The third card rule in baccarat is automatic: neither you nor the dealer chooses whether a third card comes out.
The player draws on a first-hand total of 0 to 5 and stands on 6 or 7, and the banker's move then depends on its own total and, in most cases, what the player just drew.
Naturals in Baccarat
An eight or nine on the first two cards is a natural. Whichever hand shows it, the round ends there and neither side draws again, even if the other hand's total is lower. Two naturals of equal value make the round a tie.
This applies to standard Punto Banco baccarat variants; some variants let players act as banker, but the drawing rule itself doesn't change. Naturals are common enough that it's worth checking both hands before assuming a third card is coming.
The Player's Third Card Rule
The player's side is the simpler of the two, and it's fixed regardless of what the banker holds. A total of 0 to 5 draws a third card automatically. A total of 6 or 7 stands.
There's no judgement call involved, the same as with every other step in how to play baccarat. Naturals aside, every player’s hand reaches this decision before the banker's turn does, which is why the banker's rule below often refers back to what the player drew.
The Banker's Third Card Rule
The banker's third card rule earns its own section because it isn't as simple as the player's. Betting the banker bet usually carries a small commission, and this rule helps explain why: the drawing table tilts slightly in the banker's favour.
The banker's total decides what happens, and if it falls between 3 and 6, the player's third card decides the rest.
- Banker total 0 to 2: draws a third card, regardless of the player's hand.
- Banker total 3: draws unless the player's third card was an 8.
- Banker total 4: draws if the player's third card was 2 to 7.
- Banker total 5: draws if the player's third card was 4 to 7.
- Banker total 6: draws if the player's third card was 6 or 7.
- Banker total 7: stands.
If the player stood on a total of 6 or 7 rather than drawing, the banker draws on 0 to 5 and stands on 6 or 7, the same rule as the player's.
Baccarat Third Card Rule – FAQ
Do I have to memorise the third card rule?
No. Online baccarat software applies it automatically for every hand, so you only need to place your bet.
Why does the banker bet carry a commission?
Because the drawing rules give the banker hand a small edge over the course of a shoe. The commission, usually 5%, brings the two main bets back closer together.
Now the drawing rules make sense, try a few hands of baccarat at 888casino.
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