Before you take a seat at your nearest Baccarat table, you will need to know what value each of the cards has. The goal of Baccarat is to bet on the hand you think is closest to 9, so it’s important to know the value for each card dealt. Although the rules seem simple enough, what makes Baccarat unique is that regardless of the number of players in the game, only 2 hands are dealt; the banker and the player. Some players find this unsettling, but the fact that only two hands are ever dealt helps keep the house advantage extremely low and improves your chances of diminishing the house edge.

Face Cards
In the game of Baccarat, the suits of the cards have no meaning, only the numerical value of the cards. Face cards (jack, queen, and king) are technically worth 10 points, but since the goal is to get closest to 9 the 10 value becomes 0 and the total of the second card is added. For example if you are dealt a King and an 8, your value would be 18, but you must subtract 10 for a hand value of 8. The simplest way to remember this is to automatically count your jack, queen, and king as 0 cards. The Ace has a value of 1, regardless of suit.

Number Cards
The number cards, 2-9 are all dealt at face value so if a 5 and a 2 were dealt, the value would be 7. Regardless what suit is dealt, these cards are all placed at face value. Although the face cards all have a value of 0 automatically, there are occasions when you will have to subtract 10 from face value cards. For example, if you were dealt a 7 and 8, your total would be 15, but as the rules of Baccarat state you must subtract 10 for a total of 5. These instances are where the game gets complicated, and interesting.

Third Cards
When a player or banker has to draw a third card, the 10 rule still stands. Some players believe that the opportunity to draw a third card gives them a second chance to win, but the truth is it’s down to luck. There are so many card combinations that it is virtually impossible to ascertain if and how much the third card will help. Certain rules govern when third cards are dealt for the player and the banker, so be sure of your casino rules before you bet.

Naturals
In Baccarat, when both of the cards total 9, the player hits a natural. When both cards total 8, this is also considered a natural, however a natural 9 will always win if the second hand is a natural 8. Although these hand values seem complicated and difficult to learn, they only come in handy after the fact. You choose to bet with either the player or the banker before any cards are dealt, so learning the hand values simply helps you determine whether or not you have placed the winning bet.

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