Baccarat is a comparison game: you bet on whether the hand labelled Player or Banker will finish closer to nine, or whether they will tie. The cards are then dealt according to fixed rules, so you do not decide whether either hand draws. This guide explains the common commission version for adults aged 18 and over; always check the rules and paytable shown in the game because variants can change both payouts and house edge.
How baccarat totals work
Player and Banker are simply the names of the two hands. They do not describe you, the dealer or a choice of playing position. Aces count as 1, cards 2 to 9 keep their face value, and 10s and picture cards count as 0. If a hand adds up to 10 or more, only the final digit counts. For example, 7 plus 8 totals 15, so the baccarat value is 5. The highest possible total is 9, and a hand cannot go bust.
Player, Banker and Tie outcomes
- Player wins when the Player hand finishes closer to nine. In a common commission game, the wager pays 1 to 1.
- Banker wins when the Banker hand finishes closer to nine. A common commission game pays 0.95 to 1 after a 5% commission.
- Tie wins when both completed hands have the same total. A common paytable offers 8 to 1; Player and Banker wagers are normally returned when the round ties.
The fixed third-card rule
After two cards have been dealt to each hand, the dealer or game software applies the drawing table automatically. There is no playing decision to make.
Player hand
- If either initial hand has 8 or 9, it is a natural and neither hand draws another card.
- Otherwise, Player draws a third card with a total of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.
- Player stands with a total of 6 or 7.
Banker hand
If Player stands, Banker draws on 0 to 5 and stands on 6 or 7. If Player draws, Banker's decision uses both its own total and the value of Player's third card:
- Banker 0, 1 or 2: draw.
- Banker 3: draw unless Player's third card is 8.
- Banker 4: draw when Player's third card is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7.
- Banker 5: draw when Player's third card is 4, 5, 6 or 7.
- Banker 6: draw when Player's third card is 6 or 7.
- Banker 7: stand.
Worked hand: following the table
Example only: Player receives 7 and 8. The total is 15, so its baccarat value is 5 and Player must draw. Player's third card is 4, taking the hand to 9. Banker receives 3 and 2 for a total of 5. Because Player's third card was 4, the table says Banker draws. If Banker's third card is 3, Banker finishes on 8. Player wins because 9 is closer to 9 than 8. The result came from the fixed draw table, not a choice made during the hand.
Why the three bets do not cost the same
Published analysis of standard eight-deck commission baccarat places the house advantage at about 1.06% for Banker, 1.24% for Player and 14.36% for a Tie paying 8 to 1. Banker wins slightly more often under the drawing rules, and the usual commission is part of its payout. Tie can advertise a larger payout while carrying a much larger mathematical disadvantage. A lower house edge does not remove the risk of loss or make any wager safe.
Worked house-edge calculation
Example only: suppose total stakes across many rounds add up to £1,000. Multiplying turnover by the published house edge gives £1,000 × 1.06% = £10.60 for Banker, £1,000 × 1.24% = £12.40 for Player, and £1,000 × 14.36% = £143.60 for Tie. These figures are long-run theoretical averages, not a forecast of what will happen in one session. Short-term results can be far above or below them.
What changes in baccarat variants
The names Player, Banker and Tie may remain on screen while the paytable changes. A no-commission game might reduce a Banker payout on a particular winning total or apply another exception. Side bets use separate conditions and edges. If any payout or rule differs from the common version described here, the published percentage above no longer automatically applies.
A neutral checklist before playing
- Open the rules or help screen before placing a wager.
- Confirm the number of decks and whether the game uses commission or a no-commission exception.
- Read the exact Player, Banker and Tie payouts, including what happens on a tie.
- Find the displayed house edge, RTP or outcome probabilities rather than judging a wager by payout size alone.
- Treat side bets as separate games and check their rules and mathematical information separately.
- Set a money and time limit before play; do not increase either to recover a loss.
- If the rules or settlement terms are unclear, do not place the wager.
The decision rule to remember
First check the paytable and variant. Then remember that baccarat totals use only the final digit, the third-card procedure is automatic, and a larger advertised payout does not mean a lower mathematical cost. Understanding those points is more useful than trying to predict a pattern in the next hand.