Since it’s widely known as 007’s favorite game, baccarat has built a reputation for intimidating new players. Fear not – this casino classic is one of the simplest and player-friendly games you can find. Besides, our experts are here to teach you how to play baccarat online like a pro!
In our guide, you’ll find the basics of baccarat, top tips to help hone your strategy, game variations & more!
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The first step to playing baccarat is to find a table with a spare seat. You’ll then have to place your bet on the banker, yourself as the player or a tie.
Two cards will be dealt to both you and the banker. The value of both hands will be revealed. If either of the hand totals 8 or 9 points, it wins the game and no more cards are dealt.
If neither hand is valued at 8 or 9 after the first two cards, a third card can be dealt with the player going first. The rules of baccarat for the third card are somewhat complex, so we’ll take a closer look at them later.
In baccarat, each card has a value. Number cards are worth their number, aces are worth 1 and face and ten cards are worth 0.
The winning hand in baccarat is the hand which has a value closest to 9. A hand cannot have a value of more than 9, but we'll cover how to count the value later.
To win, you'll have to correctly predict who'll have the winning hand. Your choices are yourself as the player, the dealer or a tie.
Free online baccarat is the best way to learn how to play baccarat in a casino environment. Online casinos feature free versions of their games for promotional reasons. Visit one of our recommended casino sites, such as Wild Casino or Bovada. Navigate to the table games section, then click on the baccarat game icon. Once prompted, choose to play the free online baccarat version, which is marked “Practice” in the prompt.
If you have more questions, take a look at this baccarat tutorial video.
How to Play Baccarat | How to Play Online Casino Games from Gamble Online on Vimeo.
Once the initial two cards have been dealt, if there is no instant win, the ‘coup’ (game) continues per the drawing rules, with the player going first.
If the player ‘stands’ – i.e. has only two cards – the banker proceeds with the same rules the player had: drawing a third card if they had 0-5 points, or standing if they had 6 or 7 points.
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Though it seems counterintuitive to bet against yourself, banker bets payoff the most often in baccarat. Though the payouts can be slightly lower, they are always a sound bet.
Side and tie bets have high house edges, meaning the casinos have a large advantage. Though they’ll try to tempt you with large payouts, we recommend steering clear of them.
All successful gamblers know how to manage their bankroll well. In baccarat, that means playing games with stake sizes to suit your budget, never chasing losses and knowing when to stop.
Here is a breakdown of the most common baccarat variations you’ll find at US online casinos.
Chemin de Fer is a French version typically faster than a round of Punto Banco.
In each round, one player at the table is designated as the banker. This responsibility rotates around the table. At the start of the game, the banked places a bet which must be matched or exceeded by all the other players.
The player with the highest bet becomes the ‘chief punter’ and represents all the players. The banker and the player are dealt two face-down cards each. If neither has an 8 or 9 total value, the chief punter can choose to take a third card or stick with the hand they have.
If the banker wins, they collect the wagers from all players and keep their position for the next round. If the players win, the banker must return their original stakes plus an equal amount.
Live dealer baccarat uses video streaming technology to connect you to a real-life dealer working in a casino setting. The live dealer rules are the same as you’d find in a land-based casino; you can even communicate with the dealer using the live chat feature.
If you want specific recommendations, here is how to play baccarat at a casino online. You’ll find some of the best online baccarat options at the following sites!
| Casino | Welcome Bonus | Live Dealer Baccarat | Free Play | Play Now |
| 1. Wild Casino | $5,000 | Yes | Yes (with account) | Play Now! |
| 2. Roaring 21 | $8,000 + 200 free spins | No | Yes | Play Now! |
| 3. Ignition Casino | $3,000 | Yes | Yes | Play Now! |
| 4. Bovada | $3,000 | Yes | Yes | Play Now! |
| 5. BetOnline | $1,000 | Yes | No | Play Now! |
The odds of winning each round of baccarat depend on what kind of bet you make. In a standard game of baccarat, a banker bet can be expected to win around 45.8% of the time, while a player bet will win 44.6%. Tie bets are risky and are not considered the best strategy – they win just 9.6% of the time.
Absolutely! You can find a free baccarat game right here at Gamble Online. Further, many online casinos will let you play their baccarat games for free in demo or practice mode.
Go to an online casino, click a baccarat game icon, and choose the Practice version of the game. You’ll use the same rules you would in a land-based casino.
Free baccarat games are the best way to learn how to play online baccarat, too, because the practice mode uses the same game controls and graphics as the online game. Most online baccarat games post their rules, so click on the “Information” button on the game for the baccarat rules.
The rules of mini baccarat are the same as standard Punto Banco baccarat. The main difference is who deals the cards. In Punto Banco, one of the players (the banker) deals the cards. In mini baccarat, the dealer deals the cards. In that way, online baccarat is like mini baccarat, so play a few hands of free online baccarat to learn the rules of mini baccarat.
In baccarat, you win by correctly predicting who’ll have the highest two-card hand. You can also predict a tie, but be aware that the house edge rises significantly on tie bets.
Baccarat is a common online casino game found at almost every land-based and gambling site serving US players. In baccarat, two card hands (the player’s and the dealer’s) are compared and the highest hand wins. Players bet on who will win the hand or if it’ll be a tie. When played with good strategy, baccarat has one of the lowest house edges of all the casino games.
