Adding Up the Cards in Online Baccarat

Baccarat's betting system is one of the easiest of all the casino games. After all, there are only three bets to be placed. Figuring out which of those bets actually wins, though, is a bit more complicated. Players have to know exactly how the different card values add up in order to get a true handle on online baccarat.

Card Values

For the most part, the card values in online baccarat are simple. Numerical cards from 2 to 9 all have values that equal their number, while 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings have no values at all. Finally, Aces in baccarat have a value of only 1. When the cards are added up, nothing can be above ten so only the last digit counts. That means a hand with a value of 15 would only have a value of 5 in baccarat.

Determining the Winner

Two hands are dealt in online baccarat: one to the player and one to the banker. Players can bet that the banker will have the higher hand, that the player will have the higher hand, or that the result will be a tie. Because the player's hand is dealt first, the banker actually has a slight advantage. For instance, while a player may choose to stand at a hand value of 7, the banker will always try to beat this and may get a higher total.

The math involved in online baccarat is not difficult, and the results will obviously be calculated by the computer. However, players should be aware of the goals of the game and how best to meet them before they sign up to play the game.