Baccarat is not an over and above intricate game, but it does have certain quirks that need some getting used to.

In full-scale baccarat, the bettor holding the shoe slides one card out and passes it facedown to the stand-up croupier, who passes it to the customer with the largest player bet. The subsequent card, the first of the banker hand, is placed following the shoe. The bettor then deals another player card, followed by the second banker card. The croupier calls for the player hand, and the client with the largest player bet first looks at the cards, then gives them to the croupier. The croupier turns the cards face up and announces the point total. Then the croupier calls for the banker hand, and the shoe holder looks at the cards and gives them to the croupier. If the player total requires a draw, the croupier will say, “Card for the player,” and the shoe holder will pass a card to the dealer, who will pass it to the player-bettor, who looks at it and passes it back to the croupier, who turns it face up. Finally, if the banker requires a card, the croupier will call, “Card for the bank,” and repeat the process with the shoe holder.

At the outset, two cards are dealt for each hand. The point totals decide whether either hand gets a third card. The player hand is completed first. A total of 8 or 9 are called a “natural,” and the player hand gets no more cards. In effect, unless the banker has a natural 9 or ties the natural 8, no further cards are drawn, and the naturals are automatic winners. Player also stands on totals of 6 or 7. On any other sum, zero through 5, player draws a third card, except if the banker has a natural, in which case the bank hand wins with no further draw.

Banker rules are a bit more difficult. Banker as well stands on 7, 8, or 9 and draws on 0, 1, or 2, but on other hands the banker’s play is reliant on the value of the player’s third card. Banker hits 3 except if the player’s third card is an 8; hits 4 except if the player’s third card is 1, 8, 9, or 10; hits 5 only if the player’s third card is 4, 5, 6, or 7; and hits 6 only if the player’s third card is 6 or 7.
There are a few exemptions. A natural, as mentioned above, stops play with no further draws. And if the player has single of its other two standing hands, 6 or 7, bank stands on 6 on top of 7, 8, and 9. And that’s it. Neither hand ever gets more than three cards. The hand totaling closer to 9 wins after the hands have been played out.

Baccarat players are permitted to keep track of the results of each hand, and most casinos provide score sheets and pencils to do so.