In standard casino baccarat (Punto Banco), you choose a wager on Player, Banker or Tie; you do not decide whether either hand draws. The dealer follows fixed rules. These seven steps show how to place a wager, count the hands and settle the result.
How to play baccarat in seven steps
1. Find the betting areas and check the posted rules
Look for the Player, Banker and Tie betting areas. Before placing a wager, check the table notice for the minimum, maximum, game version and payout terms. Those details can differ by venue. The Tasmanian rules approved on 3 February 2025, for example, require table limits to be displayed and include a separate Federal Baccarat payout provision.
2. Choose a wager before the deal
Choose which outcome you are backing: Player hand higher, Banker hand higher or equal totals (Tie). You are betting on the result, not controlling the cards or choosing which hand receives a third card. Under the Tasmanian rules, a wager cannot be made, withdrawn or increased after the first card of that hand has been dealt.
| Wager | Wins when | Payout in the cited Tasmanian rules |
|---|---|---|
| Player | The Player hand’s score is higher than the Banker hand’s score. | 1 to 1 |
| Banker | The Banker hand’s score is higher than the Player hand’s score. | 19 to 20 |
| Tie | Both hands have the same score. | 8 to 1 |
These payouts are examples from the Tasmanian rules, not universal terms; that document also provides distinct Federal Baccarat payouts. Check the table’s own notice. A larger displayed payout alone does not establish that a wager is more favorable.
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3. Watch the initial deal
In the cited Tasmanian procedure, the dealer deals four cards face up in this order: Player, Banker, Player, Banker. Some traditional tables allow players to squeeze cards, but it is not necessary to understand the game and is not a universal procedure.
4. Count each hand
Card values work like this:
- Ace counts as 1.
- Cards 2 through 9 count at face value.
- 10s and court cards count as 10, which contributes zero to the final score when the tens digit is dropped.
Add the values in a hand, then keep only the last digit of the total. For example, 7 + 5 = 12, so the score is 2. Likewise, 9 + 8 = 17 scores 7, and 6 + 4 = 10 scores 0. The Tasmanian rules describe the score as a single figure from zero to nine, calculated by subtracting ten or multiples of ten from the card total; Chile’s casino regulator gives the same scoring examples.
5. See whether the hand ends after two cards
Compare the two scores: 9 is highest, followed by 8, 7 and so on down to 0. If the dealt hands settle the outcome under the applicable rules, the hand ends; otherwise the dealer checks whether a third card is required.
6. Let the dealer apply the third-card rules
The Player hand draws on a score of 0–5 and stands on 6–7. The Banker hand’s rule depends on its own score and, in some cases, the value of the Player’s third card. The dealer applies the fixed tableau; you do not choose whether to draw. The cited regulator rules print the complete table at the game, so a beginner does not need to memorize it.
7. Settle the wager and begin the next hand
Once the final scores are known, the dealer resolves the wagers according to the posted terms. Under the cited Tasmanian rules, a Tie makes Player and Banker wagers void, while the Tie wager pays 8 to 1. Payouts and tie treatment can vary by game version and venue, so the table notice governs the hand you are playing.
What to remember as a beginner
- Baccarat scores run from 0 to 9; only the last digit of a hand’s total counts.
- Player, Banker and Tie identify possible results. In the cited Tasmanian rules, the casino licensee holds the bank.
- In Punto Banco, the dealer follows fixed drawing rules; your main choice is the wager.
- Check the posted limit, variant and payouts before betting. They are not universal.
How do you practice baccarat scoring?
A standard deck of playing cards is enough to rehearse the scoring mechanic at home: deal two cards to each of two hands, total each hand and keep the last digit. This is only a practice aid, not a complete casino setup; the cited Tasmanian casino rules describe play with four to eight 52-card decks.
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