How to Play Baccarat: Complete Beginner's Guide 2025

Before placing chips, it helps to know how Baccarat bets work. There are only three main options: Banker, Player, or Tie. That’s it.

Each comes with its own payout and house edge, and your odds of winning change depending on where you bet. The table might look busy, but your decision is always simple.

Long story short, you’re betting on which hand will land closest to 9.

Here’s how each outcome plays out, including what it pays and how much edge the house holds.

What Is Baccarat?

Baccarat is a Jackpot.bet Originals classic card game. It is built on a very simple idea: predict which hand will have a total nearest to 9.

You don’t need to make complicated choices during play, because once the bets are placed, Baccarat follows fixed rules until the winner is decided.

Objective of the Game

The Baccarat’s aim is clear and easy to follow: the hand closest to 9 wins. In a typical round of Banker vs Player, you’re simply choosing which side will come out on top.

If the Player's hand is closer, bets on the Player win. If the Banker's hand is closer, the Banker wins. When both hands finish with the exact total, the Tie option is paid.

Card Values Explained

To understand how a round plays out, you first need to know the card values. Baccarat keeps things simple by stripping face cards and 10s of any points, while number cards keep their face value. 

Plus, Aces are always worth one. You can take a look at the table below:

How Totals Are Calculated

The values are added together to form the total of a hand. If the sum is higher than 9, only the last digit counts.

Example: A 7 and a 6 total 13, which becomes 3. A 9 and a 5 make 14, which counts as 4. The strongest results are known as “naturals.”

So, a natural 8 or natural 9 wins instantly unless both hands share the same result.

Betting Options in Baccarat

Every round of Baccarat begins with a choice: where to place your bet. The game keeps this decision simple by offering 3 possible outcomes, each with its own rewards and level of risk. 

The outcomes are:

Baccarat Player Bet

If the Player's hand finishes closer to 9 than the Banker's hand, you win. Payouts are even money, meaning a 1-unit bet gives back 1 unit in profit. Many new players start here because it’s easy to follow.

Banker Bet in Baccarat

The Banker bet works almost the same way, but it comes with a small twist. Thanks to the drawing rules, the Banker side has a slight edge over the Player. 

To keep things balanced, a 5% commission is taken on winning Banker bets. Even with this fee, it remains with the strongest odds in the long run.

Baccarat Tie Bet

The third option is Tie. It pays more, usually 8:1 or 9:1, but only wins when both hands are the same. Since ties are rare, most players treat this as an occasional risk rather than a primary strategy.

Choosing Your Bet

As pointed out, Baccarat offers 3 main bets in every game. Most players stick to Player and Banker for steady results and leave Tie for when you’re chasing a bigger payout. 

How a Round in Baccarat Works

Once bets are placed, the game moves straight into action. A round of Baccarat follows the same sequence every time, which makes it simple to keep track of once you’ve seen it in play. 

On Jackpot.bet, all the steps are handled automatically. Players only need to watch the results unfold.

Dealing the Cards

Two hands are dealt at the start of each round: one for the Player and one for the Banker. Each hand gets two cards. 

You don’t need to do anything. The cards are dealt automatically and the totals are calculated instantly.

Natural Wins

If either hand gets 8 or 9 with the first two cards, this is “natural”. When this happens, the round ends, and the hand with the natural win takes the pot. 

If both have naturals, the higher total wins. And if both are equal, it’s a tie.

Third Card Rules

If no natural win occurs, the game checks whether a third card needs to be drawn. It isn’t a choice made by the player, so the rules decide automatically:

• The Player hand draws a third card if its total is 0-5.

• If the Player stands, the Banker may still draw depending on its own total and the Player’s third card.

The rules may sound detailed, but they play out instantly at the table. Plus, the dealer (or software) always handles the process.

Round Outcome

Once the final cards are in place, the totals are compared. Whichever hand is closest to 9 is declared the winner, and payouts follow the type of bet you placed. 

Then, a new round begins with new bets.

Winning and Payouts

At the end of each round, the hand totals are compared and the winner is decided. If the Player's hand is closer to nine, all Player bets are paid even money. 

If the Banker's hand wins, the payout is also even money. But our platform, Jackpot.bet, applies a 5% commission to balance the Banker's slight edge.

When both hands finish with the exact total, a Tie bet pays the most, often 8:1 or 9:1, depending on the table rules. The structure keeps things easy to understand and ensures payouts are always consistent.

Baccarat Strategies

Baccarat doesn’t require a complicated system. For example, most players lean on the Banker bet because it wins slightly more often, even with the small commission.

Others prefer to set a budget and keep their bets steady. It helps them play longer without chasing losses. 

Although the Tie bet looks tempting with its big payout, it’s rare to hit. As a result, many treat it as a side option rather than the primary focus.

If you’re curious about going deeper into betting patterns and advanced tips, we have shared more in a dedicated Baccarat strategy guide for 2025.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even though Baccarat is one of the simplest casino games, it’s still easy to slip into habits that hurt your play.

One of the biggest traps is chasing Tie bets. The payout looks attractive, but the odds are slim. So, relying on Tie too often can drain your balance.

Another common mistake is increasing your stakes right after a loss. It seems like a quick way to win back, but in reality, it usually accelerates losses.

Finally, many players overlook setting session limits. Without clear time and budget boundaries, the game can lose its appeal. With Baccarat explained in simple terms, it’s clear that avoiding these small mistakes can keep your sessions smoother and more enjoyable.

Conclusion

After you learn the rules and betting baccarat options, you can enjoy the flow of each round without overthinking.

To sum up, place your bet on the Player, Banker, or Tie, let the cards be dealt, and see which hand comes closest to 9.

Now that you’ve learned how to play Baccarat and win on Jackpot.bet, you’re ready to try it yourself and see why it’s such a popular Originals game.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you play Baccarat?

Start by betting on either the Player, Banker, or Tie hand. The dealer (or the game software) deals two cards to each side. Totals are compared, and the hand closest to nine wins.

How does Baccarat work?

Cards 2 through 9 keep their face value, Aces are worth 1, and 10s and face cards (J, Q, K) have a value of 0. If no one has an 8 or 9 in the first two cards, third card rules may apply. 

The winning hand is the one closest to nine.

Why is Baccarat so popular?

Baccarat combines simple rules with fast rounds and clear outcomes. It offers fair odds, especially on the Banker bet, and doesn’t require a complex strategy. 

Players enjoy its mix of low effort and high excitement.

What are the rules for Baccarat?

Cards are worth fixed values. If no one has 8 or 9, the third card rules decide if more cards are drawn. The highest total wins.

Is Baccarat easy to play?

The Baccarat game is pretty simple to play. There are only 3 bets to choose from, and the dealing and scoring are handled automatically.

It makes it beginner-friendly while still exciting for experienced players.