A baccarat hand can finish 3–3 even when one side has been dealt an eight. The arithmetic is not a mistake: baccarat keeps only the final digit of each hand’s total. Once that single rule is clear, the seemingly complicated third-card chart becomes a sequence of straightforward decisions.
This guide covers punto banco baccarat, the version with automatic drawing rules. Commission-free products and side-bet variations can settle differently.
Counting points takes one rule
Aces count as one. Cards from two through nine have their face values. Tens, jacks, queens and kings count as zero. Only the last digit of the sum matters.
For example, a seven and an eight total fifteen, so the baccarat value is 5. A king and a nine produce 9, because the king contributes zero.
| Two-card hand | Arithmetic | Baccarat total |
|---|---|---|
| A + 6 | 1 + 6 | 7 |
| 9 + 8 | 17 → last digit | 7 |
| Q + 4 | 0 + 4 | 4 |
| 7 + 5 | 12 → last digit | 2 |
Suits do not decide the ordinary Banker/Player outcome. They may matter to a separate side bet, but that is another wager with its own rules.
What happens after the first four cards?
Two cards are dealt to each hand. If either hand totals eight or nine, that is a natural, and no further cards are drawn. Otherwise, a fixed drawing procedure applies. This is not like blackjack: the bettor does not decide to hit or stand.
When neither hand has a natural, the Player hand draws on totals 0–5 and stands on 6–7. When Player stands on six or seven, Banker draws with totals of zero through five and stands on six or seven. If Player draws, Banker follows a more detailed table based on its current total and the value of Player’s third card.
| Banker two-card total | Banker draws if Player’s third card is… |
|---|---|
| 0, 1 or 2 | Any value |
| 3 | Anything except 8 |
| 4 | 2 through 7 |
| 5 | 4 through 7 |
| 6 | 6 or 7 |
| 7 | Never |
This table is for the standard drawing rules, with no natural. It describes the card’s baccarat value, so a ten or face card counts as zero.
A complete hand, step by step
Suppose Player receives 2 and 3 (total 5), while Banker receives a king and a 3 (total 3). No hand has a natural. Player draws an 8; its new total is 3, because 2 + 3 + 8 = 13. Banker has a two-card total of 3, but the Player’s third card is 8. According to the drawing table, Banker stands. The result is a 3–3 tie.
Banker stands on three here because Player drew an eight. A different third card could produce a different decision from the same opening Banker total.
What do the standard bets pay?
With the common five-percent-commission arrangement, Player pays even money and Banker pays 0.95-to-1 after commission. Tie commonly pays 8-to-1, although tables may use other schedules.
Imagine three separate RM20 wagers placed on three separate rounds, each of which wins:
| Winning selection | Net profit, excluding returned stake |
|---|---|
| Player, paid 1:1 | RM20 |
| Banker, paid 0.95:1 | RM19 |
| Tie, paid 8:1 | RM160 |
The Tie prize is bigger because a tied result is relatively uncommon; a larger payout does not by itself make the wager better value. In a standard eight-deck model, the approximate house edges are 1.06% for Banker, 1.24% for Player, and 14.36% for an 8-to-1 Tie. These are long-run averages for the specified rules, not forecasts for a short session.
If a table advertises no Banker commission, check its exception rules. Some variants alter the payout on particular Banker totals rather than removing the mathematical cost of the bet.
Why the Banker bet has a different payout
Banker wins slightly more often under the standard drawing procedure. The difference comes from the asymmetry in the third-card rules, not from a dealer choosing which hand to favor. A five-percent commission on a winning Banker bet offsets much of that frequency advantage.
The patterns shown on scoreboards are records of completed hands. They do not alter the prescribed drawing procedure for a new round.
Checking a hand without guessing
If a winner appears incorrect, write down the first four cards and calculate the two opening totals. Check for a natural before applying either drawing rule. Only if Player takes another card should you use that card’s value in the Banker table. This order prevents common errors, such as treating a queen as ten points or assuming that a low Banker total always forces a draw.
A Baccarat round is settled by its table rules and recorded cards. PlayDash offers brand information, not an alternative record of the hand.