Baccarat Terms Guide: What Dealers and Players Really Mean at the Table

Sit down at a baccarat table and, within a few minutes, you might hear someone say “coup,” “monkey,” or “standoff.” If you’re new to the game, it can sound like everyone else got a secret handbook you somehow missed.

That’s what this guide is for. Below is a full A–Z glossary of baccarat terms, covering everything from betting positions and staff roles to game mechanics, table slang, and different baccarat variants. So the next time you hear a term you don’t recognize, you’ll know exactly what everyone is talking about.

Some terms are straightforward. Others have a bit of history behind them. And a few sound completely unrelated to baccarat until you know what they mean. By the end, you should have a much better feel for the language used around the table—and you won’t have to sit there wondering what everyone is talking about.

Credit: Mega Casino

A

• Action – means the betting activity happening at the table. So when someone talks about the action, they’re usually talking about who is betting, how much they’re betting, and which side they’re backing.
• Auto Baccarat – this is a baccarat version where the cards are dealt by a machine and not a live dealer. You can wager on Player, Banker, or Tie before the cards are dealt, the same basic rules as baccarat apply. The automated betting system makes each hand instead of waiting for a dealer to make the deals, and the results are displayed on screen.

B

• Baccarat – is a card game that allows you to wager on the player’s hand, the banker’s hand, or whether the two hands will tie. The main baccarat strategy or goal is simple: to get as close to 9 as possible.
• Banco – is simply the French word for banker. There are typically two main sides to wager on in a baccarat game: the player and the banker (Banco). It’s just one of the two hands being dealt.
• Banco Prime – some variations of baccarat call the main Banker position Banco Prime. This term is not used by every table, but when it is, it usually refers to the Banker part of the game.
• Banker – is one of the three main betting options in baccarat, along with Player and Tie. Despite the name, the Banker isn’t controlled by you or another player. The casino deals the Banker hand according to the game’s fixed rules.
• Bankroll – the sum of money you have set aside to place bets is known as your bankroll. Managing your bankroll can make it simple to determine how much you’re comfortable spending during a session and when to stop.

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• Banque – is a traditional baccarat variation, sometimes associated with Baccarat Banque. Unlike standard Punto Banco, where the casino handles the Banker role, Baccarat Banque traditionally gives the Banker a more active role. The rules can vary, so the version being played matters.
• Big / Small – in baccarat, Big and Small refer to the number of cards dealt in the round. A Small result means that it is only four cards that are dealt in total. For example, if the Player gets two cards and the Banker also gets two, that’s a Small hand. A Big result happens when five or six cards are dealt. This usually occurs when one or both sides need a third card according to baccarat’s rules.
• Burning – is what happens when cards are removed or dealt face down before the actual hand begins. In many baccarat games, the dealer burns a certain number of cards at the start of a shoe. It’s basically a routine part of preparing the cards for play and doesn’t give players a way to predict the outcome.

C

• Caller / Callman – a caller, sometimes called a callman, is the person who announces or calls out the results during a baccarat game. In some traditional or live baccarat settings, they may also help keep the game moving by announcing bets, cards, or other table actions. You might not always hear the term used because the role can change based on the casino and the kind of baccarat being played.
• Card Values – Baccarat uses a simple card-value system. The UK gambling rules specify that cards from 2 to 9 are worth their face value, while 10s, jacks, queens, and kings are worth zero. An ace is worth one. The important part is that only the last digit of the total counts. For example, if the cards add up to 15, the value of the hand is 5.
• Carte – “Carte” is the French word for “card.” You may come across the word in traditional baccarat terminology, especially when reading about older European-style games such as Chemin de Fer.
• Chemin de Fer – is a traditional French-style version of baccarat. It has a slower, more social feel than standard Punto Banco.
• Cheques – are essentially a casino chip. They represent a certain amount of money and are used to place bets at the table. Depending on the betting options in the game, you can use it to place bets on the Player, Banker, or Tie.
• Commission – is a fee the casino takes on some bets in baccarat. The most common example is the Banker bet in regular baccarat. A winning Banker bet usually pays 0.95 for 1 because of the commission. So, if you place a bet of $100 on a Banker win, you are only paid out $95 in winnings, not the full $100.
• Coup – A coup is a single hand or baccarat round. It begins when cards are dealt and concludes when the outcome is known.
• Croupier – is the person who manages the baccarat table at a casino. They oversee the table, announce the action, deal the cards, and ensure that the game complies with the casino’s regulations. The croupier’s involvement in dealing the cards may vary depending on the variation of baccarat.
• Cut Card – A small plastic card used by the dealer to prepare the shoe or deck. It is not counted as a normal playing card and has no value in the game. It is used to mark a specific point on the cards. It assists the dealer in determining when the current shoe needs to be finished, and a new one is ready.

