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Punto Banco:
rules, strategies, and variations
Punto Banco is one of the most exciting and elegant games you can find in a casino; it is a variation of traditional baccarat that quickly spread to casinos around the world and is appreciated for its fast pace and engaging nature.
One of the distinctive features of Punto Banco is that it involves no competition, neither among players nor against the dealer, thus setting its entire gameplay dynamic apart from other typical casino games such as poker or blackjack.
One of the distinctive features of Punto Banco is that it involves no competition, neither among players nor against the dealer, thus setting its entire gameplay dynamic apart from other typical casino games such as poker or blackjack.
How do you play Punto Banco?
The game is played with 6 decks of cards, and players can bet on “Punta,” “Banco,” or “Egalité.”
Winning Banco and Punta bets are paid 1 to 1. A winning Egalité bet is paid 8 to 1. If the Banco wins with a total of 6, winning Banco bets are paid at half.
The dealer deals 4 cards face down from the shoe: the first and third cards are dealt to the Punta, while the second and fourth cards are dealt to the Banco. Cards have their face value, while 10s and face cards count as zero. The value of each hand is calculated by adding the card values and subtracting 10 whenever possible.
Following the drawing rules, the dealer reveals the Punta's 2 cards and the Banco's 2 cards. A total of 8 or 9, achieved with the first two cards, whether by the Punta or the Banco, prevents any further cards from being drawn.
The dealer draws a third card for the Punta when the total is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, and stands on 6 or 7.
As for the Banco's draw, the dealer draws a third card when the total is 0, 1, or 2, stands on 7, and with totals of 3, 4, 5, or 6 follows these rules:
– When the Banco has 3, a third card is drawn unless the Punta's third card is 8.
– When the Banco has 4, a third card is drawn unless the Punta's third card is 0, 1, 8, or 9 (i.e. a third card from 2 to 7, inclusive).
– When the Banco has 5, a third card is drawn unless the Punta's third card is 0, 1, 2, 3, 8, or 9 (i.e. a third card from 4 to 7, inclusive).
– When the Banco has 6, a third card is drawn only if the Punta draws a third card and it is 6 or 7.
Winning Banco and Punta bets are paid 1 to 1. A winning Egalité bet is paid 8 to 1. If the Banco wins with a total of 6, winning Banco bets are paid at half.
The dealer deals 4 cards face down from the shoe: the first and third cards are dealt to the Punta, while the second and fourth cards are dealt to the Banco. Cards have their face value, while 10s and face cards count as zero. The value of each hand is calculated by adding the card values and subtracting 10 whenever possible.
Following the drawing rules, the dealer reveals the Punta's 2 cards and the Banco's 2 cards. A total of 8 or 9, achieved with the first two cards, whether by the Punta or the Banco, prevents any further cards from being drawn.
The dealer draws a third card for the Punta when the total is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, and stands on 6 or 7.
As for the Banco's draw, the dealer draws a third card when the total is 0, 1, or 2, stands on 7, and with totals of 3, 4, 5, or 6 follows these rules:
– When the Banco has 3, a third card is drawn unless the Punta's third card is 8.
– When the Banco has 4, a third card is drawn unless the Punta's third card is 0, 1, 8, or 9 (i.e. a third card from 2 to 7, inclusive).
– When the Banco has 5, a third card is drawn unless the Punta's third card is 0, 1, 2, 3, 8, or 9 (i.e. a third card from 4 to 7, inclusive).
– When the Banco has 6, a third card is drawn only if the Punta draws a third card and it is 6 or 7.
Winning Numbers
At its Punto Banco tables, Giochi del Titano has introduced an additional betting option called "WINNING NUMBERS". This is a completely independent side bet and consists of a series of betting boxes on the layout displaying the numbers 1 to 9.
Players may place bets on the WINNING NUMBERS. A bet wins when the total value of the winning hand, whether Punta or Banco, matches the selected number. In the event of an Egalité, the bet neither wins nor loses.
Winning “WINNING NUMBERS” bets are paid at odds ranging from 2.5 to 1 up to 85 to 1, depending on the winning number.
Players may place bets on the WINNING NUMBERS. A bet wins when the total value of the winning hand, whether Punta or Banco, matches the selected number. In the event of an Egalité, the bet neither wins nor loses.
Winning “WINNING NUMBERS” bets are paid at odds ranging from 2.5 to 1 up to 85 to 1, depending on the winning number.