Baccarat Rules for Beginners: Points and Third Card

Baccarat is a card game where you bet on which of two hands, Player or Banker, will finish with a total closer to 9, or that the two will tie. You do not play the hand yourself: the dealer deals two cards to each side, a third card is drawn only when fixed rules say so, and the higher total wins. This guide covers card values, scoring, the three main bets, the third-card rules and a full example hand.

Card values and scoring

Ace: 1 point.
2 to 9: face value.
10, J, Q and K: 0 points.

A hand's total is the last digit of the sum of its cards. For example, 7 + 8 = 15, so the hand counts as 5. A total can never be higher than 9. Suits do not matter.

The three main bets

Player: you bet that the Player hand finishes closer to 9.
Banker: you bet that the Banker hand finishes closer to 9.
Tie: you bet that both hands finish on the same total.

"Player" and "Banker" are just the names of the two hands. Many tables also offer side bets, such as pairs. The payout for each bet, and any commission on Banker wins, is shown on the table's rules panel.

How a round is dealt

Two cards go to Player and two to Banker.
Natural: if either side has 8 or 9 from its first two cards, both sides stand and the round is settled.
Otherwise, the Player hand acts first under the Player rule, then the Banker hand acts under the Banker rule.
The side with the higher total wins. Equal totals are a tie.

Player third-card rule

Player total 0 to 5: Player draws a third card.
Player total 6 or 7: Player stands.

Banker third-card rule

If Player stood on 6 or 7, Banker follows the same rule as Player: draw on 0 to 5, stand on 6 or 7.

If Player drew a third card, Banker's action depends on Banker's total and on the value of Player's third card:

Banker 0, 1 or 2: Banker draws.
Banker 3: Banker draws, unless Player's third card is an 8.
Banker 4: Banker draws if Player's third card is 2 to 7.
Banker 5: Banker draws if Player's third card is 4 to 7.
Banker 6: Banker draws if Player's third card is 6 or 7.
Banker 7: Banker stands.

You never have to apply these rules yourself. The dealer, or the game, draws the cards automatically; knowing the rules simply helps you follow each hand.

A full example hand

Player gets 4 and 10: total 4. Banker gets 2 and K: total 2. No natural.
Player has 4, so Player draws: a 6 arrives. 4 + 6 = 10, so Player's total is 0.
Banker has 2, so Banker draws whatever Player's third card was: a 5 arrives. Banker's total is 7.
Banker 7 beats Player 0. Banker bets win; Player and Tie bets lose.

Playing baccarat on Go2win

Baccarat is one of the common tables in live casino; our guide to what live casino is explains how a live round runs, and how to read baccarat roads covers the scoreboard beside the table. On Go2win, live tables are in the Go2win live casino page. Which baccarat tables are open, and their limits, depend on the game provider; for details, log in at go2win.bet, then check with live chat: what live chat confirms is what applies.

To play, sign up with your +60 number and a password. New members get RM18 on sign-up.

FAQ

What is the goal in baccarat? The goal in baccarat is to bet on the hand, Player or Banker, that finishes with a total closer to 9, or on a tie. You do not make any decisions about drawing cards: the dealer deals two cards to each side, a third card is drawn only when fixed rules say so, and the higher total wins.

How are baccarat cards counted? Baccarat cards are counted with Ace as 1, 2 to 9 at face value, and 10, J, Q and K as 0. A hand's total is the last digit of the sum, so 7 + 8 = 15 counts as 5. A total can never be higher than 9, and suits do not matter.

When does Player draw a third card? Player draws a third card on a total of 0 to 5 and stands on 6 or 7. The exception is a natural: if either side has 8 or 9 from its first two cards, both sides stand and the round is settled. The Player hand always acts before the Banker hand, and the dealer draws the cards automatically.

When does Banker draw a third card? Banker draws a third card according to Banker's total and, if Player drew, Player's third card. Banker always draws on 0 to 2 and stands on 7. On 3 to 6, it follows the Banker rule above: for example, Banker 6 draws only if Player's third card is 6 or 7. If Player stood, Banker draws on 0 to 5.