The object and card values
Baccarat compares two hands labeled Player and Banker. These labels identify positions, not people. Aces count as one, cards two through nine count at face value, and tens and picture cards count as zero.
Only the final digit of a total matters. Seven plus eight totals fifteen and is therefore a five. Nine is the highest possible total; there is no busting.
Initial two-card deal
Two cards go to Player and two to Banker. If either hand has a two-card eight or nine, called a natural, both hands normally stand and the coup is settled.
If there is no natural, Player’s rule is resolved first. Player draws with totals zero through five and stands with six or seven.
Banker third-card table
If Player stands, Banker draws on zero through five and stands on six or seven. If Player draws, Banker’s decision depends on both Banker’s total and the value of Player’s third card.
For example, Banker three draws unless Player’s third card is eight; Banker four draws when that card is two through seven; Banker five draws with four through seven; and Banker six draws with six or seven. Banker zero through two always draws, while seven stands.
Settlement
The hand closer to nine wins. Banker and Player wagers push when the hands tie. A Tie wager wins only when the final totals are equal.
Banker commonly pays even money minus a five-percent commission because its drawing rule makes it slightly more likely to win than Player. Alternative commission-free rules change settlement and must be evaluated separately.
Practical checklist
- Confirm the number of decks
- Identify standard commission or the replacement rule
- Check the Tie payout
- Treat side bets independently
- Do not use scoreboards to override the fixed probabilities
Rules, probabilities, and payouts apply only to the model stated on this page. Posted casino rules control when they differ. Last reviewed September 20, 2026.