Walking past a Baccarat table can feel intimidating, but it requires absolutely no skill or complex strategy to play.
In fact, Baccarat is arguably the easiest table game in the entire casino, functioning almost exactly like a simple coin flip.
Understanding How Baccarat is Played
In Baccarat, there are only two hands dealt on the table: the 'Banker' hand and the 'Player' hand.
Cards 2 through 9 are worth their face value, Aces are worth 1, and 10s and Face cards (Jacks, Queens, Kings) are worth absolutely zero.
- The dealer distributes two cards to the Player hand and two cards to the Banker hand
- Depending on the exact totals, a complex set of casino rules determines if a third card is drawn for either side
- You do not need to memorize the third-card drawing rules; the dealer executes them automatically
Exploring Different Types of Baccarat
While the core math remains the same, casinos offer several variations to speed up the game or cater to different budgets.
In Mini-Baccarat, the dealer handles all the cards quickly, players cannot touch them, and the minimum bets are much lower.
| Rule Variation | How it Changes the Game | House Edge Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Standard 5% Commission | Requires dealers to calculate small change payouts | Banker edge remains 1.06% |
| EZ Baccarat (No Commission) | Faster payouts, no annoying math for the dealer | Banker edge remains roughly 1.02% (due to the push rule) |
Simply sit down, consistently bet the Banker, and let the dealer handle the complex drawing rules.