Play High Limit Baccarat at the Sands

Even though considered a high-roller’s game, Baccarat is pretty straight forward and rules are quite simple to understand. The game is usually played with up to 3 dealers, 14 players and a total of 8 decks.

Each of the number cards is worth its face value. The aces are worth 1 and the tens together with all face cards are worth zero. Suits have no control over the results of the hand. In essence, there are two players who are dealt cards in the game, these are the so called “The Player” and “The Banker”. The other players’ goal is to bet on who they think will have the better cards of the two.

Some casinos let the players do the actual dealing while others will only trust their own dealers. In case the players are allowed to deal, the dealing runs around the table but it is not obligatory to deal and you may forfeit your dealer button while still reserving any options you have on making bets. If you do decide to deal, notice that you will be the dealer as long as “The Banker” wins, when “The Player” wins the dealing moves on to the player sitting on your left. Needless to say, at online casinos you will be automatically dealt.

Before the dealing all players at the table must bet on either “The Banker”, “The Player” or a tie between the two. After all the bets are placed the player designated as the dealer (or the house dealer) deals himself 2 cards face down and another 2 cards to the player at the table who bet the most on “The Player” winning (notice “The Player” and “The Banker” are not set as they might change every hand).

Your goal is to pick either “The Player” or “The Banker” showing the hand with the highest total score. The score cannot be above 9 and in the case that it does reach a total higher than 9, the right digit will become the new score of the hand. For example, the score of a hand showing a 7 and a 5 is 2 and not 12.

If “The Banker” or “The Player” has a total of 8 or 9, they will both stand and no more cards will be dealt. If “The Player’s” score is 5 or less, he will hit another card, if not, he stands. In the case that “The Player” stands “The Banker” will hit another card if he holds 5 or lower.

If “The Player” hits, “The Banker” might also hit depending on his total score according to the chart below:

	The Player's Third Card
Banker Score	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
7	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
6	S	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	S	S
5	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	S	S
4	S	S	H	H	H	H	H	H	S	S
3	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	S	H
2	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
1	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
0	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H

S = Banker Stands
H = Banker Hits

After all extra card dealings are complete the two scores are compared and the higher hand wins. If “The Player” hand won, the house will pay all the bets on “The Player” even odds (1:1). If “The Banker” won, all who bet on “The Banker” will get even odds minus a 5% commission (19 to 20). In case of a tie the payout is 8 to 1.