Baccarat or Blackjack? Differences Explained

At SlotsandCasino, we offer you the opportunity to play all of the best and latest casino table games. But for many casino players, the top two table games to play online are Blackjack and Baccarat. Since you are here, you may be wondering which game to play. Whether you should spend your time playing James Bond’s favourite casino game, Baccarat, or the game arguably considered the most popular casino game ever, Blackjack. So, now that we have your attention, we are going to guide you through the differences between two of the most popular and exciting casino games in the world, Baccarat and Blackjack, so that you can make your own mind up on which game is the one for you.

Beating the Dealers

The aim of both games is to beat the dealer. This is done by creating the highest hand possible from the cards that are dealt to you. In Baccarat, (Punto Banco/North American Baccarat) the aim is to try to make a total of 9 using two cards (ideally) or three cards. Whereas in Blackjack, the aim is to make 21 using as many cards as needed.

Card Values in Baccarat v Blackjack

In Baccarat, picture cards and 10s count as 0 whilst aces are 1. For example, if the first two cards you have been dealt consist of a Queen and a 4, your total will be 4. In addition, if your cards add up to double digits, for example, 8 and 5 = 13 but you will only use the last digit, which is 3 - so you will have a total of 3.
In Blackjack, all cards from 2 through to 10 are worth face value. Picture cards are worth 10 whilst aces can be either 1 or 11.

Betting Options Available

Baccarat players have many more betting options available than Blackjack players. In Blackjack, players bet on themselves to win. However, in Baccarat, there are three betting options. A player can bet on themselves, on the bank or on a tie. For those of you on the search for high payouts, betting on a tie will payout 9:1.

How to Win a Hand in Baccarat

The dealer will begin by dealing out four cards face up - two each for the player and the banker. Whichever hand totals closest to nine, wins. If both hands have the same total then it is a draw. If the player or the dealer has a natural hand (two cards totalling 8 or 9) they win straight off. However, there are certain rules players must adhere to depending on what they are dealt as shown in the tables below:

Player has Total Of:
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5	Player must draw another card.
6, 7, 8, 9	Player must stand.

Bank Has Total Of:
0, 1, 2	Bank always draw another card.
3	Bank draws another card if the player has any total except 8.
4	Bank draws another card if the player has a total of 2,3,4,5,6,7.
5	Bank draws another card if the player has a total of 4,5,6,7.
6	Bank draws another card if the player has a total of 6,7.
7, 8, 9	Bank always sticks with what they have.

How to Win a Hand in Blackjack

To win a hand in Blackjack, the player must get as close to 21 as possible without going over, they must also beat the dealer's hand. If the player makes 21 using their first two cards, that’s called a Blackjack and they automatically receive their payout.

Baccarat or Blackjack: Which Will You Play?

Now you know the differences between these two fantastic casino games, all that’s left to do is to test out your skills on the tables. You can play both Baccarat and Blackjack right here! Simply sign up and make an account today to play!