The aim and the bets
In baccarat, you bet on which of two hands—the Player or Banker—will finish with a total closer to 9, or whether the hands will tie. You do not play against the dealer or choose the cards. The rules determine how the hand proceeds, and you follow the result. The hand that ends closest to 9 wins; equal totals mean a tie.
The common bets are Player, Banker, and Tie. They predict the outcome; they do not let you decide which hand receives cards. Payout rules can vary from one table to another, so check the conditions shown before placing a bet.
How to count points
An Ace is worth 1 point; cards 2 through 9 are worth their face value; and 10, Jack, Queen, and King are worth zero. If a hand’s total exceeds 9, only its last digit counts. For example, a hand with a 7 and an 8 adds up to 15 but counts as 5 in baccarat. A King and a 7 count as 7 because the King is worth zero.
Apply this calculation to the cards in each hand. The total is not treated as an ordinary two-digit sum: when it reaches double digits, reduce it to the units digit.
The hand and the third card
Usually, each hand starts with two cards. If either hand totals 8 or 9 at that point, it is called a natural; neither hand receives a third card, and the totals determine the result unless they tie. Otherwise, automatic rules decide whether another card is dealt.
For the Player hand, a total of 0 to 5 means it draws a third card; with 6 or 7, it stands. The Banker hand’s rule is more involved and depends, among other things, on its total and on the Player’s third card. The dealer or game system applies the rule; bettors do not choose whether to draw. You do not need to memorize the full table to follow a hand, but it helps to know that a third card is not dealt at random.
Example and platform context
Suppose the Player receives a 7 and an 8: the hand counts as 5, not 15. If the Banker finishes with 6, Banker wins because its total is closer to 9. This illustrates why you reduce each total before comparing the hands; your bet does not change the cards or the rules.
Bettbit’s indexed public listing includes Baccarat. Before joining any table, check its displayed rules and conditions.