The player's objective is to get a hand that is closer to 9 in value than the banker's. The game is played modulo 10, that is if the total of the hand is greater than 10, then 10 is subtracted from the total. (Thus the value of a hand is always between 0 through 9)
For example, if the players cards total 15, 10 is subtracted and the value of the hand becomes 5. An ace counts as 1, two counts as 2, etc. , up through nine counts as 9, but tens (also jacks, queens and kings) count as 0.

To start a hand both player and banker are dealt two cards face down and the next move depends on the cards in the hands. If the player or banker has a two card total of 8 or 9, he/she turns the cards over immediately. The other must do so also. (In online baccarat cards are always face up) A 9 value wins over any lesser total, and if neither player has a 9 then 8 wins over any lesser total. Tied 9s or tied 8s are a stand off; no money changes hands. (unless ties can be bet on) If neither the player or the banker has a natural (a total of 8 or 9) then play goes to the player. The player stands on a total of 6 or 7, but if the player has a total of 5 or less he/she must draw one card (face up). Now it is the bankers turn. With a total of 7, he stands. With a total of 6 or less, his selection depends on the value of his two card total and the value of the card that the player drew.

The game must be played by the rules, there are no options for either the player or the dealer. The only thing you have to do is bet then just watch the game play out for itself.

Player Rules:
Value held	Action
0 (10, J, Q, K)	Draws a card
1	Draws a card
2	Draws a card
3	Draws a card
4	Draws a card
5	Stands
6	Stands
7	Stands
8	Turn cards over
9	Turn cards over

Dealer Rules:
Value held	Draws When Giving	Does Not Draw When Giving
0 (10, J, Q, K)	Draws a card	Draws a card
1	Draws a card	Draws a card
2	Draws a card	Draws a card
3	0 (10, J, Q, K)-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9	8
4	2-3-4-5-6-7	0 (10, J, Q, K)-1-8-9
5	4-5-6-7	0 (10, J, Q, K)-1-2-3-8-9
6	6-7	0 (10, J, Q, K)-1-2-3-4-5-8-9
7	Stands	Stands
8	Turn cards over	Turn cards over

Baccarat Betting

Baccarat has a pretty reasonable set of odds for the player. On player bets the house has a small edge, to compensate for this the house takes a commission (usually 5 percent) on winning bank bets.

Bets are made prior to any cards being dealt. The banker plays against only one player at a time, but any or all the other players may bet on the hand.

Baccarat is played on a kidney shaped table that can sit up to 12 or 14 players depending on the size of the table. Three dealers (croupiers) run the game; one handles the cards, while the other two handle the wagers and the commission that is paid on winning bank bets. Where the players sit is not important, but bets must be made in a marked area on the table that corresponds to the players seat. Players may bet three ways: on the bank, on the players hand, or for a tie. Players often switch from betting on the bank to betting on the players hand and vice versa. (Betting for a tie is not usually smart, while having a larger payoff, it is considered one of the worst wagers in the casino.) A bet is made by placing money on the table in your marked area on the wagered spot. For example if you are player number 3 and wish to bet on the bank you place the desired wager amount on the table layout place for player number 3 marked bank.

Winning player and bank bets pay even money (excluding commissions). Hands that result in a tie pay off tie wagers at 8 to 1 and a bank or player bet is treated as a push with the money sitting on the table for the next hand.

Baccarat is a game of pure luck. The game is played using a fixed set of rules for the player and the dealer, and these rules represent the best odds of winning for both the player and for the house. Calculations have been made that show the odds of the player winning are 44.62%, losing 45.85%, and 9.53% to tie. Thus it would seem to be to your advantage to bet on the house winning on every hand.

To even out the odds the house charges a commission (usually 5%) on winning player bets placed on the house. How should this change the way a player wagers?

Factoring in the commission it turns out that you are still slightly better off by betting that the house will win. This assumes the commission is the usual 5%, however, should the commission change then you have to change strategy. If the commission is less than 5% then it is always to your advantage to bet with the house, while if the commission is more than 5% it pays to bet on the player winning.

Removing the tie hands in the event there is no payoff, the odds of the player winning are 49.32% and for losing 50.68%.

You lose less by betting with the player.
Baccarat sometimes allows for a bet to be made for a tie, and sometimes doesn't (mini baccarat typically played online usually does). Although the odds of 8 to 1 may sound appealing, it is considered one of the worst wagers in the casino, so don't bother making this bet part of your baccarat strategy.

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