Baccarat Types: Guide on How to Play and Win

• Punto Banco, Chemin De Fer, and Baccarat en Banque are the most popular baccarat types.
• Punto Banco is a favourable option for beginners and Baccarat en Banque for advanced punters.
• Player and Banker bets are the best baccarat bets featuring higher odds and low house advantage.
• The Banker bet has higher odds (around 46%) than the Player (slightly below 45%), but a 5% commission is deducted.
• Tie and Side bets offer high payouts but unfavourable odds and a huge house edge.
• Live Speed Baccarat is a recommended variant if you prefer fast-paced gameplay.
• Bankroll management is one of the critical baccarat strategies when playing at an online casino.

Baccarat is a game of pure luck. It is straightforward to play, and therefore very popular amongst casino players. The casino game originates from France and has been played since the 1800s.

The great thing about Baccarat is that you can get started regardless of your experience level. You only need to understand the game’s basic mechanics, as they differ slightly based on the baccarat type.

The three main baccarat types include; Punto Banco, Chemin De Fer, and Baccarat en Banque. In this guide, you will discover how to play the different baccarat types, learn the betting rules, and what the expected payouts are. Let’s get started!

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Punto Banco Baccarat, which stands for ‘Player-Banker,’ is the most common Baccarat type. It is also known as American Baccarat, and is popular amongst players with an appetite for high gambling stakes. When playing Punto Banco, you use 8 decks of 52 standard cards, and the house edge is one of the lowest of any casino game. Furthermore, it is played with two rules, the Punto and the Banco rule.

How to Play - Rules, Bet Types, and Strategy

The Punto Banco house edge is 1.27%, and your aim is to bet on the hand you think will have the highest value; the Banker or Player. You can also bet on a Standoff, in this case, you are betting that the player and banker’s values will be tied, also known as Eligalite.

When you start playing, the dealer deals two cards face up to the Player and the Banker. Depending on the Punto Banco rules, the croupier can deal one more card or leave it as it is. The total value of the cards on each hand is calculated, and the side with the closest to 9 wins.

The winning hand will depend on the total value of each card;

King

• Value: 0

Queen

• Value: 0

Jack

• Value: 0

10

• Value: 0

Ace

• Value: 1

2-9

• Value: Worth their face value

The Main Punto Banco Rules

One of the main Punto Banco rules that apply to both the Player and the Banker is that the first digit is dropped if the total value is over 9. For example, if you have a total hand value of 10, then the ‘1’ is dropped and the actual value will be 0.

If your cards are worth 9 or 8 points, the hand is called a Natural. If neither the Player nor the Banker has a ‘natural hand’, then the following rules will apply.

Punto Rules - Player Hand

1. Total Value of the Player’s Initial Two Card: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 Action: Draw one card
2. Total Value of the Player’s Initial Two Card: 6 or 7 Action: The value stands
3. Total Value of the Player’s Initial Two Card: 8 or 9 Action: (Naturals) always stands

Banco Rules - Banker Hand

1. Total Value of the Banker’s Initial Two Cards: 0-2 Banker Draws When Player’s Third Card is: Draws unless the Player has 8 or 9
2. Total Value of the Banker’s Initial Two Cards: 3 Banker Draws When Player’s Third Card is: 0 - 7, 9 (or if the player stands on 6 or 7) Bank Stands When Player’s Third Card is: 8
3. Total Value of the Banker’s Initial Two Cards: 4 Banker Draws When Player’s Third Card is: 2-7 (or if the player stands on 6 or 7) Bank Stands When Player’s Third Card is: 0, 1, 8, 9
4. Total Value of the Banker’s Initial Two Cards: 5 Banker Draws When Player’s Third Card is: 4 - 7 (or if the player stands on 6 or 7) Bank Stands When Player’s Third Card is: 0, 1, 3, 8, 9
5. Total Value of the Banker’s Initial Two Cards: 6 Banker Draws When Player’s Third Card is: 6, 7 Bank Stands When Player’s Third Card is: 0-5, 8, 9 (or when player stands on 6 or 7)
6. Total Value of the Banker’s Initial Two Cards: 7 Banker Draws When Player’s Third Card is: Stands
7. Total Value of the Banker’s Initial Two Cards: 8, 9 Banker Draws When Player’s Third Card is: Naturals- always stand

Odds and Payouts

The Punto Banco payouts depend on the option you choose to wager on. If you place a bet on Punto, you will be paid 1:1, and a bet on Banco will pay 19:20, but a 5% commission will be deducted by the house. The house edge of the Punto bet is 1.24% and 1.06% for the Banco bet.

