Tired of scratching your head, trying to understand why sometimes a third card appears in play when a baccarat hand consists of only 2?
Welcome to the third card rule. In this baccarat guide, you’ll understand:
- Why does it matter
- When does it come into play
- An example
Let’s start.
Why Does the Third Card Rule Matter?
On the surface, baccarat seems disarmingly simple. The player and banker both receive a hand consisting of two cards, and whichever is closest to nine wins.
But if you spend more than a few minutes watching the game, you’ll notice an extra element. Sometimes a third card appears, sometimes not, often leaving newcomers puzzled.
Baccarat is built on razor-thin probabilities and the third card is a baccarat rule that balances the game. The banker wins about 45.8% of the time, the player 44.6% and the remainder going to ties. These tight odds are why so many high rollers are drawn to this game.
Without the third card, that near-perfect balance would collapse, and baccarat wouldn’t be the tug-of-war of fate it is today.
When Is the Third Card Drawn in Baccarat?
Let’s strip away the mysticism for a moment and lay the rule bare. The third card isn’t optional, it follows a strict formula.
Player’s Side
The player’s hand is always checked first.
- 0-5: The player draws a third card.
- 6-7: The player stands.
- 8-9: “Natural.” No third card for either side.
Banker’s Side
The banker’s move depends on both its own total and, sometimes, the player’s third card.
- 0-2: The banker always draws.
- 3: The banker draws, unless player’s third card is 8.
- 4: The banker draws if player’s third card is 2-7.
- 5: The banker draws if player’s third card is 4-7.
- 6: The banker draws if player’s third card is 6-7.
- 7: The banker stands.
- 8-9: Natural. No more cards drawn.
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The Rule in Action
The Third Card rule might look like a puzzle at first, but once you see it in action, the logic becomes clearer. Let’s walk through some scenarios to show how it works in real play.
Scenario 1: Player Draws, Banker Responds
- Player hand: 2 + 3 = 5. The player draws a third card (totals 0-5 always draw).
- Player’s third card: 6, so the new total is 1.
- Banker hand: 4 + 2 = 6. The banker looks at player’s third card. Rule: the banker draws on 6 only if player’s third card is 6 or 7.
- Banker’s third card: 7. The new total is 3 (6+7=13, only last digit counts).
Outcome: The banker ends with 3, the player ends with 1, banker wins.
Scenario 2: Player Draws, Banker Stands
- The player hand: 3 + 2 = 5. The player draws.
- The player’s third card: 4. The total is 9.
- The banker hand: 7 + 2 = 9. Natural total of 9. Since banker has a natural, no third card is drawn, even though the player drew.
Outcome: Both hands tie at 9, so the hand is a tie, and your player and banker plays are returned.
Scenario 3: Both Draw, Outcome Decided
- The player hand: 4 + 1 = 5. The player draws.
- The player’s third card: 3. New total of 8.
- The banker hand: 3 + 3 = 6. Banker’s total is 6. Rule: Banker draws on 6 only if player’s third card is 6 or 7. The player drew 3, so banker stands.
Outcome: The player ends with 8 and the banker with 6, so the player wins.
Scenario 4: Player Draws, Banker Reacts to Player’s Third Card
- Player hand: 2 + 4 = 6. The player stands (totals of 6-7 do not draw).
- Banker hand: 3 + 3 = 6. The banker looks at player’s action. Since the player did not draw, the banker follows the simpler rule: draw on totals of 0-5 and stand on 6-7. Banker has 6, so banker stands.
Outcome: Player total 6 vs. banker total 6, so the hand is a tie.
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The Fun of the Reveal of the Third Card
In baccarat games, the cards aren’t flipped quickly like in blackjack. They’re drawn, sweated, bent, and revealed with ceremony. And unlike poker, where strategy reigns, or roulette, where spins are over in seconds, baccarat stretches the suspense. The moment the third card is due, the room seems to lean forward. Will it be the number that saves the player or the one that tilts the odds back to the banker?
In Macau, dealers often peel the card slowly, teasing out the result while players hold their breath. In Asian culture, numbers carry deep symbolism, especially the number 8, which sounds like the word for wealth in Mandarin. When a third card flips to make a total of 8, cheers ripple through the room.
The Third Card and the House Edge in Baccarat
Baccarat is almost perfectly balanced, with both the player and banker winning close to 50% of the time. However, the banker does have a slight edge, courtesy of the third card rule, which actually shapes the probabilities of the game.
As the banker draws after seeing the player’s third card, the banker has a fractionally higher chance of ending with a better total. This small edge is why the banker hand has a house edge of roughly 1.06%, slightly lower than the player’s 1.24%, and why a 5% commission is applied to all winning banker plays.
Wrapping Up
The third card rule can look baffling on paper, but it keeps the odds fair. The next time you’re playing baccarat, you’ll be prepared for the third card to slide onto the table.
Want to learn more about the game before heading to McLuck social casino? Explore our social casino guides and level up your social casino experience.
