Rules and Gameplay
Baccarat
Point Calculation Method
The point calculation method in Baccarat is different from most other games. One unique rule is that nine is the highest point, and no hand can exceed nine. Here’s how the point values are calculated in Baccarat.
In Baccarat, an Ace is counted as 1 point; cards from 2 to 9 retain their face value; 10, Jack (J), Queen (Q), and King (K) are counted as zero points (some casinos count them as 10 points). If the total value of the cards exceeds 9, only the unit's place is considered. Therefore, the total value of an 8 and a 9 is 7 points (8 + 9 = 17). Since only the unit's place value of the cards is calculated in Baccarat, the maximum possible point value is 9 (e.g., a 4 and a 5: 4 + 5 = 9), and the minimum is 0 points, also known as "baccarat" (e.g., a 10 and a Q: 10 + 10 = 20, only counting the unit's place as 0).
Dealing and Drawing
Baccarat generally uses 8 decks of cards, which are shuffled and placed in a dealing box. Both the banker and the player receive at least two cards each round, but no more than three. The first and third cards are dealt to the "Player," while the second and fourth cards are dealt to the "Banker." The decision of whether to draw a third card (known as the "third card rule") is determined by specific rules. Unlike Blackjack, players can bet on either the Banker or the Player, without restrictions.
Drawing Rules
Natural Win: If either the Banker or Player has a total of "8 or 9 points" (called a "natural" win), neither side draws additional cards, and the winner is determined (if both have 8 points or both have 9 points, it’s a tie). Otherwise, the "Player drawing rules" are applied first, followed by the "Banker drawing rules."
Player Drawing Rules: The rules regarding when the Player draws a third card depend on the total points of the Player's first two cards.
(You can continue with the specific drawing rules for the Player and Banker as needed.)
Total Points of Two Cards
Player's Drawing Rules
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Draw One Card
6 or Higher
No Need to Draw a Card
Banker Drawing Rules:
(a) If the player does not need to draw a card (i.e., the total of the player’s first two cards is "6 to 9"), the banker will draw cards according to the "player drawing rules," meaning the banker must draw a card if the total of their first two cards is "0 to 5," and does not need to draw if it's 6 or above.
(b) If the player needs to draw a card, the banker’s drawing principles are as follows:
Total Points of Two Cards
Dealer Drawing Rules
0, 1, 2
Draw a Card
3
If the third card drawn by the player (not the sum of the three card values, the same below) is 8 points, no additional card is drawn; otherwise, an additional card must be drawn.
4
If the third card drawn by the player is "0, 1, 8, or 9" points, no additional card is drawn; otherwise, an additional card must be drawn.
5
If the third card drawn by the player is "0, 1, 2, 3, 8, or 9" points, no additional card is drawn; otherwise, an additional card must be drawn.
6
If the third card drawn by the player is "6 or 7" points, an additional card must be drawn; otherwise, no additional card is drawn.
7 or Above
No additional card is needed.
Odds
Betting on the banker and winning has two options:
The first is a payout of 1 to 0.95, which means a 5% commission is deducted for the banker.
The second option is called "No Commission Baccarat," where a win pays 1 to 1, but if the banker wins with a total of 6 points, the payout is 1 to 0.5.
Betting on the player and winning pays 1 to 1.
Betting on a tie (i.e., both final totals are the same) pays 1 to 8.
Betting on a pair (i.e., the first two cards of the banker or player are of the same number or letter) pays 1 to 11.
According to the "Lucky Six" odds in most casinos in Macau:
Winning with a total of 6 points from two cards pays 1 to 12,.
Winning with a total of 6 points from three cards pays 1 to 20.
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