Baccarat is the true classic casino staple, so much so that it’s actually James Bond’s choice of game in the novels and early movies. As something of a predecessor to blackjack, baccarat has an ultimately simple aim - that of getting a score that’s as close to 9 as possible in order to beat the dealer - but its different rules mean the game plays quite differently. One of these is the Third Card Rule, which determines when the player or dealer will get an additional card. How does this work? That’s what we’re here to explain so that you’ll be playing more confidently next time you’re visiting the best baccarat sites we recommend.
What is the Third Card Rule?
Before we explain what the Third Card rule is we might as well break down the basic rules of baccarat. As we mentioned earlier, baccarat’s all about getting a score that’s close to or equal to 9. A round starts with each player and the dealer receiving two cards. The values of these two cards are added up and, depending on the hand’s value, the player or dealer gets a third card.
Before we go any further we should tell how much cards are worth in baccarat:
- Ace has a value of 1.
- The 2 to 9 cards have the same value as their number.
- 10 has a value of 0.
- The Jack, King, or Queen have a value of 0.
Interestingly, the player can win the round even if the dealer has the best hand. This is because before each round each player places their bet on either player or banker (aka dealer). You can also wager on a tie result, leading to three betting options.
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When Does the Player Draw a Third Card?
So, when can the player get a third card? This is available as an option if the value of their hand is worth anything between 0 and 5. If their score is 6 or 7 then they have to stand and will not receive a third card. The player wins if their score of their first two cards is an 8 or 9 unless the dealer’s total is also 8 or 9, in which case a tie is declared - unless the player or dealer has a natural 9, in which case this will be used as tiebreaker.
When Does the Dealer Draw a Third Card?
When Does the Dealer Draw a Third Card
Just as the player can get a third card, so can the dealer. However things get a bit more complicated in this case. It’s worth knowing when this happens, so we’re going to detail it in full. If the player stands with a hand with a score between 0 and 5 then the dealer can have a third card - so long their score is not 6-7. This is because the dealer has to stand if they get this score. A score of 8-9 is considered a natural win, and as such the dealer wouldn’t need any additional cards.
What happens if the player gets a third card? This is when things get interesting:
- If the first two cards dealt to the dealer total 0, 1 or 2 the dealer will draw a third card. Here neither party will get a natural win.
- If the first two cards dealt to the dealer total 3 they can draw another card, unless the player's third card happens to be an 8.
- If the first two cards dealt to the dealer total 4 they will draw a third card if the player's third card is 2,3,4,5,6 or 7.
- If the first two cards dealt to the dealer total 5 they will draw a third card if the player’s third card is 4, 5, 6 or 7.
- If the first two cards dealt to the dealer total 6 they will draw a third card if the player's third card is a 6 or 7.
How to Calculate the Score After Drawing All Cards
Does anything change when it comes to calculate the player and banker scores after a third card is drawn? The answer is, sure enough, no. However there is something to keep in mind when adding up the scores in baccarat - a hand’s final score can never actually exceed 9. This is because the first “1” is dropped in any two-digit score. Here’s how this works. Let’s say the player’s first two cards are an 8 and 4. The total of 8+4 is 12, but since the 1 is dropped the score will be equal to 2. In this case the player will be able to get their third card and add to this score accordingly.
Enjoy Baccarat With All Knowledge Required!
Baccarat is a game with a history spanning since the 15th century, making it a rich and exciting experience that’s worth checking out at your favourite online casino sites. Of course, you should always play baccarat responsibly by setting a bankroll and making small bets. In addition, never chase your losses, as at the end of the day baccarat remains a game of chance where the house always wins. With this knowledge in mind you’re now ready to have fun playing baccarat!
