How Does Baccarat Scoring Work?

In baccarat scoring, hands are worth from 0 to 9 points. Aces count as 1, cards 2–9 count at face value, and 10s and picture cards count as 0. If the total is 10 or more, only the last digit counts; for example, 7 + 8 = 15, so the hand is worth 5. The hand closest to 9 wins. This guide answers the question “How does baccarat scoring work?”, covering card values, the last-digit rule and the fixed drawing procedure that determines each final total.

Baccarat Card Values

Every card in baccarat carries a point value, and suits are irrelevant. The table below shows the baccarat scoring values used in every hand.

Only the last digit of the total matters. A hand containing a 10 and a 7 is worth 7, not 17. This simple value system is the foundation of all baccarat scoring rules and applies to both the Player and Banker hands.

How Baccarat Hands Are Totalled

When the two cards in a hand add up to 10 or more, the tens digit is dropped. A 9 and a 6 total 15, which counts as 5. A 10 and a 4 total 14, which counts as 4. A 7 and a 3 total 10, which counts as 0. This last-digit rule is central to baccarat scoring and ensures every hand finishes between 0 and 9. A hand cannot bust, and no decision by the player changes the arithmetic. The same baccarat scoring rules apply whether the hand has two cards or receives a third. This rule keeps scoring quick and consistent for every hand.

How to Play Baccarat

Before cards are dealt, players choose one of three bets: the Player hand wins, the Banker hand wins, or the two hands tie. Two cards are then dealt to each hand, and the dealer applies the fixed drawing rules. Once betting is complete, players make no further decisions; the draw is automatic. Learning how to play baccarat therefore involves understanding where a wager is placed and how totals are calculated under baccarat scoring, rather than making strategic choices during the round. At live casino tables and in digital versions alike, the drawing procedure is fixed, so the result of each round is decided by the cards alone, and no choice made during the round can influence it.

Baccarat Rules: Naturals and the Third Card

A two-card total of 8 or 9 is a natural, and the round ends immediately without any further cards being dealt. When neither hand holds a natural, the standard rules for drawing a third card apply. The Player hand draws on totals of 0–5 and stands on 6–7. The Banker hand then follows a fixed procedure that depends on its own total and, where relevant, the value of the Player’s third card:

•         0–2: always draws
•         3: draws unless the Player’s third card is 8
•         4: draws if the Player’s third card is 2–7
•         5: draws if the Player’s third card is 4–7
•         6: draws if the Player’s third card is 6–7
•         7: always stands

If the Player stands on 6 or 7, the Banker’s action is determined solely by its own total, with 0–5 drawing and 6–7 standing. These rules are applied by the dealer, so no player judgement is required during the draw phase.

Baccarat Payouts and House Edge

Payouts differ by bet type. The table below summarises the standard returns and the approximate house edge under standard rules.

The commission on a winning Banker bet exists because the Banker hand wins slightly more often under the drawing procedure. Tie bets pay more but carry a substantially higher house edge. At 7bet tables, the payout for Tie bets is shown in each table’s rules. These payout structures show how each bet is settled, though no outcome is guaranteed. Table limits, minimum bets and commission rules can vary between tables and are shown in the table rules.

Baccarat Scorecards and Roads

At live baccarat tables, the screen often shows scorecards, also called roads, that record the results of previous hands. The Bead Plate lists each result in order as Player, Banker or Tie, while the Big Road groups consecutive wins for the same side into columns. These displays only record what has already happened. Each hand is dealt independently, so past results do not change the odds of the next hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a natural in baccarat?

A natural is a two-card total of 8 or 9. It ends the round immediately, and no third card is drawn. Naturals are the strongest possible starting hands under baccarat scoring.

Why is there commission on Banker bets?

Because the Banker hand wins slightly more often under the fixed drawing rules. The 5% commission offsets this, so the house keeps an edge on every bet type.

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