Third Card Rule in Baccarat Explained

While it won’t matter much to you as the game is run by the dealer from start to finish, understanding the third card rules will increase your enjoyment because you’ll know what’s happening.

Also, if you intend to apply for the job of a baccarat dealer, this is a good starting spot. Let me know if this article leads you to your dream job as a live dealer in a land-based casino or live dealer baccarat!

So, what are the third card rules in baccarat? Who gets the third card, and when? Is it possible for the Player to get a third card while the Banker doesn’t?

Baccarat Third Card Rules In a Nutshell

There are, in fact, three rules that come one after another.

The Player gets his cards first, so that’s the first thing to look at. After that comes the Banker with two more rules.

Rule #1 – If the Player has 0-5, the Player draws a third card. Otherwise, the Player stands.
Rule #2 – If the Player has six or more, which means the Player hasn’t drawn a card, then rule #1 applies to the Banker.
Rule #3 – If the Player draws a third card, the Banker draws or stands based on the Player’s total and on what the Player’s third card was.

As long as you make an effort to understand the first two rules well enough to keep track of them in a live dealer baccarat game, eventually, you can build on that knowledge by becoming an expert in rule #3 so that it also becomes second nature to you.

When is the Third Card drawn?

If the Player had totals 6, 7, 8 or 9, and therefore didn’t draw a third card, the Dealer will draw a third card if he has totals from 0 to 5.

It gets complicated if the Player had totals from 0 to 5 and therefore drew a third card.

The Third Card Rule

Now onto the interesting stuff. The only somewhat complicated rule in baccarat is when does each side take a third card.

When either Player or the Banker gets an 8 or a 9 in the first two cards, which means they got a natural, there won’t be a third card drawn. Also, crucially, the other hand is not allowed to draw an additional card.

When it doesn’t happen, Player or Banker needs to draw a third card.

Player Third Card Draw Rules

• If Player’s hand is 0 – 5, they draw a third card.
• 6 – 7, they stand.
• 8 – 9 is a natural, they stand, even if Player has 8 and Banker has 9.

Banker Third Card Draw Rules

The banker first looks at the Player’s total.

If the Player has six or higher, which means they DIDN’T draw a third card, then the Banker acts just like the Player, draws a third card with 0 – 5, stands with 6 – 7, and natural with 8 – 9.

If, however, the Player had a total of 0 – 5 and drew a third card, then the Banker acts according to the following set of rules that look at the Banker’s total but also take into account what the Player’s third card was:

• 0, 1, 2 – Banker always draws a card.
• 3 – Banker draws unless the Player’s third card was an 8.
• 4 – Banker draws unless the Player’s third card was 2 – 7.
• 5 – Banker draws unless the Player’s third card was 4 – 7.
• 6 – Banker draws unless the Player’s third card was 6 – 7.
• 7 – Banker stands.

The Baccarat Tableau

It’s not a table. It’s a tableau. Also known as the Tableau of Drawing Rules and the baccarat hit chart, this table describes what the Banker does based on the Player’s third card.

Third Card Draw Examples

I will show four scenarios as examples of the third card draw rules. Use these examples to confirm that you would have dealt the cards in the same way as described below.

Example 1: The Player gets a good hand

The Player got an Ace and a 5, which equals 6. That’s a good hand—the Player Stands. The Banker got a 5, so the Banker drew a third card. The Banker draws a 3, gets 9, and wins the hand.

Example 2: Player’s hand needs improvement

The Player got a Jack and an Ace, which is a total of 1. That’s too low, the Player will draw. Another Ace comes up. The Player ends with a total of 2. The Banker got a two and a 3, which equals 5. The Banker must draw a third card and get 5, a total of 0. The Banker loses.

Example 3: Banker’s third card wins

In the above example, imagine that the Banker drew a third card with a total of 5 but got a King, so his total remained at 5. In that case, the Banker wins as the Player had a total of 2.

Example 4: No third cards drawn

The Player got a four and a 3, for a total of 7. The Player stands. The Banker receives a two and a 4, for a total of 6. The Banker must stand despite having the worse hand, as that’s not a criterion. The Player wins.

Does the Third Card Rule make Banker the better bet?

