The Basic Rules
- Before the deal, you bet on hand A, hand B, or a Tie between them.
- Each hand receives two cards.
- Each hand's total is worked out using baccarat scoring (explained next).
- If either hand has 8 or 9 from its first two cards, that is a natural and the round stops.
- Otherwise, a fixed rule decides whether A and then B take one extra card. Nobody chooses.
- The hand with the total closest to 9 wins. Equal totals mean a Tie.
A is the equivalent of the Player hand in classic baccarat and B is the Banker hand. The names don't mean you're playing as either. You're a bettor watching two hands.
How Hands Are Scored
Every card has a point value. Aces are 1. Cards from 2 to 9 are worth their number. Tens, jacks, queens and kings are worth 0.
Add the values. If the total reaches 10 or more, drop the tens digit and keep only the last one. Some examples to get your eye in:
| Cards | Raw sum | Baccarat total |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + 3 | 8 | 8 (a natural) |
| 7 + 8 | 15 | 5 |
| K + 9 | 9 | 9 (a natural) |
| Q + 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 + 6 + 9 | 21 | 1 |
| A + J + 4 | 5 | 5 |
You can never go "bust" the way you can in blackjack. The total just wraps around. That's also why two picture cards, which look so strong, add up to nothing.
When a Third Card Is Drawn
This is the part that looks complicated. You don't have to memorise it, because the game applies it for you, but knowing it means a round never feels like the app just decided on a whim. Below are the standard drawing rules used at classic baccarat tables; the app handles its drawing automatically in the same fixed way every round.
Hand A (Player)
| A's first two cards total | What happens |
|---|---|
| 0 to 5 | Draws a third card |
| 6 or 7 | Stands |
| 8 or 9 | Natural, round ends |
Hand B (Banker)
If A stood, B follows the same simple rule: draw on 0 to 5, stand on 6 or 7. If A drew a third card, B's decision depends on its own total and on the value of A's third card.
| B's total | B draws when A's third card is |
|---|---|
| 0, 1, 2 | Anything |
| 3 | Anything except 8 |
| 4 | 2 to 7 |
| 5 | 4 to 7 |
| 6 | 6 or 7 |
| 7 | Never, B stands |
Honestly, most regular players never learn the B table by heart. Glance at it a few times and it'll start making sense as you watch rounds play out.
Three Rounds, Worked Through
Round 1: a natural. You bet ₹20 on A. A is dealt 9 and K, total 9. B is dealt 5 and 2, total 7. A has a natural, so nobody draws. A wins and your bet is paid at close to even money.
Round 2: the third card changes things. ₹20 on A again. A gets 3 and 2, which is 5, so A must draw. The third card is an 8, taking A to 13, which counts as 3. B has 4 and 10, which is 4. Look at the B table: on 4, B draws only if A's third card was 2 to 7. It was an 8, so B stands. B's 4 beats A's 3, and you lose ₹20. Most beginners would have expected B to draw here.
Round 3: a tie. ₹20 on B. A gets 6 and Q, total 6, and stands. B gets 5 and A, total 6. A stood, so B stands on 6 too. Six against six is a Tie. On most baccarat tables, A and B bets are returned when the hands tie, while Tie bets are paid, but check the table rules shown in the app for how your game settles it.
A, B and Tie in Plain Words
- B (Banker) wins slightly more often than A, mainly because B acts second and its drawing rule reacts to A's card. Because of that, some tables take a small commission from B wins. Even after that, B is the bet with the smallest built-in disadvantage.
- A (Player) is close behind B and pays close to even money with no commission.
- Tie pays far more, often shown as 8 to 1, but lands only now and then. Across a long session it costs players much more than either main bet.
Words You'll See at the Table
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Natural | 8 or 9 from the first two cards. Ends the round. |
| Stand | A hand takes no more cards. |
| Draw | A hand takes its one extra card. |
| Commission | A small cut some tables take from winning B bets. |
| Punto / Banco | Traditional names for Player and Banker, i.e. A and B. |
| Road / trend board | A grid of past results. Decorative, not predictive. |
Mistakes to Watch For
- Thinking picture cards are good. They're zero.
- Putting regular money on Tie because the payout looks generous.
- Switching between A and B based on the trend board. The next hand doesn't care what the last six did.
- Increasing stakes to recover a loss. It only makes the next loss bigger.
- Playing on autopilot. Baccarat is calm, and calm games are the easiest to keep playing without noticing the time.
A Short Practice Plan
Take a real deck of cards at home, deal two hands of two, and score them. Do it ten times. Then try the third-card rule on the same hands using the tables above. It takes fifteen minutes and makes the app feel familiar straight away.
In the app, watch a few rounds before placing anything, and try to call the winner before the screen does. When you get most of them right, start with the smallest stake on A or B, keep it flat, and set a firm number of rounds. For other games worth learning the same way, browse the game guides.
Real-money baccarat is for adults 18 and older. It carries financial risk and is restricted in some Indian states, so check your local rules first. Our responsible gaming page has practical tips on limits and breaks.
