A player will place a wager on which of two hands (the "Player" or the "Banker") will have a total point closest to 9. Each hand will receive at least two cards but no more than three. Baccarat is played with eight decks of cards. The first and third cards dealt from the shoe constitute the "Player's" hand, and the second and forth cards constitute the "Banker's" hand. Face cards and tens count as 0; Aces count as 1, and all other cards count as face value. If required, a third card is dealt to each hand according to specific rules outlined in the chart below. If the point value of the first two cards drawn for either hand is 8 or 9, that is known as a "Natural" and no additional cards will be drawn. The hand with the highest point total closest to nine wins. Winning bets are paid even money. However, a winning "Banker" bet pays a 5% commission, which is withheld from winnings after each such bet. If both hands result in identical totals, the "Tie" bet wins, paying 8 to 1. When a "Tie" occurs, all bets on the "Player" and the "Banker" are neither paid nor taken.

There are three betting options in Baccarat.

1. Betting on the Player's Hand
2. Betting on the Banker's Hand
3. Betting on a Tie

You can bet any amount from the table minimum to the table maximum.

Betting on the player's hand

By placing your gaming chips in the "Player"area in front of you, you are betting on the player hand. You win the bet, if the player hand at the end of the round (after all drawing and dealing are done), will be greater than the dealer's. In this case, you are paid even money and charged no commission.

Betting on the banker's hand

By placing your gaming chips in the "Banker"area in front of you, you are betting on the Banker hand. You win the bet, if the banker hand at the end of the round will be greater than the player's. In this case, you are paid even money and charged the standard 5% commission fee on the amount that you won.

Betting on a tie

If you want to bet on the Tie hand, you will place your gaming chips in the "Tie" area or on the number corresponding to your seat. A bet on a Tie pays 8 to 1 without any commission fee. The highest total any baccarat hand can have is nine. A two-card total of nine is called a "natural" and cannot lose. An eight is the second-best hand and is also called a natural. If both player and bank are dealt identical hands, it is a standoff (a tie) and neither bank nor player wins.

The dealer gives two cards each to the player and the banker.

1. If either the player or the banker has a total of an 8 or a 9 they both stand. There is no exceptions and this rule overrides all other rules.
2. If the player has total of 6 or 7, the player stands.
3. If the player stands, the banker hits on a total of 5 or less.
4. If the player has total of 5 or less, the player automatically hits and the banker gives the player a third card.

If the player gets the third card then the banker draws a third card according to the following rules:

1. Banker has total of 0, 1, 2: Banker always draws a third card.
2. Banker has total of 3: Banker draws if Player's Third Card is 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9-0 (not 8)
3. Banker has total of 4: Banker draws if Player's Third Card is 2-3-4-5-6-7
4. Banker has total of 5: Banker draws if Player's Third Card is 4-5-6-7
5. Banker has total of 6: Banker draws if Player's Third Card is of 6-7
6. Banker has total of 7: Banker always stands.