baccarat online include Bodog, where Baccarat is eligible for their unlimited 10% sign-up bonus which has a wagering requirement of just 15 times!
To help you decide where to play Baccarat / Punto Banco online, we've put together an easy to understand table showing available bonuses and wagering requirements for ALL our recommended casinos.
Find the best place to play Baccarat on our Baccarat casinos page.
As we discuss above, Betfair Casino's Zero Lounge offers a Baccarat with no house edge. The commission is 2.75% instead of the standard 5% and the expected payout to players is 100%!
In addition to this, Betfair are offering a £5 no deposit bonus to get you started. Wagering is only 20 times and Baccarat is eligible to play.
Other great casinos for Baccarat online include Bodog, where Baccarat is eligible for their unlimited 10% sign-up bonus which has a wagering requirement of just 15 times!
To help you decide where to play Baccarat / Punto Banco online, we've put together an easy to understand table showing available bonuses and wagering requirements for ALL our recommended casinos.
Find the best place to play Baccarat on our Baccarat casinos page.
Essential information for playing at online casinos: Casino reviews | Casino Bonuses | Casino deposit guide
Playing to lose!
Because you can bet on the Banker rather than yourself as the player, you'll often find yourself in the situation where you want your hand (the Player's) to lose!
This is very different to a game such as Blackjack where you're constantly trying to beat the bank. Understanding this forms the basis of our Punto Banco / Baccarat winning strategy.
10 = 0
The point values of the cards are easy to understand. All 10's and picture cards have a value of zero, and all other cards (Ace through 9) are worth their face value (Aces are always worth 1). When the total of two or more cards is greater than 10, the point total is reduced by 10. For example if a hand is dealt an 7 and a 5, resulting in a total of 12, the total is 2 (12 - 10).
2 cards or 3?
Before the game begins, you place your bet on Player, Banker or Tie. Both the player and the banker are dealt two cards initially, beginning with the player.
If either the player or the banker has a point total of 8 or 9 with the first two cards dealt, no more cards are dealt and the winner is the one with the highest total.
If the player has a point total of five or less, they are dealt another card.
If the player has a point total of 6 or 7, they stand.
If the banker's total is 2 or less, they take another card.
If the banker has a total of 7, he stands.
The banker does not draw another card if their 2-card total is:
3 and the player's third card is an 8.
4 and the player's third card is a 0, 1, 8 or 9.
5 and the player's third card is a 0, 1, 2, 3, 8 or 9.
6 and the player's third card is a 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 or 9.
Because you can bet on the Banker rather than yourself as the player, you'll often find yourself in the situation where you want your hand (the Player's) to lose!
This is very different to a game such as Blackjack where you're constantly trying to beat the bank. Understanding this forms the basis of our Punto Banco / Baccarat winning strategy.
10 = 0
The point values of the cards are easy to understand. All 10's and picture cards have a value of zero, and all other cards (Ace through 9) are worth their face value (Aces are always worth 1). When the total of two or more cards is greater than 10, the point total is reduced by 10. For example if a hand is dealt an 7 and a 5, resulting in a total of 12, the total is 2 (12 - 10).
2 cards or 3?
Before the game begins, you place your bet on Player, Banker or Tie. Both the player and the banker are dealt two cards initially, beginning with the player.
If either the player or the banker has a point total of 8 or 9 with the first two cards dealt, no more cards are dealt and the winner is the one with the highest total.
If the player has a point total of five or less, they are dealt another card.
If the player has a point total of 6 or 7, they stand.
If the banker's total is 2 or less, they take another card.
If the banker has a total of 7, he stands.
The banker does not draw another card if their 2-card total is:
3 and the player's third card is an 8.
4 and the player's third card is a 0, 1, 8 or 9.
5 and the player's third card is a 0, 1, 2, 3, 8 or 9.
6 and the player's third card is a 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 or 9.