Baccarat (card game)

Baccarat is a casino card game in which players bet on whether the Player hand, the Banker hand, or a tie will win.

Baccarat is a casino card game in which players bet on whether the Player hand, the Banker hand, or a tie will win. In the standard modern form, Punto Banco, the goal is to get a hand total closest to nine, with tens and face cards worth zero and aces worth one. The game is widely played in casinos internationally and is especially associated with Macau.

Gameplay

Players place wagers before any cards are dealt, then two hands are formed: Player and Banker. Depending on the total and the variant rules, one or both hands may draw a third card, and the closest final total to nine wins.

Card values and scoring

Number cards 2 through 9 count at face value, aces count as one, and tens and face cards count as zero. Totals above nine are reduced by keeping only the final digit, so 15 counts as 5.

Betting options

The standard bets are on Player, Banker, or Tie. In many casino rules, Banker wins are paid with commission, while Tie bets typically pay at higher odds than the main bets.

History and variants

Baccarat is commonly described as a casino game with historical roots in Italy, while the modern form most widely used in casinos is Punto Banco. The game has several regional and rule-based variants, but the core objective remains the same.