Should you decide to bet on a Tie, the payouts are high, 8:1, but the odds of winning are low. Also, before you place a Tie bet, remember that the house edge will be higher, going up to 9.5%.

Betting on either the Player or the Banker is one of the best Baccarat strategies for both novice and expert players. This is because the odds of these bets are always in your favour.

Chemin De Fer, also referred to as Railroad, is popular amongst European players. It uses 6 decks of cards, and with this baccarat type you can sit up to 8 - 12 players. The gambling technique applied in this French Baccarat variation is very different from the Punto Bunco.

For instance, in Chemin De Fer, you bet against other players around the table. The house also collects a fee from each player’s winnings. Hence the casino is not involved in the betting process, and the winnings are distributed from other players.

How to Play - Rules, Bet Types, and Strategy

One of the most important rules when you’re playing Chemin De Fer, is that the Player who deals the cards is the Banker whilst the rest of the players are Punters.

If you are the Banker of the round, you will be required to wager the maximum bet you are willing to risk. The other players at the table will choose how much they want to bet, without exceeding your wager.

In addition, the player with the highest bet will then act as the Player on behalf of all other punters. You will then deal two cards face down, one for yourself and the other for the punters. The hands are then compared, and the winner will be the hand with a natural 8 or 9.

If neither the Banker nor the Player has an 8 or 9, the Player can decide whether to take the third card (announce Carte). However, the Chemin De Fer rules must be observed.

Player’s Hand

1. Total Value of the Player’s Initial Two Cards: 0 - 4 Action: Draws
2. Total Value of the Player’s Initial Two Cards: 5 Action: Draws or Stands
3. Total Value of the Player’s Initial Two Cards: 6, 7 Action: Stands
4. Total Value of the Player’s Initial Two Cards: 8, 9 Action: Wins

Banker’s Hand

1. Total Value of the Banker’s Initial Two Cards: 0, 1, 2 The Banker Should Draw if Allowed*: Always Draw
2. Total Value of the Banker’s Initial Two Cards: 3 The Banker Should Draw if Allowed: 1-6, or 10 The Banker Should Stand if Allowed*: 8 By Discretion: 9
3. Total Value of the Banker’s Initial Two Cards: 4 The Banker Should Draw if Allowed: 2-7 The Banker Should Stand if Allowed: 1, or 8-10
4. Total Value of the Banker’s Initial Two Cards: 5 The Banker Should Draw if Allowed: 5-7 The Banker Should Stand if Allowed: 1-3, or 8-10 By Discretion: 4
5. Total Value of the Banker’s Initial Two Cards: 6 The Banker Should Draw if Allowed: 6-7 The Banker Should Stand if Allowed: 1-5, or 8-10
6. Total Value of the Banker’s Initial Two Cards: 7 The Banker Should Stand if Allowed: Always Stands
7. Total Value of the Banker’s Initial Two Cards: 8 or 9 The Banker Should Stand if Allowed: Wins

* if the Player stands, the Banker draws a third card if total is 0-5 and stands at 6 or 7

Odds and Payouts

If you decide to play this variant, you will realise that the payouts work differently. This is because you are playing against fellow players and not the casino. If you are the Player representing the Punters, and score a hand value higher than the Banker, all players are paid out 1:1.

On the other hand, if you’re the Banker and win, you will earn all the punters’ losing bets except for a 5% commission paid to the casino. However, in the event of a tie, the wagers will remain on the table for the next round.

When you choose to bet in the Chemin de Fer card game, you are not always guaranteed that other players are willing to match your larger bets. Thus, deciding on a suitable baccarat strategy can be tough. Nevertheless, the Martingale betting system is one of the possible options since it will help you recoup some of your losses when you win.

Baccarat en Banque, also known as Baccarat on Two Tables, is another popular variant that is mainly played in Europe. You use three shoes or 3 decks of cards, and the Baccarat Banque table can accommodate up to 16 players. This baccarat type is recommended if you are a high-roller.

