The object of Baccarat is to be dealt two or three cards that total no more than nine. Between six and eight decks of cards are played at once and players are dealt two cards to begin the game. Getting a third card depends upon Baccarat rules.

Baccarat Rules

In the rules of Baccarat face cards and 10s have a value of zero. The two through the nine cards are added up at face value. Aces are one. If the two cards add up to a double digit such as 16, only the digit to the right is counted, so the player would have a total of six. The highest hand in Baccarat is a nine.

Player's Third Card

If the player's two cards add up to eight or nine the hand is considered a natural and no more cards are dealt. If the cards total five or less the player is dealt a third card. If the player does take a third card, then Baccarat rules apply as to whether the bank is dealt a third card or not.

Bank's Third Card

The bank's two card total and the player's third card draw determine whether or not a third card is taken by the bank. If the bank's total is two or less the bank draws a card regardless of what the player's third card is; if the total is three, the bank draws unless the player's third card was an eight; with a total of four the bank draws unless the player's card was a zero, one, eight or nine; with five, the bank draws unless the player's third card was a four, five, six or seven; with a total of six, a card is drawn unless the player's third card was a six or seven. If the bank's hand totals seven, then he stands.

The rules of Baccarat are fairly simple and when playing online, the cards are dealt automatically by the software, making it even easier to follow. Players play against the banker, not against each other. Bets are placed either on the bank (banco), a player (punto), or on standoff which is a tie. Never bet on a standoff, because these are very rare.