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Baccarat is a card game with simple objectives but specific rules, particularly when a third card comes into play. The game appears straightforward – two hands are dealt, one for the Player and one for the Banker, and you place your wager before the cards are revealed. However, the rules that govern whether a third card is drawn aren’t based on choice but on fixed conditions.
You’ll find the third card rules consistently applied across licensed Baccarat tables, whether you’re playing with dealers or RNG-based versions. These rules are part of the standard gameplay structure and are followed automatically once the initial cards are dealt.
Here’s a breakdown of how the third card rules work and what triggers an additional card for either hand.
The basics: Player and Banker hand
In Baccarat, two hands are dealt:
- The Player hand
- The Banker hand
Each starts with two cards. The goal is to get as close to nine as possible. All cards are worth their face value, except tens and face cards, which count as zero. If the total exceeds nine, only the second digit counts (e.g. a total of 14 becomes four).
If either the Player or Banker hand totals eight or nine from the first two cards, that’s called a natural, and no third card is drawn – the round ends immediately.
If there’s no natural, the third card rules kick in based on the totals of each hand.
When does the player draw a third card?
The Player hand follows a straightforward rule:
- If the Player’s total is zero to five, they draw a third card
- If the Player’s total is six or seven, they stand (no draw)
- If the Player has a natural eight or nine, no third card is drawn
The Player hand is resolved first, and the Banker’s third card decision depends partly on what the Player draws (if anything).
When does the banker draw a third card?
The Banker’s third card rule is more complex. It depends on two factors:
- The Banker’s total
- The Player’s third card value (if drawn)
Here’s how it works:
- Banker total 0, 1, 2: Banker always draws a third card
- Banker total 3: Banker draws unless the Player’s third card was an 8
- Banker total 4: Banker draws if the Player’s third card was 2–7
- Banker total 5: Banker draws if the Player’s third card was 4–7
- Banker total 6: Banker draws if the Player’s third card was 6 or 7
- Banker total 7: Banker always stands
If the Player didn’t draw a third card, the Banker uses the same rule as the Player:
- Draws with 0–5
- Stands with 6–7
Who applies the rules?
The third card rules aren’t decided by you or the dealer. They’re built into the game and automatically followed by the dealer (in live games) or the software (in RNG versions). The process is standardised and based on the final values of the first two cards dealt to each hand.
These rules ensure consistency and remove decision-making from your side, keeping the focus on placing bets before the round begins.
