Baccarat has a reputation for being exclusive, the game behind the velvet rope in the films. In truth, it’s the easiest game we hire out, because you make no decisions at all. You back one of two hands to win, the croupier deals and reads everything, and you simply watch it play out. The version we run is punto banco, the standard casino game where the house runs every hand. At a fun casino night, it’s all fun money, so there’s nothing to lose and a lot of atmosphere to enjoy. This guide walks you through a round so you can step up to the table knowing exactly what to do.
The Aim of the Game
Two hands are dealt at a baccarat table: the “Player” hand and the “Banker” hand. Despite the names, you don’t hold either of them. Your only job is to back the hand you think will come closest to a total of nine. You can put your fun money on the Player, on the Banker, or on a Tie between the two. The croupier deals both hands and settles the result. That’s the whole game. There are no cards to play and no decisions to make once your chips are down.
Card Values and Scoring
Baccarat scores hands a little differently to other card games, and the croupier does all of it for you. It’s worth knowing so you can follow along.
| Card | Value |
|---|---|
| Ace | 1 |
| 2 through 9 | Face value (a 7 is worth 7) |
| 10, Jack, Queen, King | Zero |
The one quirk: a hand only ever counts its last digit. If the two cards total ten or more, you drop the tens and keep the units. A 7 and an 8 make 15, which scores as 5. A 9 and a 4 make 13, which scores as 3. That’s why nine is the highest possible total and the number everyone is chasing.
An 8 or a 9 on the first two cards is called a “natural”, the best start a hand can have, and it settles the round on the spot.
How a Round Works
- Place your fun money. Choose a side and put your chips in that box: Player, Banker, or Tie.
- Two hands are dealt. The croupier deals two cards to the Player hand and two to the Banker hand, face up on the table.
- The totals are read. Each hand is scored to its last digit. A natural 8 or 9 on either hand ends the round straight away.
- A third card, if the rules call for it. Fixed rules decide whether either hand takes one more card. The croupier applies them automatically; nobody at the table chooses.
- The result. The hand closest to nine wins. A win on the Player or the Banker pays even money, and a Tie pays 8 to 1. If the two hands tie and you backed the Player or the Banker, your chips are returned rather than lost. The next round begins.
The round is quick and it runs itself, which is exactly why the table keeps such a calm, steady rhythm all evening.
Tips for First-Timers
- Pick a side and settle in. Player or Banker, there’s no skill to it and nothing to decide once your chip is down. The croupier runs the hand.
- The Banker wins fractionally more often. If you want the marginally stronger side, back the Banker, but the difference is a whisker and either side is a fair shout.
- The Tie is the long shot. It pays 8 to 1 for the drama, but it rarely lands, so keep it to the odd small chip.
- Watch one round before you play. Baccarat has a rhythm to it, and a single hand is enough to catch it.
Why Baccarat Works So Well at a Casino Night
Baccarat sets a different mood to the rest of the floor. Where roulette is loud and craps is a crowd, baccarat is slower and quietly cinematic, the table that reads black-tie without saying a word. It asks nothing of a guest beyond choosing a side, so complete beginners are comfortable within a hand, and it seats up to eight around a full-size table. It’s the natural centrepiece for a James Bond casino night, a black-tie gala, or an elegant wedding, and it pairs beautifully with a roulette or blackjack table for guests who want a livelier game alongside it.
Bring Baccarat to Your Event
Now you know how it plays, see how easy it is to put a full-size table in your venue. We cover baccarat table hire across London and the Home Counties, with a uniformed croupier and all the fun money included.
Browse all our casino games, learn the other tables on our How to Play guides, or get a quote for your event.
FAQs
Is baccarat hard to learn?
Not at all. It’s the easiest game we hire out, easier than blackjack, because you make no decisions once your chips are down. You choose a side, Player or Banker, and the croupier deals and reads the whole hand for you. Most guests understand the flow within a single round.
What’s the difference between the Player and the Banker?
They’re simply the two hands dealt on the table. You don’t hold either one, you just back whichever you think will finish closest to nine. The names are traditional. The Banker hand wins fractionally more often, which is the only edge worth knowing, and even that is slight.
Why is baccarat associated with James Bond?
In Ian Fleming’s original novels, from Casino Royale onward, Bond is a baccarat player. He plays chemin de fer, the variation where players take turns holding the bank, while the version we hire is punto banco, where the croupier runs every hand. Both are baccarat, and it remains the authentic choice for a Bond-themed evening with the right pedigree.
Do guests need any experience to play?
None at all. The croupier explains the one choice, Player or Banker, in a sentence and runs everything else. This guide is simply here for anyone who likes to know how the game works before their event.