D

• Dealers (Side Dealers) – this is the person who deals the cards and runs the game. You can also hear the term side dealer in some baccarat set-ups. Apart from dealing the cards, they also help in other procedures of the game. The exact function may vary depending on the casino and the type of baccarat table you play at. The dealer’s job, in any case, is to keep the game moving, to deal the cards correctly, and to ensure that the rules are followed.
• Down Card / Hole Card – is a card that is dealt face down so that players cannot see it right away. Because the cards are usually dealt according to a predetermined set of rules, the down card in baccarat does not give the dealer the same degree of decision-making power as in blackjack casinos. It is just hidden until the right moment in the hand. Once revealed, it becomes part of the hand, and the game continues according to baccarat’s dealing rules.
• Dragon Bonus – is one of the most popular baccarat side bets. Instead of placing a wager on the Player, Banker, or Tie, you are placing a bet on a particular result that may yield a larger payout. Online casinos and baccarat games will have different specific rules and payouts. Usually, the wager is associated with an exceptionally unusual outcome.

E

• Edge – this is a mathematical advantage one side has over the other. It shows which wager has a higher chance of winning in the long run. For instance, the house edge of the Player bet is slightly larger than that of the Banker bet, which usually has a small house edge. That doesn’t mean the Banker will win every time. It just means the odds are a little better for that bet over many hands.
• EZ Baccarat – is a variation of standard baccarat that offers a few extra betting options and a few rule modifications to make the game easier to play. One of its most popular features is the Dragon 7 side bet. Unlike standard baccarat, where a Banker win with a total of 7 is usually treated as a regular Banker win, iEZ Baccarat normally uses a special rule for it. If the Banker wins with a three-card total of 7, the main Banker bet pushes instead of paying normally.

F

• Fade – to fade means to bet against something or someone. For example, if someone else is betting on the Banker, you may decide to fade that bet by placing a wager on the Player. You’ll mostly hear this term when players talk about going against a particular betting trend or another player’s opinion. It’s basically another way of saying, “I’m taking the other side.”

H

• Hand – is one round of baccarat and the cards dealt to the Player and Banker during that round. Each hand ends when the final result is determined: Player or Banker can win, or the hand is a Tie. For example, if the Player finishes with 7 and the Banker finishes with 5, that hand is a Player win. Once the cards are settled and the payout is made, the next hand begins.

L

• La Grande – is a baccarat term used for a specific type of winning hand. Depending on the variation of baccarat you are playing, it can refer to a high-value hand or a strong result. If you come across “La Grande” in a baccarat guide or at a table, it’s worth checking the rules of that particular game because the exact meaning can vary.
• La Petite – is a baccarat term that can be used to refer to a smaller or lower-value result. Its meaning may vary depending on the particular baccarat variation or casino regulations. Think of it as the opposite of “La Grande” — something smaller or less significant.
• Ladderman – is a casino employee who helps supervise or manage baccarat games. They may be working around the table, keeping an eye on the game, and making sure everything proceeds according to plan. The custom of using a small ladder or elevated position to give the employee a better view of the table is where the name came from.
• Lammers – are small markers or casino chips that serve a specific function instead of being used as standard playing chips. In baccarat, they can be used to mark things like commissions, credits, or something that needs to be tracked.
• Layout – when someone talks about the baccarat table layout, they’re basically talking about the design and betting sections of the table. If you’ve ever looked at a baccarat table and wondered where you’re supposed to put your chips, the layout is what tells you.
• Lightning Baccarat – is a faster, more exciting version of regular baccarat. The basic game is still the same: you bet on the Player, Banker, or Tie, and the hand is dealt according to baccarat’s standard rules.

