How to Play Baccarat

Basic Rules of Baccarat to Remember

Baccarat – pronounced “bah-kuh-rah” – is one of the most popular casino card games in the world. While this table game‘s exact origins are a matter of dispute, the modern version combines influences from Asia, Europe, and Latin America. If you want to try your luck at baccarat here at Canterbury Park, start by brushing up on these basic rules of the game.

How Baccarat is Played

Part of the reason baccarat is so loved is that it’s pretty simple to play. Baccarat is usually played with six to eight decks of cards. The goal of the game is to bet on one of two hands: the player’s hand or the banker’s hand. The winning hand in baccarat is 9, or whichever number comes closest to 9.

Both hands have about the same chances of winning, though the odds on the banker’s hand are slightly better than the odds on the player’s hand. You can also bet on a tie between both hands. The odds of a tie are significantly lower but the payout if you win will also be much higher.

Card Values in Baccarat

In baccarat, cards 2 through 9 have their normal face value. However, 10s, aces, and face cards all have different values. 10s, jacks, queens, and kings are all worth 0 in baccarat. Aces, meanwhile, are worth 1 point.

When cards are first dealt, both the player’s hand and the banker’s hand will have two cards. The total of these two cards will be combined but if the combined total is a number higher than 10, only the last number is counted. This means that:

A total of 2-9 will be counted normally.
A total of more than 10 will be counted as the last digit. So, if the hand is 17, it will be counted as 7.
A total of 10 or 20 will be counted as 0.

How a Round of Baccarat is Played

Players will bet on either the banker’s hand, the player’s hand, or a tie.
The dealer will place two cards in the player’s hand and two cards in the banker’s hand.
Totals will be calculated; if a hand has either 8 or 9, it is considered a natural win and the round ends.
If the total for the player’s hand is 6 or 7, they stand. However, if the total for the player’s hand is 5 or less, a third card will be drawn. Whether or not a third card is drawn for the banker’s hand depends on whether or not a third card is drawn for the player’s hand.

Tips to Remember While Playing Baccarat

Unlike in many casino games, you’re not playing against the dealer; you’re just playing the odds.
The banker’s hand has a small statistical advantage over the player’s hand.
Whether or not a third card is drawn for the banker’s hand depends on both the banker’s total and whether a third card was drawn for the player’s hand. Don’t worry, the dealer manages all of this.

Come Play Baccarat at Canterbury Park

Visit Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN, if you’re ready for a fun-filled night at our baccarat tables! Contact us if you have any questions about our casino games and rules.