Baccarat rules reference
Baccarat third-card rules and Banker draw table.
In punto banco baccarat, drawing a third card follows a fixed set of rules. Check for a natural first, resolve Player, then resolve Banker. This guide covers hand reading and drawing rules.
1. Count the hand.
Aces count as 1. Cards 2 through 9 count at face value. Tens, jacks, queens, and kings count as 0. Add the cards and keep the last digit. A 7 and an 8 make a total of 5.
2. Check for a natural.
If either initial two-card hand totals 8 or 9, it is a natural. Neither side draws a third card. Compare the two totals to find the winner.
3. Apply the Player rule.
If neither hand is a natural, Player draws on a total of 0 through 5 and stands on 6 or 7.
4. Apply the Banker rule.
If Player stands: Banker draws on 0 through 5 and stands on 6 or 7.
If Player draws: use the table below. Look at the value of Player's third card, not Player's final total.
| Banker's two-card total | Draw when Player's third card is |
|---|---|
| 0, 1, or 2 | Any value |
| 3 | Any value except 8 |
| 4 | 2 through 7 |
| 5 | 4 through 7 |
| 6 | 6 or 7 |
| 7 | Never. Banker stands. |
Banker stands in every case not listed as a draw. A ten or face card has a third-card value of 0.
A worked example.
Player starts with 2 and 3, for a total of 5. Banker starts with an ace and 2, for a total of 3. Neither hand is a natural, so Player draws. Player's third card is an 8.
Banker has 3 and Player's third card is 8, so Banker stands. Player's final total is 3 because 2 + 3 + 8 = 13. Banker also has 3, so the hand is a tie.
Which hand wins?
After all required cards are dealt, compare the final totals. The hand closest to 9 wins. Equal totals are a tie. These drawing rules do not predict the next hand or change the odds.
Practice until the table feels familiar.
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Rules reference: The Venetian's guide to baccarat. This guide describes standard punto banco drawing rules.