How to Play - Rules Bet Types, and Strategy

While the Baccarat en Banque card game has similar gameplay to Chemin de Fer, there are some distinctive differences. For instance, in Baccarat en Banque, the player who takes on the role of the Banker doesn’t have to cover the other Player’s bets.

Instead, you only need to have the highest stake to be the Banker. You will remain in this role until the shoe has been fully played or if the bankroll runs out. If you play the role of the Banker, it is purely symbolic since the casino always holds the bank.

Another key differentiating factor about the Baccarat en Banque bet types is that it doesn’t feature a Tie bet. Instead, you have the option to bet both the players on the right and left.

To begin a round of Baccarat en Banque, the dealer will shuffle the cards, and deal a card face down to the Player on the right table, the Player on the left, and the Banker.

The second card is dealt in the same order as the first, and if any of your hands are a natural, the cards are turned face-up and compared. If none of the hands are natural, you can choose whether to draw a third card. This decision is based on the following Baccarat en Banque rules.

Player’s Hand

1. Player Total: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 Action: Draw a card
2. Player Total: 5 Action: Draw or stand
3. Player Total: 6 or 7 Action: Stand
4. Player Total: 8 or 9 Action: Naturals wins

Banker’s Hand

1. Banker’s Total: 0-2 Banker Action (Draw): Always draws Banker Action (Stand): Never Banker Choice: -
2. Banker’s Total: 3 Banker Action (Draw): If Player’s 3rd card is 1-7 or 10 Banker Action (Stand): If Player’s 3rd card is 8 Banker Choice: Player’s 3rd card is 9
3. Banker’s Total: 4 Banker Action (Draw): If Player’s 3rd card is 2-7 Banker Action (Stand): If Player’s card is 0, 1, 8, or 9 Banker Choice: -
4. Banker’s Total: 5 Banker Action (Draw): If Player’s 3rd card is 5-7 Banker Action (Stand): If Player’s 3rd card is 0, 1, 2, 3, 8, or 9 Banker Choice: If Player’s 3rd card is 4
5. Banker’s Total: 6 Banker Action (Draw): If Player’s 3rd card is 6 or 7 Banker Action (Stand): If Player’s 3rd card is 0-5 or 8-9 Banker Choice: -
6. Banker’s Total: 7 Banker Action (Draw): Never Banker Action (Stand): Always Banker Choice: -
7. Banker’s Total: 8 or 9 Banker Action (Draw): No 3rd card is drawn Banker Action (Stand): No 3rd card is drawn Banker Choice: -

Odds and Payouts

As with most Baccarat payouts, a winning Player bet pays 1:1. Conversely, a win on the Banker will earn you an 19:20 minus a 5% commission. Since this is a game of chance, you winning is ultimately based on luck. Hence, there is not much you can do to help improve your odds. However, the Banker bet is often preferred since it has a lower house edge.

As the name suggests, the Macao card game is believed to have originated in Asia. The game made its first appearance in Europe in the 18th century. Today, Macao Baccarat is primarily played in Continental Europe, especially popular with Russian players.

How to Play - Rules, Bet Types, and Strategy

Macao Baccarat is played using 2 decks of cards, and in this variant, the casino dealer acts as the Banker. The croupier deals one card to you as the Player, and one to the Banker face down. You are then required to place a wager with the objective of beating the Banker’s card value.

if you land a natural 9, you will receive 3 times your stake as long as the Banker does not have a natural 9 too. Furthermore, a natural 8 will earn you double your wager, while a 7 will pay even. In the case of a tie, whoever has the same value with fewer cards wins. Notably, the Banker wins if there is a tie on both value and the number of cards.

In this baccarat variation, you can request additional cards which are dealt face up. If you are dealt a ten or a face card, you can reject it and ask for another.

Speed Baccarat is an excellent option if you like fast-paced gameplay where each round takes 27 seconds. This variation uses 8 decks and is played with standard baccarat game rules.

The Baccarat table layout features a modern design, and if you wish, you can personalise it to suit your playing style. The number of participating players is displayed on the screen, which makes it easy for you to follow the gameplay.

