Baccarat is a casino card game in which gamblers wager on one of three outcomes:
Player hand wins
Banker hand wins
Tie
The names Player and Banker describe the two hands. They do not mean the gambler is personally playing against the casino.
Baccarat is mostly determined by fixed drawing rules. Players choose where to place their wagers but do not normally decide whether either hand draws another card.
Before play, Franz should establish:
Minimum and maximum wager
Whether the table uses standard baccarat or a private variation
Available side bets
Commission charged on Banker wins
Whether the game is legal, private, or underground
Use a standard deck or digital card draw.
Card values are:
Ace: 1
Cards 2–9: Printed value
10, jack, queen, and king: 0
Only the final digit of a hand’s total matters.
Examples:
7 + 8 = 15, so the hand is worth 5
9 + 6 + 7 = 22, so the hand is worth 2
10 + king = 0
The highest possible hand is 9.
Each round follows this sequence:
Players wager on Player, Banker, or Tie.
Two cards are dealt to the Player hand.
Two cards are dealt to the Banker hand.
Natural totals are checked.
Any required third cards are drawn.
The totals are compared.
Winning bets are paid.
If either starting hand totals 8 or 9, it is a natural. Both hands normally stand and the higher total wins.
The Player hand acts first:
Total 0–5: Draw a third card.
Total 6–7: Stand.
Total 8–9: Natural; stand.
The Banker hand follows fixed rules.
If the Player stands, the Banker:
Draws on 0–5
Stands on 6–7
If the Player draws a third card, use this table:
Banker TotalBanker Draws When Player’s Third Card Is0–2Always draws3Draws unless the Player’s third card is 84Draws if the Player’s third card is 2–75Draws if the Player’s third card is 4–76Draws if the Player’s third card is 6 or 77Always stands
The Player’s third-card value uses normal baccarat values. Tens and face cards count as 0.
Franz should apply these rules automatically unless the table uses an established variation.
The wager wins if the Player hand finishes closer to 9.
Payout: 1-to-1
A 100 GP wager returns the original 100 GP plus 100 GP profit.
The wager wins if the Banker hand finishes closer to 9.
Common payout: 1-to-1, minus a 5% casino commission
A 100 GP wager usually returns the original stake plus 95 GP profit.
The Banker wager has a slightly lower house advantage than the Player wager under ordinary rules, which is why the casino charges commission.
The wager wins if both hands finish with the same total.
Common payout: 8-to-1 or 9-to-1
Tie bets offer large payouts but strongly favor the house over repeated play.
Some tables may offer:
Player Pair
Banker Pair
Either Pair
Perfect Pair
Natural 8 or 9
Exact winning margin
Side-bet rules and payouts should be stated before wagering. Most side bets have a larger house advantage than Player or Banker bets.
Normal baccarat requires no skill check to resolve the cards.
Intelligence may help a character:
Understand the drawing rules
Compare Player and Banker odds
Recognize unfavorable side bets
Calculate commission
Identify altered house rules
Track wagers and payouts
Suggested checks:
DC 10: Understand the basic wagers
DC 12: Recognize that Banker is usually the strongest ordinary wager
DC 15: Detect unusual payout rules or commission
DC 18: Identify suspicious dealing or statistical irregularities
A successful check provides information. It does not change the cards or predict the next hand.
Players may record past results on scorecards. Common patterns include streaks, alternating results, and repeated ties.
These patterns do not predict independent future hands. A character succeeding on a DC 12 Intelligence check understands that a long Banker or Player streak does not make the opposite result due.
Cheating may involve:
Marked cards
Dealer collusion
False shuffling
Card switching
Hidden cameras
Viewing cards before wagering closes
Counterfeit chips
Altered commission records
Late wagers
Manipulated automatic dealing equipment
Coordinated distractions
Cheating may require Sleight of Hand, Deception, technical tools, access, or an insider.
Possible detection methods include:
Dealer Perception
Security footage
Card inspection
Wager records
Statistical review
Access logs
Employee testimony
A successful check may fool nearby staff without defeating later surveillance review.
Private baccarat games may differ from casino play. Wealthy hosts or criminal factions may:
Use unusually high minimum wagers
Allow property, secrets, or favors as stakes
Remove normal betting limits
Use a trusted private dealer
Restrict entry by invitation
Charge hidden fees
Add dangerous consequences for unpaid losses
Franz should explain unusual rules and visible stakes before players commit.
Franz should clearly state:
Current wager
Player and Banker cards
Hand totals
Whether a third card is required
Winning result
Commission and final payout
The player controls only their wager and whether to continue gambling. The drawing rules should remain automatic and consistent.
Baccarat works well for luxury-casino scenes, meetings with wealthy criminals, political negotiations, money laundering, suspicious winning streaks, cheating investigations, and high-stakes wagers involving access, information, or debt.