What Are the Drawing Rules for Baccarat? A Straight-Talk Guide

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Let's be honest: Baccarat gets a reputation for being elusive, mysterious, and frankly intimidating. You've seen those smoking suits, high rollers, and Hollywood glam, making it look like you need a secret decoder ring just to understand the rules. But here’s the truth: baccarat is incredibly simple once you cut through the nonsense. Today, we're going to demystify the baccarat third card rule, explain when the Player draws in baccarat, and break down the Banker drawing rules like a pro.

We’ll also tackle the classic sucker mistake—betting on the Tie—and explain why that’s a trap you want to avoid, even though it pays off big sometimes. Plus, I’ll show you how the 5% commission on Banker wins (yes, that’s part of the math) actually works in the real world. Pretty simple.. If you’re playing baccarat at sites like bet5games.com or exploring sophisticated tables from AVANTAGE BACCARAT, understanding these rules is your edge—not some “system” you found in a cheesy blog.
The Core Objective: Bet on Player, Banker, or the Sucker Bet (Tie)
Sounds simple, right? The game deals two hands each round: one labeled "Player," the other "Banker." No, you don’t have to back a real player or the casino's house banker—they’re just names. Before cards are dealt, you pick which hand you think will win, or if you want to bet on a tie.
Player bet: Your wager that the Player hand will have a higher total. Banker bet: Your wager that the Banker hand will win. Tie bet: Your wager that both hands will end up with equal totals.
The hands are dealt, points are tallied, and the higher total wins. If it's a tie, the sucker bet pays off nicely, but there's a catch (more on that later).
How Baccarat Card Values Are Calculated (0–9)
Baccarat's math is elegant but different from most card games you know. Face cards (Kings, Queens, Jacks) and 10s count as zero. Aces count as 1. Number cards are face value. The real trick—and what trips up newbies—is that totals only matter modulo 10.

Here’s how it works:
Add the card values together. If the sum is 10 or more, drop the tens digit, keeping only the ones place.
So, if you've got a 7 and an 8, that sums to 15. You drop the '1' and keep the '5'. The hand total is 5, not 15.

This keeps all totals between 0 and 9. The hand closest to 9 wins.
The Baccarat Third Card Rule: When Does the Player Draw?
Now, here’s where people get nervous. The cards come out in sequences, and sometimes a third card is drawn—but not always. You don’t have to memorize complicated charts to play baccarat because the dealer or software follows these rules automatically.
Player Drawing Rules
The Player hand draws a third card if the total is between 0 and 5. If the Player's first two cards total 6 or 7, the Player stands (no third card).
Player's Initial Total Action 0–5Draws one card 6–7Stands 8 or 9Natural, no third card
Let’s camp on that “natural” for a second. If either the Player or Banker hand totals 8 or 9 after the first two cards, it’s called a natural, and no more cards are drawn. The hand with the natural almost always wins—so that’s a convenient shortcut.
Banker Drawing Rules: The Most Nuanced Part
Ask yourself this: here’s where the house edge is born. The Banker’s actions depend on their own total and the Player’s third card (if drawn). That makes the Banker drawing rules a little more detailed.
Banker Third Card Rule
If the Banker’s total is 7, 8, or 9, the Banker stands.

If it’s 0, 1, or 2, the Banker draws a third card regardless of what the Player does.

For Banker totals 3 through 6, the decision depends on the Player’s third card:
Banker Total Banker’s Action Based on Player’s Third Card 3 Draws unless Player’s third card is 8 4 Draws if Player’s third card is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 5 Draws if Player’s third card is 4, 5, 6, or 7 6 Draws if Player’s third card is 6 or 7
If the Player did not draw a third card, the Banker draws with a total of 5 or less and stands on 6 or 7.
So, What’s the Catch? The 5% Commission on Banker Wins
You might have noticed the common rule: 5% commission on Banker wins. This may sound like the house is nickeling and diming you, and it is. But that commission is why the Banker bet’s odds are actually lower than they at first appear but still statistically superior to the Player bet and infinitely better than the Tie bet.
Bet Type House Edge Payout Example Payout (on $100) Banker 1.06% 1:1 (minus 5% commission) $195 (win $95 + initial $100) Player 1.24% 1:1 $200 (win $100 + initial $100) Tie (Sucker Bet) 14.4% 8:1 or 9:1 depending on house $900 (win $800 + initial $100) - high variance
For example, if you bet $100 on the Banker and it wins, you actually receive $195 because you pay $5 as commission. The house edge is minimal on this bet, which is why betting Banker is statistically the smartest move, especially over many rounds.
Ever Wonder Why Betting on the Tie Is a Sucker Bet?
This is where the high payout masks a killer trap. Bet on the Tie because it pays 8:1 or 9:1, and you might think you’re onto something. But the house edge here is staggering—about 14.4%—which means over time you’re almost guaranteed to lose.

I remember a high roller at a Vegas table who fell in love with the Tie bet because of that fat payout. He rode a lucky streak for a while, then lost it all tenfold—because the odds weren’t on his side. Don’t be that guy.
Baccarat’s Simplicity Versus Its Intimidating Reputation
Baccarat does seem complex at first glance with the third card rules and commissions, but it boils down to a few basic points:
Card values only count 0–9, dropped digits for totals above 9. Player draws on 0–5; Player stands on 6 or 7. Banker draws based on complex but fixed rules involving Player’s third card. Best bet statistically is Banker, even with a 5% commission. Never bet on Tie—it's the classic sucker bet.
Both online casinos like bet5games.com https://www.bet5games.com and professional setups such as AVANTAGE BACCARAT https://www.avantagebaccarat.com rely on these exact rules. There are no hidden tricks—just solid, consistent math.
Final Tip: Ignore the “Secret Systems” and Focus on the Odds
I've seen countless players waste stacks of money Baccarat step-by-step guide https://newznav.com/demystifying-baccarat-an-in-depth-look/ chasing “systems” that promise to crack baccarat. Here’s my advice: master the baccarat third card rule, know when each hand draws, and bet smart—favor Banker with that 5% commission in mind.

Trust me. Betting smart beats hoping for magic EVERY TIME.
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