How to Play - Rules, Bet Types, and Strategy

In Live Speed Baccarat, your aim is to land a 3-card hand with the highest single-digit value, for example, 7, 8, or 9.

Your betting options are similar to other main Baccarat types where you can wager on the Banker, Player, or Tie.

Nonetheless, Speed Baccarat is highly popular because of the availability of side bets. Some of the additional wagers that you can explore include:

• Either Pair
• Player and Banker Pair
• Perfect Pair

You can find these side bets next to the main betting section on the screen. Though, these are only recommended if you have a higher risk preference.

When the betting round starts, you have 12 seconds to place a wager. You do this by clicking and dragging the chips to the betting zone. When the time lapses, the dealer will draw the cards to the Banker and your round begins!

The cards are dealt face-up, and if your hand value is close to 8 or 9 you win. If there is no winner after the initial two cards, the game continues to the next round. In addition, the Speed Baccarat rules of when to stand or hit are similar to the standard variant. The only difference when you play is the speed of dealing and the additional side wagers.

Odds and Payouts

Playing Speed Baccarat gives you a higher Return To Player (RTP) percentage of 98.94%. Though, this varies depending on the bet you place. Below, we have made a table to help you understand the different RTP’s with the different baccarat bet types.

Banker Bet

• RTP: 98.94%
• Payout: 0.95:1

Player Bet

• RTP: 98.94%
• Payout: 1:1

Tie Bet

• RTP: 98.94%
• Payout: 8:1

Player or Banker Pair

• RTP: 89.64%
• Payout: 11:1

Perfect Pair

• RTP: 91.95%
• Payout: 25:1 (Two Pair-200:1)

Either Pair

• RTP: 86.29%
• Payout: 5:1

Online Baccarat is a game of chance, and can be played by anyone, regardless of your level of experience. While there is no specific strategy that can guarantee a win, there are some tips that you can implement to help boost your baccarat skills.

Bets to Avoid

Tie and Side bets are among the baccarat bets to avoid, especially if you are a beginner. While the payouts are higher, the house edge advantage can go up to over 14%. Furthermore, side bets in Live Speed Baccarat are highly volatile; thus, you will need a larger bankroll.

Bankroll Management

Having a clear budget and sticking to it is one of the most crucial betting strategies. This helps you manage your gambling expenditure to avoid overbetting. Start by establishing a limit of how many bets you wish to place and how much you wish to spend. When playing at Betfair you will have the option to customise your baccarat gambling experience by setting deposit and time limits.

Stick to Banker and Player Bets

The player and banker bets are the most common bet types in Baccarat. They are easy to understand, and have a favourable return to player rate of about 98%. While the payouts are low when you are playing, the winning odds go up to 44.6%.

Understand the Odds

Odds are another crucial aspect you should always consider before placing a baccarat wager. The standard baccarat odds on a Player’s bet is 1:1, while those of the Banker will mostly be 0.95:1. Additionally, a Tie bet pays 8:1, which is substantially higher than the standard bets, but carries more risk. Finally, always check how much commission the casino deducts from the Banker.

• The three main baccarat types include Punto Banco, Chemin De Fer, and Baccarat en Banque.
• As a beginner, the Punto Banco is an excellent option to start, since it has the lowest house edge of 1.27%.
• Chemin De Fer features exciting gameplay where players bet against each other, and you have a chance to become the Banker.
• As a high roller /advanced player, the Baccarat en Banque is among the best baccarat types since it requires a high bankroll to remain the Banker.
• Speed Live Baccarat is a variant suitable for seasoned players who prefer fast-paced gambling.
• Player and Banker bets are the best baccarat betting options since they have the lowest house edge and high winning chances.
• Tie and Side bets feature high payouts but have unfavourable odds and high house advantage.

If you like what you read and found this article helpful, then we suggest you have a look at our Baccarat strategy guide. In addition, and if you want to learn more about other table games, read the guides about Roulette, Blackjack, and Craps below. But if you rather prefer to play slots, then we suggest you read our complete guides on how you play, how to understand the different types of symbols and how to read the RTP.

Furthermore, here at Betfair we offer a wide variety of different types of Baccarat games. To check them out visit our lobby and explore our large variation of Baccarat types to play.

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