Also known as punto banco, baccarat is one of the most misunderstood games in the casino world. Firstly, it has a reputation for being reserved for high rollers, a reputation not helped by the fact that James Bond is commonly seen playing the game for stacks of cash. At the same time, baccarat is a challenging and difficult game to learn for beginners. That might be true of the land-based game, especially when you consider the Third Card rule. However, that certainly isn’t the case when playing online baccarat, as you will see in our guide.
Online Baccarat illustrations by DALL 3E
It is only necessary to learn the dreaded Third Card Rule if you intend to take on the role of the banker. As online baccarat seldom gives you that option, you quite literally have no reason to remember this rule, thus making online baccarat one of the simplest games around. Moreover, there are plenty of low-roller baccarat games that you can play online, too. It does not have to be a game solely for the high rollers of the world.
Let’s discover how the game works and help you become a better baccarat player in the process.
How to Play Online Baccarat
Before we dive into the specifics of gameplay, you have a choice to make. Baccarat is available as both a live dealer game and an RNG release. It is up to you which you choose, but bear in mind that because live baccarat is played with other players, it has shorter betting windows, so you’ll be forced into acting much faster. RNG baccarat is played solely against an AI dealer, so you can take as long as you see fit. Here’s a breakdown of what each has to offer:
RNG Baccarat
This is an online baccarat game which is played against a computer. It is the most common form of baccarat and can be played for free as well as real money. It allows you to take your time when betting on the game. Consider a less realistic but more laid-back release. There aren’t as many different RNG baccarat variants as you’ll find in the live casino section.
Live Baccarat
Live baccarat is played against a real-life human dealer and with other players. This game cannot be played for free and brings a sense of atmosphere and excitement to the card game, which can usually only be found in land-based, brick-and-mortar casinos. If realism is your aim, or you prefer playing online baccarat with all sorts of rule changes courtesy of numerous variants, live baccarat is the way to go.
Once you have decided how you wish to play the game, we can start to look at how online baccarat is played for beginners.
Online Baccarat Rules
Baccarat is a game of a few precious choices – you need to decide on your stake first and foremost. Whether you want to play RNG, or live baccarat does not matter. Your bet must fall somewhere between the baccarat table’s minimum and maximum limits, and these vary from game to game.
Once you have decided on your stake, you need to know where to put it. You will have three betting options open to you on most baccarat tables. Place your chips inside the betting circle that represents your choice. Those betting options include:
- Bank (Banco) Hand: A bet that the banker’s hand will win.
- Player (Punto) Hand: A wager that the player’s hand will win.
- Tied Hand: A far less likely bet, and one which states that you believe the game will result in a tie.
After you have made your bet, two cards are dealt to both the player’s and banker’s hand in online baccarat. Each card counts for its numerical face value (aces are worth a single point), while tens and face cards count as zero. The values of the two cards are then added together to form a points total.
Unlike in blackjack, a hand cannot bust in baccarat. If it goes over the magic number of nine, the leftmost digit is removed from the total, giving you a new total which is worth nine or less. For instance, if a hand totals fourteen, you will subtract ten (the first digit) from the total, giving you a hand worth four.
It is worth noting here that you’re not trying to beat the dealer in baccarat, or any other players for that matter. The sole point of the game is to bet on the winning hand. That hand will be the one which gets as close to nine points as possible. Hands of eight and nine are declared “natural” and automatically win unless the “other hand” has the same score or better.
The Third Card Rule
Now, it is important to understand that it simply isn’t necessary to learn this rule. Not for online baccarat gameplay, anyway. We’ll explain it briefly anyway, though.
There are times in the game when a third card must be drawn. This will expand the game and make it more exciting, but it could cost either the player or the banker’s hand a victory. Here’s when it comes into play:
Third Card Rule for the Player’s Hand
- If the player’s hand is worth 0-5 points, then they will automatically receive another card.
- If the player’s hand has a 6 or 7, it stands.
Third Card Rule for the Banker’s Hand
The banker’s hand may also take another card, but there are strict rules for that, and yes, they are complicated. Whether the banker’s hand takes a third card is entirely down to the hand the player’s hand has. Basically, it works like this:
- The banker’s hand stands on a six or seven.
- The banker’s hand always draws another card on hands worth 0 to 5s.
If the player’s hand receives another card, the banker takes a third card based on the following rules:
- If the banker’s hand is worth two, it takes another card, irrespective of what the player’s third card happens to be.
- If the banker’s hand is worth three, the banker takes another card if the player’s hand totals anything other than eight. If it totals eight, the banker stands.
- If the banker’s hand is worth four, the banker takes another card if the player’s total is two through seven. If the player’s hand is 0, 1, 8 or 9, the banker doesn’t take another card.
- If the banker’s hand is worth five, it receives another card if the player’s total is worth four to seven. If the hand is worth zero, 1, 2, 3, 8 or 9, another card is not required.
- If the banker’s hand is worth six, only a player totalling six or seven will see the banker draw a card. Any other player’s hand total and the banker’s hand will not take a third card.
Online Baccarat Wins
Once third cards (if any are required) have been dealt, the two final hands are compared, and a winner is declared. Remember, these hands can tie, but this isn’t common.
As mentioned, you aren’t playing baccarat. Instead, it is the dealer who handles both the player’s and banker’s hands. All you are doing when you play is wagering on which hand you think will win.
