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How to Play: Live Baccarat Tutorial

Baccarat is one of the oldest card games in the world and in land-based casinos. Despite its reputation as a high-roller game, it remains popular across the world and especially in Asia. Underneath it all lies a deceptively simple yet exciting game, however. And today, we're going to learn how to play baccarat live.

The game does not require many skills but will require knowledge of the rules, especially when it comes to dealing the third card. You may also need some help figuring out which is the best bet in baccarat and similar newbie questions. We'll cover it all in our live baccarat tutorial, and you'll be playing with the best in no time.

Baccarat is fast-paced but relaxing due to its simplicity. Understanding baccarat rules is a must, but don't stress too much if you're just starting out.

Table of Contents

Basic Baccarat Rules and How to Play

When playing live dealer baccarat, players will have three bet choices. They can place their money on the Banker hand, the Player hand, or a tie bet. The object when playing the game is to bet on the hand that will have a total of 9 or as close to that as possible after drawing 2 or 3 cards. Live baccarat is played with 6 or 8 decks and all payouts are offered at 1:1 with the exception of the tie bet.

Beyond that, there are some important things to keep in mind about the value of cards in baccarat.

Cards 2-9 all have their face value
Aces always count as 1
Cards 10+ all count as 10, which is essentially 0 (read the next rule)
Only the last digit of a hand total is important. For example, a total hand value of 13 counts as a 3
Suits are irrelevant except for some side bets
Any hand that gets a total of 8 or 9 using only two cards wins outright unless the other hand also has the same total. This is called a Natural win in baccarat.

A round of baccarat is resolved when the dealer compares the Player and Banker hands. The one closest to 9 wins, and all players who bet on that hand get a 1:1 payout. If the hands are tied, the Tie bet wins and Player and Banker bets push (the stakes are returned in full.)

Keep all of these baccarat rules in mind as we continue.

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How to Play Baccarat at a Live Online Casino – Step by Step Guide

It’s important to understand that the version of baccarat we play in live casinos is not the original ruleset. “Classic” baccarat is played with players facing off against other players. The variant found at casinos is casino baccarat, Punto Banco, or sometimes mini-baccarat.

However, there’s a simple step-by-step process if you wish to play baccarat at live casinos. We figured that going through a round of baccarat is the best way to show how it works.

Find a baccarat table and make sure you have money to stake. If you need help finding the best live baccarat games and casinos to play them at, check out this page.
Select your stake and place bets. Main betting options include Player, Banker, and Tie.
The dealer hands the Player and Banker hands two cards each. This is the initial deal.
Determine whether a third card is dealt to the Player. Both hands must stand on an 8 or 9. Player receives a third card if it shows a total of 5 or less.
Determine whether a third card is dealt to the Banker. This action depends on the Banker hand total and the Player’s third card. This is the most complex part of baccarat rules, and it takes some practice to know when to draw the third card in baccarat.
Compare the final hands and resolve any bets. No hand can ever receive more than three cards. Whether they now have 2 or 3, the two hands are compared and the one closer to 9 wins.
The cards are reset and a new round begins. You will now have around 12 seconds to place new bets for the upcoming round.

Note

Our beginner's guide to live casinos is the perfect introduction for anyone new to live dealer casino games. It’s a great resource to get started as it gives basic foundations about most important topics related to live casinos.

Player Moves

Players will not have many game options – three of them, to be exact. There’s not much to worry about here, but we’ll cover all three as part of our online baccarat guide.

The Banker bet is arguably the best bet in baccarat. Banker wins 45.8% of all games, and offers the lowest house edge at just 1.06%. That’s why a standard 5% commission is subtracted from all Banker wins. In other words, Banker bets pay 0.95:1 at most tables.
The Player bet is the other main option which wins roughly 44.6% of all baccarat rounds. It pays no commission, offering a full 1:1 payout. However, the decreased probability of winning translates to a slightly higher house edge at 1.24%.
The Tie bet wins if the two hands have the same value after all cards are drawn. Note that Player and Banker bets’ stakes are returned to players if Tie wins. Ties statistically happen 9.6% of the time but typically pay 8:1. This means they have a horrible 14.36% house edge. Beginners should avoid the Tie bet in baccarat at all costs.

As you can see, live casino baccarat does indeed have the best bet. The Banker bet is statistically the best move in baccarat, hands down. However, the difference between Player and Banker bets is not all that impactful. If you’re looking to have some fun and excitement, go with your gut.

