The game starts with four cards dealt from the shoe, forming two hands. The first and third cards (dealt face down) make up the Player’s hand. The second and fourth cards (also dealt face down) make up the Banker’s Hand and are not revealed until the Player’s cards are exposed. If the point count of either hand is 8 or 9 (called a “Natural”), no more cards are drawn. If the Bank does not have a Natural, the Player will draw a third card on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 0; Player stands on 6, 7, 8 and 9.
The cards are dealt according to fixed rules. There are no options regarding drawing the third card for either the Banker’s or Player’s hand. No more than one additional card will be drawn to each hand. The hand closest to 9 wins and is paid 1 to 1. If both the Player’s and Banker’s hand result in identical totals, the Tie bet wins 8 to 1 and the Banker’s and Player’s hand neither wins nor loses.
In Mini-Baccarat, the dealer turns over all the cards. In Macau-style variation, the Players may handle the cards. The Player with the highest wager on either side (Banker or Player) has the option to expose the cards.
