Baccarat Rules for Drawing Cards
Anyone wishing to draw for another card in Baccarat may find themselves in for a surprise. Despite being a card game and it’s similarity to Blackjack, Baccarat is not a card game of skill. You cannot request another card to positively affect the outcome of the game. For all intents and purposes, Baccarat is a slot machine disguised as a well dressed card game. So no asking the dealer or banker to draw another card! However, just because you cannot ask for another card doesn’t mean you won’t receive one.
Note, we say “you” in the regard of the hand you bet on, not your personal hand (you don’t get one.)
First let’s go over the basics before we get to the rules for drawing another card. Baccarat is a game where the closest hand to 9 wins. Certain hands such as a two card 9 have extra value since they’re rare (it’s harder to get a two card 9 right away). So after the dealer/banker draws the cards for the Banker’s hand and the Player’s hand, it’s possible for the game to end right there. It could end in a win or the Player, Banker, or end in a Tie. If any of these things happen, there’s no need to draw for another card.
Now the rules for drawing another card are a bit complicate but that’s ok. It’s not your job to deal the cards. The banker deals and you collect the winnings (sounds like a nice division of labor to us!)
Ok, here are the rules for drawing cards in Baccarat:
1. If either the Player or the Banker is showing a total of 8 or 9 on the initial deal (aka: a “natural”), no further cards are drawn, and a winner (or tie) is declared.
If this does not happen, play proceeds as follows:
2. If the Player’s hand is 0-5, then the Player draws a card. Otherwise, it stands.
Now we move to the banker – what happens now depends on the Banker's hand, on whether the Player drew a card, and then what card the Player drew.
3. If the Player did not draw a card, the Banker draws on 0-5, and stands on 6-7. This means if the banker is dealt a 6 and the player 7, the game is over, and the player wins (as the player did not draw, and nor does the bank)
If the player does draw a card, the banker proceeds as follows:
- If the Player drew a 2 or 3, the Banker draws on 0-4, and stands on 5-7.
- If the Player drew a 4 or 5, the Banker draws on 0-5, and stands on 6-7.
- If the Player drew a 6 or 7, the Banker draws on 0-6, and stands on 7.
- If the Player drew an 8, the Banker draws on 0-2, and stands on 3-7.
- If the Player drew an ace, 9, 10, or face-card, the Banker draws on 0-3, and stands on 4-7.
So there are the rules for drawing another card! Yes, it’s a lot to remember, but also, if you recall, you need not remember anything. That’s because it’s all automatic. Just place your bet and collect your winnings!
Good luck at the tables!
