1. Placing Bets: At the start of each round, players place their bets on either the Player, the Banker, or a Tie. It's important to note that "Player" and "Banker" are not related to the player and the casino but are merely designations for the two hands in the game.
2. Dealing Cards: After bets are placed, the dealer will deal two cards each to the Player and the Banker. In some cases, a third card might be dealt based on specific rules, which we'll discuss later.
3. Calculating Hand Values: The hand value in baccarat is determined by adding the point values of the two cards and taking the rightmost digit of the sum. For example, if a hand consists of a 7 and an 8 (totaling 15), the hand value is 5 (the rightmost digit).
4. Drawing a Third Card: The rules for drawing a third card are based on the total value of the Player's and Banker's initial two cards:
▪️ If either the Player or the Banker has a total of 8 or 9 (known as a "natural"), both hands stand, and no more cards are drawn.
▪️ If the Player's total is 5 or less, the Player will receive a third card.
▪️ If the Player stands with a total of 6 or 7, the Banker will draw a third card if their total is 5 or less.
5. Determining the Winner: After all relevant cards have been dealt, the hand with a total value closest to 9 wins. If the Player's hand is closer, bets on the Player win and are paid at a 1:1 ratio. If the Banker's hand wins, bets on the Banker are also paid at a 1:1 ratio, with a 5% commission deducted. If a Tie occurs, bets on the Tie win at a higher payout, typically 8:1 or 9:1.