Although you are probably not as good as the famous spy at this game, there are still plenty of strategies and tips out there that will definitely help you reach new levels of expertise.

If you have never played live baccarat at a land-based casino or else online before, fret no more as we have compiled a comprehensive guide on how to become a baccarat superstar.

There is no need to leave the house. We are bringing live baccarat straight to you. Whether you enjoy playing baccarat on your desktop pc or else at a mobile casino, get ready to learn the rules of the game.

How do you play live baccarat?

To kickstart the game, you would first need to place a wager on either the Banker, the Player or else a Tie. Every turn of the card is dictated by a number of rules that are laid out on the table for everyone to see. The banker then proceeds to deal two more cards to each side. The one with the number closest to number 9 wins. In some special cases, the game moves further on to include a third card.

How does a third card work in live baccarat?

There are some special circumstances when a third card is dealt. This would happen in the following scenarios:

  • If the player’s hand equals to 5 or less, a third card is dealt. The same applies for the Banker.
  • If the total is 2, the Banker will draw another card regardless of what the Player’s third card is.
  • If the total is 3, the Banker draws a third card unless the Player’s third card is an 8.
  • If there’s a 4, the Banker draws unless the Player’s third card is a 0, 1, 8 or 9.
  • If the Banker has 5, he draws if the Player’s third card is a 4, 5, 6 or 7.
  • If the Banker has a 6, then he draws a third card provided that the Player’s third card is a 6 or 7.
  • If the Banker’s total is 7, then he stands.

It would be a good idea to keep these rules in mind as well as the Live Baccarat cheat sheet to give you a better understanding of how the game works and to maximise your winnings.

What are the rules for live baccarat?

The main aim of this game is to predict whether the banker or the player’s hand will come closest to the point value of 9. All 10-value cards count as 0 while aces count as 1. The hand with the highest point value and closest to number 9 wins.

No hand can go over the 9 point. A “natural” is a 2-card total of 9 and can never lose. An 8 is the second-best hand available and is also called a natural. If both the banker and the player are dealt the same hand, there is a stand-off or a tie. Neither wins in this case.

You don’t receive cards to play against the dealer here. Your sole aim is to predict which hand will beat the other by coming as closest as possible to the point value of 9.

The game starts off with both the player and the banker each receiving 2 cards. As mentioned earlier, there are some special circumstances when a third card is dealt to either the banker and/or the player.

You can learn more about the rules of online baccarat here.

Side bets in live baccarat

If you want to kick the gaming experience up a notch, then the option of side bets should have you rubbing your hands with glee. You now have the chance to place a bet on Player Pair, Banker Pair, Perfect Pair, Either Pair or Big and Small.

If both the Player and Banker receive a pair from the first two cards dealt, both the Player Pair and the Banker Pair side bets win. The Either Pair wins when the first two cards dealt on either the Player’s or the Banker’s hand make a pair. On the other hand, the Perfect Pair wins when the first two cards of either the Player or the Banker from a pair of the same suit.

The Big wins if the cards dealt to the Player and Banker make a total of 5 or 6. The Small wins when the total between the Player’s and the Banker’s hand is 4.

Play live baccarat at online casinos

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+4 Years of Experience
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Online Baccarat Expert

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Archer Mendoza Zheng, an expert in online baccarat, shares winning strategies and in-depth knowledge to help players succeed. With a comprehensive understanding of the game's intricacies, he guides players through the rules, strategies, and advanced techniques. Archer's expertise empowers players to enhance their baccarat skills and achieve remarkable success in online casinos.

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