How to Play Baccarat
Punto Banco — bet on Player, Banker, or Tie
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Overview
Baccarat is a house-dealt card game for 1 to 9 players — you're not playing against each other, and there's nothing to decide once your bet is placed. Two hands are dealt, Player and Banker, and you simply bet on which one will land closer to 9 (or that they'll tie). The cards then play themselves out by a fixed set of rules — no hits, no folds, no decisions.
A Round, Step by Step
Tables deal rounds back-to-back for as long as at least one seat is occupied — solo play is fine, since you're betting against the two dealt hands, not another player.
- Betting — Every seated player has a short window to bet on Player, Banker, Tie, or any combination of the three.
- Deal — Player and Banker each get 2 cards, dealt face-up.
- Naturals — If either hand totals 8 or 9 on those first two cards, dealing stops right there — no third cards for either hand.
- Third Card — Otherwise, the fixed third-card rules below decide whether Player and/or Banker draws one more card.
- Settle — Whichever hand is closer to 9 wins; bets pay out automatically, and the next round's betting window opens shortly after.
Card Values & Naturals
A hand's total is the sum of its cards' points — but only the last digit counts, so there's no such thing as busting.
| Ace | Worth 1 point |
| 2 – 9 | Worth their face value |
| 10, J, Q, K | Worth 0 points |
The Third Card
Applied automatically — nothing to decide, but here's the logic behind it:
- Player draws a third card on a two-card total of 0–5, and stands on 6 or 7.
- Banker follows the same 0–5 rule if Player didn't draw — but if Player did draw a third card, Banker's decision also depends on what that card's value was, following a fixed table that keeps the game's odds fair to both sides.
Bets & Payouts
Bet on any or all three spots at once during the betting window — each pays out independently.
Player — 1:1
Wins if Player's total beats Banker's. Even money, no commission.
Banker — 1:1 (5% commission)
Wins if Banker's total beats Player's. Statistically the stronger bet, so a small commission comes off the winnings.
Tie — 8:1
Wins if Player and Banker land on the same total. The long shot, with the long-shot payout.
Free Play vs Table Credits
Free Play
A fixed practice balance to bet with each round — nothing real is on the line, and it never runs out. Great for learning the third-card rules by watching them play out.
Table Credits
Every bet comes straight off your real table credits balance, and every payout goes straight back to it. The host (or an admin, for a WML Table) sets the round's minimum bet.