Best Sites for Baccarat Online in India 2024

Baccarat Rules

In baccarat, when you total the two cards, the number can never be higher than nine. If the total is higher than nine, the first digit of the total is removed. All picture cards and the ten are worth zero points. The ace is worth a single point. Below, we give you some examples of hands and their values.

• If a hand has a 10 and a five, it equals 5 (0 + 5)
• If a hand has a seven and a six, it equals 3 (7 + 6 = 13, then remove the first digit)
• If a hand has a king and a jack, it equals 0 (0 + 0)

If anyone is lucky enough to receive cards totalling eight or nine, they have a ‘natural’. This is normally a winning hand.

The Third Card

If neither the player nor the banker achieves a natural (a points total of 8 or 9) the ‘table of play’ – the ‘tableau’ – applies. The rules of when exactly to draw extra cards are different for both the player and the banker:

Player’s Rules

• If the player has an initial point total of between 0 – 5, they draw a third card.
• If the player has an initial points total of 6 or 7, they stand.

Banker’s Rules

If the player stands with a 6 or 7, the banker follows the same rules as the player, drawing a third card with hands totalling points of 0 to 5 and standing with hands totalling points of 6 or 7.

However, if the player draws a third card, the banker must act according to the tableau rules:

• If the banker total is 2 or less, then the banker always draws a card.
• If the banker total is 3, then the banker draws a third card unless the player’s third card was an 8.
• If the banker total is 4, then the banker draws a third card if the player’s third card was 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
• If the banker total is 5, then the banker draws a third card if the player’s third card was 4, 5, 6, or 7.
• If the banker total is 6, then the banker draws a third card if the player’s third card was a 6 or 7.
• If the banker total is 7, then the banker stands.

Conclusion and Commission

After the croupier has dealt all the cards according to the tableau, the winner is decided and paid at even money. However, because the banker bet actually has a higher probability of winning, a commission (usually 5%) goes to the house.

Some casinos offer commission free baccarat but there is usually a hidden cost. Read the small print. If the outcome is a tie (égalité), player and banker bets roll over to the next game. Tie bets pay out at either 8:1 or 9:1.

Baccarat Strategy

Online baccarat in India has very few strategic moves. Unlike blackjack, where disciplined play can dramatically reduce the house edge, baccarat is more akin to roulette. It is essentially a game of luck with no real strategy. There are – however – a few golden baccarat rules that will improve your odds of winning. You can find them below.

In baccarat, the only decision you need to take is where to place your bet. This is the key to optimising your time at the table. You must choose wisely.

Baccarat already comes with a very low house edge. In fact, it’s one of the lowest of all casino games. However, the edge varies depending on the bet. If you choose to bet with the banker, the edge is around 1.06%. If you bet with the player, the house edge is about 1.24%.

The bet to avoid at the baccarat table is the tie. This is where you are betting on both hands being equal. We classify this as a sucker bet. It may pay out at either 8:1 or 9:1, but the house edge is almost 15%. This means you can expect to lose $15 for every $100 gambled. If you bet the bank, you lose only $1.06 for the same $100 stake. Even online slots rarely have a house edge of over 12%.

There is one final consideration. Betting the banker is the wise play, but it comes at a cost. You must pay a small commission to the house with every winning hand. This is normally about 5%. Some casinos waive this charge, but normally at a cost elsewhere.