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Baccarat Card Drawing Rules

Baccarat is a very simple game and much of that is due to the card drawing rules place. Unlike Blackjack, the Baccarat player has no say whether or not they are going to take a card or not.

This is both good and bad because there are times that the player is left on 1 or 2 and isn't allowed another card, but the rules hold true for the bank as well and with that in mind, baccarat is one of the fairest games there is.

Player's hand

What are the rules for the player concerning whether or not they can take another card. Below is a matrix of what happens after the player's first two cards and whether or not he is to receive a third card. Note the third card is the final card that he will receive.

Total of first two cards:

0,1,2,3,4 or 5 = Draw another card
6 or 7 = Stands
8 or 9 = Natural

Banker's hand

In the case of the banker, they have the advantage of not needing a third card if they have a seven or higher or if they have already beaten the player. Such being the case, chances are the player is in trouble if they end up with a 0,1 or 2. Anyhow below are the rules governing whether or not the banker takes a third card.

Total of first two cards:

0,1 or 2 = Draws no matter what
3 = Draws if the player's last card is anything other than 8
4 = Draws if the player's last card is anything other than 0,1,8 or 9
5 = Draws if the player's last card is anything other than 0,1,2,3,8 or 9
6 = Draws if the player's last card is anything other than 0,1,2,3,4,5,8 or 9
7 = Never Draws
8 or 9 = Natural

Kate Foster - Technical Writer