Baccarat
One of the simplest games in the house: bet Player, Banker, or Tie, and whichever hand lands closest to nine wins. Add a Pair side bet for a long shot, follow the bead-road trends, and play as many shoes as you like — all on the house.
Free Baccarat Online: how to play, rules & tips
Play baccarat online free with the standard Punto Banco rules used in casinos: bet Player, Banker or Tie, and the hand closest to 9 wins. The dealer follows fixed drawing rules, so you only choose your bet.
How baccarat works
Two hands are dealt from an 8-deck shoe: Player and Banker. Cards 2 to 9 count face value, Aces count 1, and 10s and face cards count 0. Only the last digit of the total counts, so 7 + 8 = 15 is a 5.
If either hand has 8 or 9 on its first two cards (a natural), both stand. Otherwise Player draws a third card on 0 to 5 and stands on 6 or 7. Banker then draws or stands by the table below.
Banker third-card rule
| Banker total | Banker draws when Player's third card is |
|---|---|
| 0, 1, 2 | Always draws |
| 3 | Anything except 8 |
| 4 | 2 to 7 |
| 5 | 4 to 7 |
| 6 | 6 or 7 |
| 7 | Always stands |
If Player stood with two cards, Banker draws on 0 to 5 and stands on 6 or 7.
Baccarat payouts and house edge
| Bet | Pays | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Banker | 1 to 1, minus 5% commission | 1.06% |
| Player | 1 to 1 | 1.24% |
| Tie | 8 to 1 | 14.36% |
| Player Pair / Banker Pair | 11 to 1 | 10.36% |
| Perfect Pair (suited pair) | 25 to 1, both sides 200 to 1 | High |
Player and Banker bets push when the hands tie. The Banker bet has the lowest house edge in the game, even after the commission.
Baccarat tips
- Banker is the best bet on the table; Player is a close second.
- The Tie pays 8 to 1 but loses about 14 cents per chip over time, so treat it as a long shot.
- Past results don't change the next hand. The bead road is fun to follow, but every coup is independent.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play baccarat online for free?
Yes. Baccarat is free here with no download, and you can play as a guest. HypeGameRoom is play-money only: you play with free Hype Chips that can never be bought, cashed out or won back as money, so you can practice as much as you like with zero risk.
What is the best bet in baccarat?
Banker. It wins slightly more often than Player, so even with the 5% commission its house edge is only 1.06%, versus 1.24% on Player.
Why does the Banker bet pay a commission?
Because of the drawing rules, Banker wins about 45.9% of hands to Player's 44.6%. The 5% commission keeps the house ahead on that bet.
How many decks are used?
Eight decks, shuffled into one shoe, the most common casino setup for Punto Banco.