How to play baccarat? Rules, strategy and the best casinos

Baccarat is one of the simplest casino card games with the lowest house edge — which is exactly why beginners and seasoned players alike love it. In this guide you'll learn the rules, the bet options and a simple strategy, and where to play baccarat in Estonia. The concept is defined in our glossary: baccarat.

Baccarat rules in brief

Baccarat is played against the dealer and the goal is to bet on the hand whose total is closest to nine. Before the cards are dealt you choose Player, Banker or Tie. Cards are dealt by fixed rules and the hand closest to nine wins. You make no decisions during the hand — which makes baccarat one of the simplest table games.

Bet options: Player, Banker, Tie

Baccarat has three main bets. Banker wins slightly more often and has the lowest house edge (~1.06%), but a ~5% commission is usually taken on wins. The Player bet's house edge is ~1.24%. Tie pays big (8:1 or 9:1) but its house edge is over 14% — so a tie is the worst bet in the long run.

Card values and the third card

In baccarat cards count as: ace = 1, cards 2–9 at face value, tens and face cards = 0. If a hand's total exceeds nine, only the last digit counts (e.g. 7 + 8 = 15 → 5). The third-card rules are fixed and applied automatically — the player doesn't need to memorise them.

Baccarat house edge and RTP

Baccarat is a high-RTP game: the Banker bet has a theoretical return of about 98.9% and a house edge of just ~1.06%. That makes baccarat one of the most favourable casino games, with a smaller edge than most slots. This low edge is why baccarat is so popular in Estonian live casinos.

Baccarat strategy — what to bet and what to avoid

Baccarat is mostly a game of chance, but bet choice matters. The simplest strategy: bet consistently on Banker, which has the lowest house edge. Avoid the Tie bet and dubious side bets with a high edge. Set a firm budget and bet limit, and don't chase patterns — each hand is independent of the last.

Punto Banco and live baccarat

The most common variant in European casinos is Punto Banco, where the rules make all decisions and the player only bets. In live casinos you play with a real dealer in real time via a stream — bringing the table atmosphere home. Faster Speed Baccarat and higher-stakes Squeeze tables are also popular.

Where to play baccarat

Baccarat can be played with a live dealer or at an automated table. See our hand-picked baccarat casinos and the wider table-game casinos.

Common baccarat mistakes

The most frequent mistakes: betting on Tie for its big payout, chasing losses by doubling bets, and reading patterns from the scoreboard even though each hand is independent of the last. Keep bets steady, favour Banker and set a firm time and money limit. Responsible gambling keeps baccarat entertainment, not a source of income.

Frequently asked questions

How does baccarat work? You bet on Player, Banker or Tie, and the hand closest to nine wins.

Which bet is best? Banker — it has the lowest house edge (~1.06%).

Does baccarat have a strategy? It's mostly chance, but favouring Banker and avoiding Tie lowers the edge.

Where can I play live baccarat? From our live casinos list.

Summary

Baccarat is one of the simplest and most favourable casino card games — with a low house edge and clear rules. The best strategy is simple: set a budget, consistently favour the Banker bet, avoid Tie and high-edge side bets, and enjoy the game as entertainment. You can play live baccarat with a real dealer in real time at our recommended baccarat casinos.