Yes. The Banker gets to act last, and the intricate Third Card Rules create an environment in which the Banker is more likely to win.

Precisely by how much? Enough that it’s significant – the Banker will win 45.86% of the hands, the Player will win 44.62% of the time, and the remaining 9.52% will be tied.

Or, the Banker will win 50.69% of hands that don’t end in a Tie.

Even with the reduced 0.95:1 payout to make up for the increased chance of winning, the Banker is still the better bet, with a 1.06% house edge compared to 1.24% for the Player and the dreadful 14.36% for the Tie.

Best Baccarat Games to Play

You have three choices.

1. Play a normal live dealer game of baccarat with all the usual rules. You’ll find these games in all live dealer casinos, and the game will always be the same regardless of the provider.
2. Multiplier baccarat is taking fun to the next level, as you can win huge multipliers and, therefore, huge amounts of money. These games have different payout rules to accommodate the multipliers, but the same drawing rules apply.
3. Finally, many gamblers are looking for a game called No Commission Baccarat, in which the Banker pays 1:1. However, if the Banker scores a 6, the payout is 0.5:1, which means you get half of your initial stake back.

Here is a brief overview of some popular baccarat games you can play.

Where to Play Baccarat

Finally, if you want to learn how the baccarat third card rules work, you need to watch it happen for real.

There’s no better place to do that than an online casino with live dealer baccarat.

Don’t play RNG baccarat; where’s the fun in that?

Browse the live dealer baccarat selection in the casinos listed below.

US Casinos

Basic Baccarat Rules

Now let’s get back to basics and explain the rules of baccarat, in case you need to be reminded.

In baccarat, two sides play against one another: the Banker and the Player. You can bet on either side to win, so you don’t necessarily assume the role of the Player.

Whoever is closest to 9 when the card values are added up is the winner. If both playing positions have the same score, it’s a Tie.

Baccarat Card Values

Face cards are worth zero, and Aces count as 1.

The other cards are worth what they say.

• The Ace is worth 1.
• Cards 2 through 9 are worth their face value. So, two is worth 2.
• The ten is worth zero.
• The Jack is worth zero.
• The Queen is worth zero.
• The King is worth zero.

Let’s repeat. Face cards are ignored, Aces are 1, and the remaining cards are what they say. Easy enough? Good. Now, we’ll explain how the cards are added up.

Baccarat Hand Totals

What if you have a face card and a 4? The Face card doesn’t count, so your score is 4. What if you’ve got a seven and an 8? Add them together, and you have 15. But you don’t have 15. You have 5, as only the last digit on the right is counted.

Totals of ten is the worst possible hand in baccarat because it’s a double-digit score, so the last digit on the right is counted – and that makes the totals 0. That’s the lowest possible hand.

The best possible total is 9, closely followed by 8. These two totals are called ‘a natural’ if they come from the first two cards.

How to deal Baccarat

If you want to deal Baccarat in a home game or become a professional dealer at a land-based or an online live dealer casino, start by mastering the third card rule.

This will make all the difference as you must decide on the fly.

Everything else will be simple enough and will come naturally. Focus on the third card rule and the correct distribution of chips, especially regarding the somewhat complex 0.95:1 payout on Banker bets.

Baccarat Third Card Rule FAQ

When to draw another card in baccarat?

If the Player’s total is five or less, the Player will receive another card. Otherwise, the Player will stand. If the Player stands, the Banker will hit on five or less. If the Player drew a third card, special rules for the Banker known as the Third Card Rules will apply.

What are the baccarat rules?

Each hand starts with two cards, with the possibility of a third depending on the value of the two hands—known as the third card rule. The values of the cards are summed up, and the closest to 9 wins.

When does the Banker draw in baccarat?

The Banker draws if the Player has a total of six and higher and the Banker has 0 to 5. When the Player has 0 to 5 and therefore draws a third card, special rules apply, as the third card is also taken into consideration when deciding whether the Banker draws or not.

Other Resources on This Site

• Live Baccarat Playing Guide
• Baccarat Betting Strategy
• How to Read Baccarat Roadmaps
• Best Live Baccarat Casinos
• Baccarat Side Bets