In baccarat, a hand finishes with a score from zero to nine. Add the card values and keep only the last digit. A seven and an eight therefore make five points, not fifteen.
“Player” and “Banker” are the names of the two hands on the table. You can read their scores without treating either label as a particular person. In the common house-banked game described here, the higher final score wins; equal scores make a tie.
What each card contributes
An ace contributes one point. Cards two through nine contribute their printed number. Tens, jacks, queens and kings contribute zero to the final score. Suits do not change these values.
Here are three illustrative calculations, not records of real rounds:
| Cards | Calculation | Hand score |
|---|---|---|
| 7 and 8 | 7 + 8 = 15; keep the last digit | 5 |
| King and Ace | 0 + 1 | 1 |
| 6, 7 and 9 | 6 + 7 + 9 = 22; keep the last digit | 2 |
The third example illustrates scoring only. Whether a third card is dealt is a separate rules question; a participant does not choose another card as they might in blackjack.
A natural ends the dealing, not the comparison
An initial two-card total of eight or nine is called a natural. If either hand has a natural, neither receives a third card. Compare the two totals: a natural eight does not beat a natural nine, and equal naturals tie. An eight or nine reached with three cards is not an initial two-card natural.
When a third card appears
Check for a natural first. If neither hand has one, Player draws on 0–5 and stands on 6–7. If Player stands, Banker draws on 0–5 and stands on 6–7 too.
If Player draws, use the value of Player's third card, not Player's new total:
| Banker's first two-card total | Banker draws when Player's third card is… |
|---|---|
| 0–2 | Any value |
| 3 | Any value except 8 |
| 4 | 2–7 |
| 5 | 4–7 |
| 6 | 6 or 7 |
| 7 | Never; Banker stands |
Banker stands in the other cases. This table applies only after ruling out naturals and confirming that Player drew. Zero includes a ten or face card.
For example, Player starts with 2 + 2 = 4 and receives an 8. Player now has 2 points. If Banker started on 3, Banker stands: the deciding card was the 8, not Player's final score of 2. Banker wins this illustrative round 3 to 2.
Scoring and payment are different questions
The higher final total identifies the winning hand. The table's paytable determines payment. Commission and no-commission variants can settle a Banker win differently; see our Banker 6 explanation. Check the named version before applying any payout example.
The scoreboard's colours and roads record results; they are separate from these dealing rules. Learning the rules helps you understand a round. It does not turn gambling into reliable income.
Sources
Checked 20 October 2026: Solaire's baccarat description for Philippine venue context and card values; The Venetian's rules for naturals and drawing. The full drawing table was cross-checked on 19 October against Tasmania's official rules, section 11, page 7, approved 3 February 2025. The overseas sources explain this rule format; they are not Philippine regulations or proof that every local game uses identical terms.