Best Baccarat Games 2025: A Must-Check List of Top Baccarat Games

The goal of baccarat is to predict the value of two cards, wagering on which hand (yours or the banker’s) you think will win. Can’t decide? No worries – you can also wager that the hands will tie.

Baccarat is a little like blackjack in that the hand closest to a pre-defined number wins. In baccarat’s case, this number is 9.

So, to win at baccarat, you need to predict which hand you think will be closest to 9 in value. You can back either your own hand or that of the banker, or else wager that the hands will tie.

Since 9 is a relatively low number, cards are assigned different values to what you may be used to. Our quick reference table below will fill you in on what the values are when playing baccarat games:

Since there’s a lot to learn about how baccarat games work, it’s best to give you an example. So, here’s a step-by-step guide on how a typical round of baccarat plays out.

1. The first step in baccarat is to choose who you think will win between you and the banker. Remember, you can also select a “tie” if you predict that the cards will be the same.
2. Next, the dealer places two sets of two cards on the table face down; one for you and one for the banker. As you might have gathered, the “banker” isn’t a real person, but rather a virtual player that you’ll be competing against.
3. Then, the dealer reveals your cards. If the cumulative total is 9, this is a natural win. Score an 8 and you’ll also automatically win, provided the banker hasn’t scored a 9.
4. What happens if you get two no-point cards, like a Jack and a King? This is a natural loss and the dealer won’t “hit” you with more cards. If, however, you score a 5 or lower, you’ll automatically be hit with a new card.
5. If you score a 6 or above, you can choose to stick, just like in blackjack. Then, it’s just a case of waiting for the dealer to reveal the banker’s hand.
6. How about if your two cards make more than nine – a 6 and a 6, for example? In this case, 10 is subtracted from the total (12) giving you two points. You’ll then receive another card from the dealer.

With us so far? We get that baccarat can be a little confusing if you’re totally new to it, but once you start playing, it’s easy to pick up and learn as you go.

The great thing about baccarat games is that the dealer does all of the work, so you can sit back, relax, and strategize your next move. It’s a nice way to play and can take some of the learning curve out of getting started with this classic card game.

The banker’s hand wins more often than your own in online baccarat, so if you’re looking to get some points under your belt, this could be a smart strategy.

As with other classic casino table games, there are multiple different versions of baccarat out there, so explore different options if you get tired of the original.

If you live in a state with real money online baccarat casinos, set sensible limits and always within your means. When the fun stops, walk away and come back only if and when you feel comfortable.

Baccarat may have some reasonably complex rules and multiple play options, but it is fundamentally a game of chance, so don’t read too much into patterns and trends.