How to Play Baccarat in Las Vegas

Baccarat (pronounced BA-KA-RAH) offers some of the best odds and despite its appearance, is probably the simplest game to play. Baccarat involves just a few decisions. How much you want to bet and whether to bet on the Bank, the Player or on the Tie Bet.

The object of Baccarat is to be on one of two hands. The winning hand is the one which totals the closest to nine. Nine is the hightest hand.

Eight decks are shuffled together and those participating in the game place a wager on either the bank or the player.

Two hands of two cards each are dealt from the Shoe. The first hand dealt is called the Player’s Hand and the second is called the Banker’s Hand. If the point out of either hand is 8 or 9 (called a “Natural”), no more cards will be dealt. If the Bank does not have a Natural, the Player will always draw a third card on totals of 0-1-2-3-4 and 5 and stand with 6-7-8 and 9.

The Hand closest to 9 wins and pays even money. A winning Tie Bet pays 9-to-1 but the Player’s and Banker’s Hand neither wins nor loses.

Face cards and tens have no value. Aces always count as one. If the cards dealt total more than nine on either hand, they acquire the value of the second digit. For example 10=0, 13=3, 20=0, 24=4.

The shoe holds eight decks of cards. It is passed around the table from player to player, counter-clockwise, every time a player hand wins. This is a way of encouraging each player to take an active part in dealing with the game. Before cards are dealt from the shoe, everyone places their bet on the side they think will win (banker or player). The player with the shoe then deals four cards alternately. Two are designated player cards, two are designated banker cards.

The croupier announces the total of each hand and the winning side is then announced. When betting on the Bank, the casino will collect 5% commission on money won.