How to Play Baccarat: Rules, Bets, and Payouts
Baccarat is a straightforward comparison between two hands called Player and Banker. Choose a wager before the deal, then let the dealer apply the drawing rules automatically.
Two hands called Player and Banker are dealt. The hand closest to 9 wins. You bet on Player, Banker, or Tie before the cards appear. Card drawing is automatic, so there are no hit, stand, or strategy decisions after you place the wager.
What are Player and Banker?
Player and Banker are simply the names of the two hands. Betting on Player does not mean the cards belong to you, and betting on Banker does not make you responsible for dealing or managing the game.
Your wager predicts which hand will finish closer to 9. If both hands finish with the same total, the result is a Tie. Player and Banker wagers are returned on a Tie.
How Baccarat cards are scored
Only the final digit matters. A 7 and an 8 total 15, so the hand is worth 5. A king and a 9 total 9 because the king is worth zero. The highest possible Baccarat total is 9.
What is a natural?
A natural is an 8 or 9 made with the first two cards. If either hand has a natural, both hands stand and the round ends. A natural 9 beats a natural 8. Matching naturals produce a Tie.
A natural ends the drawing process immediately, so no third cards are dealt.
How the third-card rule works
First, the Player hand draws on 0 through 5 and stands on 6 or 7. If Player stands, Banker draws on 0 through 5 and stands on 6 or 7. If Player draws, the Banker rule also considers the value of Player’s third card.
You do not choose whether either hand draws. The dealer or software applies the rule every time. The chart below is useful for understanding how the deal progresses, but players do not need to memorize every condition before beginning.
| Banker’s first two cards | When Player drew a third card |
|---|---|
| 0, 1, or 2 | Always draws |
| 3 | Draws unless Player's third card is 8 |
| 4 | Draws when Player's third card is 2 through 7 |
| 5 | Draws when Player's third card is 4 through 7 |
| 6 | Draws when Player's third card is 6 or 7 |
| 7 | Stands |
Baccarat bets, payouts, and house edge
The payout is profit, and your original winning wager is also returned. These house-edge figures use the standard eight-deck rules and payouts found on the Lucky Penny table.
| Bet | Pays | House edge | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banker | 0.95 to 1 | About 1.06% | Lowest standard house edge after the 5% commission |
| Player | 1 to 1 | About 1.24% | Simple even-money payout with no commission |
| Tie | 8 to 1 | About 14.36% | Player and Banker bets push when the hands tie |
| Player Dragon Bonus | 1 to 1 up to 30 to 1 | About 2.65% | Pays for a natural win or a non-natural win by at least 4 |
| Banker Dragon Bonus | 1 to 1 up to 30 to 1 | About 9.37% | Same payout ladder, but a substantially higher house edge |
Banker is usually the strongest standard bet
Banker has the lowest standard house edge even after the 5% commission. Player is close behind and avoids commission arithmetic. Tie offers the largest standard payout, but its much higher house edge is the price of that excitement.
No betting pattern changes those percentages. A scoreboard records previous results but does not affect the next card.
How Dragon Bonus works
Dragon Bonus is a separate wager on either the Player hand or the Banker hand. It wins when your selected hand wins with a natural, or when it wins without a natural by at least 4 points. A larger winning margin earns a larger payout.
Dragon Bonus is not the same wager as Dragon 7. Side-bet names and payout schedules can vary by casino, so review the posted rules before wagering.
Read the complete Dragon Bonus guide →What does the Baccarat scoreboard mean?
The Session Results panel counts Player wins, Banker wins, and Ties. The Bead Road records each completed hand in order, filling a column from top to bottom before moving right.
These displays describe completed hands. They do not predict the next hand or make a particular result due. Use them to review the session rather than forecast the next deal.
Learn how to read the Baccarat scoreboard →Your first hand in five steps
Choose a chip
Lucky Penny uses a $5 minimum per position, so the $5 chip is a comfortable place to start.
Pick Player or Banker
Player and Banker are the names of the two hands. Choose the result you expect to win.
Deal the hand
The first four cards appear Player, Banker, Player, Banker. Any required third cards are handled automatically.
Watch the draw
When another card is required, the table highlights its recipient before the card arrives.
Review the result
Open Recent Hands to see every wager, payout, Banker commission, and final total.
Four beginner mistakes worth skipping
- Trying to hit or stand: Baccarat drawing decisions are automatic.
- Treating Banker like a person: Banker and Player are hand names.
- Ignoring commission: A $5 Banker win earns $4.75 in profit on this table.
- Chasing the road: Recent results document a streak; they do not create the next result.
Let the table deal the lesson
Start Learn Mode, place one practice wager, and watch the table explain each drawing decision and final result.
Practice This on the Baccarat TableRules and payout references: Massachusetts Gaming Commission Baccarat rules. House-edge calculations for the standard game and eight-deck Dragon Bonus use published combinatorial analysis from Wizard of Odds.