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Side Bets in Casino Baccarat

While simple, this game is also fairly versatile. Software providers often use the basic template of baccarat to invent new mechanics and features. Some can get very experimental, but side bets are the most widespread.

Theoretically, side betting in baccarat is only limited by the creators’ imagination. However, we’ll go through a few common side wagers and how they work.

Player/Banker Pair wins if the relevant hand draws two cards of the same value. Only the first two cards count toward winning, and the payout is typically 11:1.
Either Pair wins if either hand gets a pair with the initial 2-card deal. Typically pays 5:1.
Perfect Pair in baccarat wins if either hand gets two cards of the same rank and suit, paying 25:1.
Super 6 or Lucky Bonus wins if the Banker bet wins with a total of 6, paying 12:1.
The Dragon Bonus wins if the relevant hand gets a Natural win or wins with a difference of 4 or more. It pays depending on how big that difference is.

These are just some of the most common side bets in casino baccarat. Also, note that these wagers generally have significantly worse RTP than Player and Banker bets. As such, we can’t recommend them to beginners, but they can add a new level of excitement.

Prepare for Live Baccarat – The Best Tables and Casinos

Since Baccarat is played quickly and the hands are dealt fast, players must choose their bets in a timely manner so as not to delay the game. May players who are new will be intimidated by the speed of the game and the amount that others are betting. To prepare for live baccarat, one should use free games first to learn the exact rules and then progress to low-limit tables before hitting the live dealer games that are offered online.

Here are some basic tips for finding top live baccarat games:

Avoid no-commission baccarat tables. When the chips are down, it has a lower overall RTP than the usual 5% commission on Banker bets.
6 decks are generally better than 8. However, this won’t affect you too much unless you’re trying to count cards.
Look for casinos with baccarat bonuses. Ideally, you want a high wager contribution on live dealer baccarat.
Make sure you understand the basics before moving on to variants like Lightning Baccarat.

Also, you can further improve your skills by reading our various baccarat guides and tutorials:

Basic baccarat strategy guide
A collection of useful baccarat tips and tricks
Live baccarat variations compared and explained
Flat betting in Baccarat – a useful baccarat beginner strategy
A look at common baccarat myths and misconceptions
Speed Baccarat explained
The Squeeze feature in baccarat explained

Finding a good casino to play baccarat will help you immensely, especially when starting out. You can do so by reading our reviews and live casino rankings. Alternatively, here are some suggestions to try right now.

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LiveCasinos can confirm that William Hill live casino matches the reputation of the famous gambling site. The live dealer lobby is packed with quality titles, the banking terms are solid, and their mobile site and app are among the best on the market. William Hill’s customer satisfaction is not simulated. It is real, so feel free to become part of the WH story.

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Ignition and ViG are a good tandem, combining into a solid casino with some great tricks up its sleeve. Although the game portfolio is limited and the payment options narrow, there’s a lot to love if you’re from the United States or Australia.

FAQ

Why does the banker have an advantage in baccarat?

Because of the third card rules. Essentially, Player draws 3 cards whenever its 2-card total is 5 or less. Drawing a third card can (and often does) actually make the overall hand strength worse. Banker, on the other hand, has a more complex set of third-card rules. It draws only when there’s an advantage to do so, which results in a roughly 2% better chance of winning.

Is baccarat easy to learn?

Yes, baccarat is very easy to learn and play. It’s one of the game’s many charms – you can simply jump in and have great fun, quickly and easily. Some rules of the game may take memorizing, but don’t be alarmed. Despite its reputation, baccarat is extremely friendly for beginners and newbies.

What is the best way to play baccarat?

Statistically, the best way to play baccarat is to bet flat on Banker every round. That’s not exactly fun for most players, however, so it’s okay to mix things up with Player bets, too. Remember, Baccarat is mostly a luck-based game, so don’t stress too much about strategy if you’re just starting out.

Should I bet on Player or Banker in baccarat?

The Banker bet is the better option between the two. However, the difference comes down to a 0.18% better house edge. If you want to keep things interesting, you won’t shoot yourself in the foot if you bet on Player. Don’t bet on Tie, though.

What does a Natural mean in Baccarat?

If a hand draws 8 or 9 with only two cards, it wins outright unless the other hand gets the same or better score. This is called a Natural hand in baccarat.

Live Casino Editor

Our Chief Editor is a live casino aficionado with years of playing casino games online under his belt. His vast knowledge of the industry’s ins and outs makes him a great leader of our LC team, while his penchant for learning new things has made him a great strategist. This has come particularly handy with our in-depth articles and editorials, where his expertise can shine to the fullest.