M2 Malaysia · Live table guide
Baccarat Third-Card Rules: When the Player and the Banker Draw
The basics
How a Baccarat Hand Is Counted
Aces count one, twos to nines count their face value, and tens and picture cards count nothing. A hand is worth the last digit of its total, so a 7 and an 8 make 15, which counts as 5. The best possible hand is 9.
Two cards go to the player’s side and two to the banker’s. If either side shows 8 or 9 — a natural — both stand and the hand is over.
The player
When the Player Draws
With no natural on the table, the player’s side takes a third card on a total of 0 to 5 and stands on 6 or 7. That is the whole of the player’s rule. Nobody chooses anything; the dealer simply follows it.
The banker
When the Banker Draws
The banker’s decision depends on its own total and on the third card the player was dealt:
| Banker total | Banker draws when the player’s third card is |
|---|---|
| 0, 1 or 2 | Always — the banker draws |
| 3 | Anything except an 8 |
| 4 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 |
| 5 | 4, 5, 6 or 7 |
| 6 | 6 or 7 |
| 7 | Never — the banker stands |
If the player stood on two cards, the banker follows the player’s rule instead: draw on 0 to 5, stand on 6 or 7.
The bets
What Each Bet Pays
- Player pays even money.
- Banker pays even money less a 5% commission on the win — the price of the small advantage the drawing rules give the banker’s hand.
- Tie commonly pays 8 to 1, and bets on player and banker are returned when a hand is tied.
Some tables run a no-commission version, in which a banker win on a total of 6 pays half instead. The rules panel at each table says which version you are at. Why the banker bet is still the cheaper one is covered on our live casino page.
At the table
Following a Live Round
At a live table the dealer works through the chart above card by card, and the totals appear with the result once the hand ends. Some tables reveal cards slowly for effect; the drawing rules never change with the pace.
Questions
Baccarat Rules — Quick Answers
Does the player ever choose whether to draw in baccarat?
No. Both sides follow fixed drawing rules, so nobody at the table decides anything except which bet to place.
Why does the banker bet pay a commission?
Because the drawing rules give the banker’s hand a small edge over the player’s. The 5% commission on banker wins brings its payout back in line.
What happens to my player or banker bet on a tie?
It comes back to you. Only a bet on the tie itself wins when both hands finish level.
Take a Seat at a Live Table
Every hand at the live baccarat tables follows the chart above; all you choose is the side. 21+. Knowing the rules does not make playing lawful for you: Malaysian law restricts gambling, and Syariah binds Muslim citizens in addition.
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