M

• Marker – is a unique chip or plaque used to represent a certain number or the value of a bet in a baccarat game. In some baccarat casinos, markers can be regarded as players’ entertainment credit given to players that qualified for casino credit.
• Mini Baccarat – Mini baccarat is a smaller, quicker version of traditional baccarat. Basically, the rules are the same, but the game is generally played on a smaller table and with less betting limits. It’s popular with players who want the feel of baccarat without the formality of a full-size baccarat table.
• Monkey – “Monkey” is a casual casino term for a ten-value card. In baccarat, all 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings have a value of zero, so a monkey card doesn’t add anything to the hand’s total. For example, suppose that in a hand, you have a 7 and a King. In this scenario, the King holds a value of zero, which results in the total being 7.
• Muck – to discard cards without revealing them, depending on the circumstances and the rules of the casino. In baccarat, the term can also be used to mean the pile where used cards are put after a hand is completed.
• Multi-Deck Baccarat – is one of the baccarat versions played with several decks of cards shuffled together.

N

• Natural – is a two-card hand with a total of 8 or 9. It’s the best possible starting hand in baccarat. When either the Player or Banker has a natural, no third card is dealt, and the hand is usually settled immediately. For example, a 4 and a 5 make a natural 9.
• Natural 8 – this is when you first draw two cards that total exactly eight. It is a strong start in baccarat, often resulting in a stand.
• Natural 9 – refers to having two cards that total exactly nine. That is the strongest possible hand in baccarat. When this happen the hand usually ends immediately, so no more cards are dealt.
• No-Commission Baccarat – a baccarat game where the casino does not take the usual commission on winning Banker bets. In regular baccarat, a win on the Banker bet typically pays 1:1 minus a 5% commission. With No-Commission Baccarat, you typically receive the full money payout.

P

• Palette – in baccarat, this is a long wooden paddle or tool used by the dealer to move the cards around the table. It is mostly used when dealing from a shoe and helps the dealer to deal the cards without touching them directly.
• Panda 8 – is a special side bet that wins when the Player hand wins with a total of 8 using three cards. It’s a popular bet because it can pay much more than a regular Player bet, but the odds are also lower.
• Pass – a pass simply means the hand continues without a particular action being taken. Its meaning is subject to the table or context, so you may see the term being used slightly different—in different Baccarat Games.
• Perfect Pair – is a special side bet in the game of baccarat. It’s pretty straightforward: you’re betting that your first two cards will be a pair of the same suit and rank. If the first two cards you get are 7♠ and 7♠, that is a Perfect Pair. If they are both 7s, and different suits, for example, 7♠ and 7♥, it does not count.
• Player – is one of the two betting options in baccarat, along with the Banker. Betting on Player means you’re betting that the Player hand will have a higher total than the Banker hand. Don’t let the name confuse you. “Player” doesn’t necessarily mean you are personally playing that hand. It’s just the name given to one side of the game.
• Point / Points – it is the value of a baccarat hand after the cards are added together. Only the last digit counts. For example, if the cards total 16, the hand’s value is 6 points. A hand has 9 points when the total is 9. This is one of the fundamental concepts of baccarat because it is a game that requires the hand to be as close to 9 as possible to win.
• Private Baccarat – is a more exclusive baccarat version, played in a private setting with only a few players. It gives the players privacy in case they prefer their own time when playing the game.
• Punto – the Spanish and Italian word for a Player. You may come across it on baccarat tables, particularly in casinos that use traditional or international terminology. So, if you see “Punto,” think Player.
• Punto Banco – is the most common term of baccarat that means banker. The game is played between two hands, Player (Punto) and Banker (Banco). You place a wager, the cards are dealt in accordance with the baccarat rules, and the winning hand is the one with more points.
• Push – When the player and the banker have the same score in baccarat, it will be a push. For example, if the Player has 7 points and the Banker also has 7 points, it’s a push. Your Player or Banker bet is returned to you, so you don’t win or lose that bet.

