How to Play Baccarat
A simple walkthrough of how a baccarat hand is dealt, scored and won.
Dealing, Drawing and Scoring a Hand
Learning how to play baccarat starts with the goal: get a hand, Player or Banker, that totals closest to nine. Two cards are dealt to each side, tens and face cards count as zero, and any total over nine drops its first digit, so a 9 and a 7 becomes a six.
Once you understand how to play baccarat card game basics, the rest is just knowing when a third card is drawn, which follows a fixed set of rules rather than a player's choice. That's exactly how baccarat is played at our demo tables, so you can deal out hand after hand and watch the draw rules in action before wagering anything for real.
Baccarat Card Values
- Ace — 1 point
- Cards 2–9 — face value
- 10, Jack, Queen, King — 0 points
- Totals over 9 drop the first digit (e.g. 9 + 7 — 6)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to memorise the baccarat drawing rules?
No. The dealer or the game itself follows the drawing rules automatically, so you only need to decide which side to back before each hand.
What's the highest possible hand in baccarat?
A natural nine, made from the first two cards, is the strongest hand and beats every other total including a natural eight.
Play responsibly. Bonuses are a marketing tool, not a guaranteed win — always read the terms before you claim one. See our Responsible Gambling page for support resources.