Guide · Virtual chips · 18+
How to play baccarat: third-card rules and RTP
In baccarat (punto banco) you pick Player, Banker or Tie before the cards; two hands are dealt and the one closer to 9 wins. You make no decisions afterwards: the third-card rules are fixed. Banker has the highest RTP, 98.94%, even though it pays 0.95 to 1.
By IS Casino · Published · Updated
Values and hand totals
Aces count 1, cards 2 to 9 count their number, 10, J, Q and K count 0. The total is the sum, keeping only the last digit: 7 + 8 = 15 counts as 5. A hand of 8 or 9 on the first two cards is a “natural” and ends the round.
Third-card rules
- If either hand has 8 or 9 (a natural), nobody draws.
- Player draws on 0 to 5 and stands on 6 or 7.
- If Player stood, Banker draws on 0 to 5 and stands on 6 or 7.
- If Player drew, Banker follows the table below, which depends on Player’s third card.
| Banker total | Draws if Player’s 3rd card is | Stands if it is |
|---|---|---|
| 0, 1, 2 | any | — |
| 3 | any except 8 | 8 |
| 4 | 2 to 7 | 0, 1, 8, 9 |
| 5 | 4 to 7 | 0–3, 8, 9 |
| 6 | 6 or 7 | any other |
| 7 | — | always stands |
Payouts and RTP
| Choice | Pays | RTP |
|---|---|---|
| Banker | 0.95:1 | 98.94% |
| Player | 1:1 | 98.76% |
| Tie | 8:1 | 85.64% |
| Player pair | 11:1 | 89.64% |
| Banker pair | 11:1 | 89.64% |
On a tie, Player and Banker choices are returned. A 10-chip Banker win is worth 19.5: IS Casino pays 19 or 20 with a rounding drawn from the round seed, so every stake returns exactly 98.94% on average.
Why Banker pays 0.95
The third-card rules give Banker a small edge: it wins about 45.9% of rounds against Player’s 44.6% (the rest are ties). Paying 0.95 instead of 1 offsets that and still leaves Banker with the best return at the table.
Bac Bo: baccarat with dice
In Bac Bo, Player and Banker roll two dice each and the higher total wins. Player and Banker pay 1:1 at 98.87% RTP; on a tie they return 90% of the stake. Tie pays 4:1 to 88:1 depending on the total (2 or 12 pay 88:1), at 95.52% RTP.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best choice in baccarat?
Banker, at 98.94% RTP, followed by Player (98.76%). Tie has a much lower RTP, 85.64%.
Why does Banker pay 0.95 to 1?
Because the third-card rules make Banker win slightly more often; the reduced payout balances that.
What happens to Player and Banker on a tie?
In baccarat they are returned. In Bac Bo, they return 90% of the stake.