R

• Road / Bead Plate – it shows each hand in order and records whether Player, Banker, or Tie won. Think of it like a quick game history. For example, if Banker wins three hands in a row, the Bead Plate will show those results clearly. It’s mainly useful for keeping track of what has already happened.

S

• Scoring – In baccarat, scoring goes from 0 through to 9, with 9 being the maximum score. Aces are counted as 1, 10s and face cards are 0s, while the value of cards from 2 to 9 remains.
• Shoe – the box that stores and deals the cards is called a Shoe. It usually consists of several decks mixed together rather than just one. You’ll see the dealer draw cards from the shoe throughout the game. It speeds up dealing and keeps the game going.
• Shooter – is the person who deals the cards. This job is usually taken by the dealer in most versions of baccarat, although players might take turns in some variations of the game. The meaning of the term may differ from table to table, depending on the type of baccarat game going on.
• Shuffle – before the next baccarat game begins, the cards are mixed. This ensures fairness during every round and also helps in maintaining unpredictable card patterns.
• Shills – are people who act like players to encourage others to place bets. They can be employed to create the illusion of busy and more thrilling environment than it actually is.
• Side bet – is an optional bet you can make alongside your main Player or Banker bet. It usually pays out if a specific event happens, like getting a certain card combination or a particular total. These bets can have bigger payouts than the regular bets, but they also tend to have higher house edges.
• Speed Baccarat – is a faster version of the traditional game of baccarat. The basic rules are the same, even tho the game moves much faster, and there is less time between hands.
• Squeezing – In baccarat, squeezing is a popular technique for progressively revealing the cards, especially in VIP or high-stakes games. Instead of turning a card over right away, a player carefully lifts or bends it to gradually reveal its value. The player is not showing the card at once, but instead, he carefully bends the card to reveal its value bit by bit while keeping the suspense alive.
• Standing – it means that the player’s hand is completed according to the rules, so they do not draw another card.
• Standoff – occurs when the total of the player’s and banker’s hands is equal. Another name for this is a tie. For example, the hand ends in a standoff if both the Player and the Banker have seven. What happens to your bet then depends on the type of wager you placed and the casino’s rules.

T

• Tie Bet – is a wager that the Banker and Player hands finish with the same total.
• Total – in baccarat, Total simply means the combined value of the cards in a hand. It’s a little different from regular card games because you only count the last digit of the total. For example, the total score of your hand should be 5 if the cards total 15. The total would be 8 if the cards total 8. 10s, jacks, queens, and kings have a value of zero, the cards 2-9 count with their face values, while aces count as 1. Let’s say your hand is 7 and 6, which gives a total of 13, it means the baccarat score is 3. Note that, the maximum baccarat score is 9, and the winning hand is the one with the highest score.
• Third Card – is an extra card dealt to either the Player or Banker hand when the baccarat rules call for it. You don’t choose whether to take one—the dealing rules decide automatically based on the first two cards.

V

• Vigorish / Vig – is basically the commission a casino makes from a bet. In baccarat, you’ll most often hear the term when talking about the Banker bet. The Banker bet pays even money when it wins, but the casino usually takes a 5% commission on the winnings. Therefore, if you place a $100 bet on Banker and it wins, you will make $95 instead of the full $100. That 5% commission is the vig. In some baccarat games, the commission can be different or even commission-free, so it’s always worth checking the table rules before you start playing.