Statistically, the banker’s hand is more likely to come off and has a house edge of 1.06%, in comparison to the player’s edge of 1.24%. Tied hands have an unlikely edge of 14.4%.
Because of this, you will only pocket winnings of 0.95:1 if you bet on the banker’s winning hand, as you must pay a 5% commission to the house. Betting on a winning player’s hand is worth 1:1. If you go for the tied hand, then you’re looking at wins of 9:1 to 11:1, depending on the online baccarat game in question.
Playing with Side Bets in Online Baccarat
Some online baccarat games allow you to play side bets. As with most online casino games, playing with side bets is not recommended, as your odds of success are not good. Here are two common side-bets for you to learn, but again, we recommend you avoid them.
- Super 6: Common at UK casino sites, this bet allows you to wager on the banker’s hand being worth six points. If this occurs, you will win a special payout worth 12:1. Be warned, though, the edge is 29.98% here.
- All Red/Black: With this side-bet, you are wagering that the player’s hand will feature all red or all-black cards. You can net wins of 22:1 for all reds and 24:1 for all blacks.
There are other online baccarat side bets that you can place, too, but these vary significantly from game to game. In fact, it is not uncommon to find no side bets at all in internet baccarat games from a handful of providers. Always read up on side bets before you decide to use them when betting online.
Online Baccarat Variants
It is not simply different side bets that you can expect to see in internet baccarat games. This card game also comes with several rule changes to spice things up. Known as baccarat variants, each allows you to play the game in a slightly different way.
Before deciding to play any baccarat game over another, allow us to introduce you to some of the more popular variants out there. They include:
No Commission Baccarat
As the name of the game suggests, this baccarat game can be played without the 5% commission. However, in exchange, if the banker’s hand wins on a six-point total, and in that event, players will only win 0.50:1 for the hand.
Speed Baccarat
Speed Baccarat is essentially just a basic baccarat game, albeit one which has noticeably short betting windows, as its name suggests. This can ramp up the level of excitement in the game.
Live Baccarat
There are a few different options out there, but one you may wish to have a look at is Lightning Baccarat. Developed by Evolution Gaming, it allows you to potentially pocket multipliers if you win on hands with specific point totals. Another live game worth looking at is Baccarat: Controlled Squeeze, as it allows you to use HD cameras to mimic the Asian custom of “squeezing” the cards. Alternative options include First-Person Baccarat, which allows you to swap between live and RNG baccarat, and Baccarat VIP, which is reserved for those high rollers who want to splash the cash at big money tables.
Chemin de Fer
This French version of the game features six decks of cards, and every player will get to be a banker. Few online casinos offer this game as a result, and it will require you to read up on the Third Card Rule mentioned above. The same is true if you plan on playing Baccarat Banque.
Mini Baccarat
There is not much difference between this online baccarat game and others, save for the fact that it is played at a smaller table and has lower bet rates and lower stakes. This game is, however, riskier than conventional baccarat games.
Remember that each variant will feature different rules and potentially different numbers of decks. These can affect house edges and payouts. If possible, always play a free demo version of any online baccarat game beforehand so you can learn how it works before you risk your own cash.
Baccarat Strategy
There is not really a whole lot you can do in terms of strategy when playing baccarat online. You don’t control the cards at all. That said, we do have some top tips for you. We recommend using a combination of the following advice:
- Play Baccarat for Free: While you cannot play live dealer baccarat games for free, you can certainly play RNG baccarat without risking your cash. Just nip over to any online casino, and you should be able to play freely. This gives you the chance to practise strategies and test-drive variants before you bet with real money.
- Baccarat Strategies: Few baccarat strategies exist. The main reason for this is that at no point do you handle the cards before you. Instead, the Third Card rule basically dictates the flow and action in the game. Even so, a strategy guide that covers probability and odds may be worth looking at.
- Betting Systems: The two aspects of online baccarat that you do have control over are how much you bet and what you bet on. You can use betting systems to manage your balance, but stay away from options such as the Martingale, as they can rapidly see you bankrupt if you go on lengthy losing streaks.
Expert Advice
Alongside the tips mentioned above, we also have a bit of strategic advice for any budding baccarat members. The following generally applies to all baccarat variants, so they should be taken to heart:
- The banker bet is clearly the favourite option as it has the most chance of success.
- Stick with the banker bet until it eventually loses before switching.
- Play baccarat games for free (in RNG format) first to get some practice before you risk your own money.
- Avoid tied bets. They offer great prizes, but they simply aren’t that easy to land.
- Do not place side bets unless you fancy taking a risk (and a big one at that).
- Side bets ruin any betting systems you have in place, so don’t place side bets if you’re playing with such a system.
Online Casinos That Offer Baccarat
Online baccarat games can be found in virtually all casino sites. It doesn’t really matter which country you reside in or the casino you play at; finding baccarat games is going to be a doddle. However, finding a good one may not necessarily be the case. If you want to play the best internet baccarat games, you really need to play at the best casinos.
You’ll find many of these top-rated casinos right here at Gamesbelt. Each has been carefully vetted by our experts to ensure that it offers you bonuses with fair terms and conditions, that its games are certified as fair, and that they support responsible gambling. Any of our trusted casinos comes highly recommended for top-tier baccarat games. Don’t hesitate to explore our reviews before deciding where to play online baccarat today.
