How To Play Punto Banco

Basics

In this game of chance, either the bank or 'banco' hand will win, paying out 19-20; or that the player or 'punto' hand will win, paying out even money; or that it will be a tie or 'egalite' between the two hands, paying out 8-1.

How To Play

Play then begins, and if you are playing on a larger table, a player may draw the cards. On smaller tables the dealer will draw the two sets of two cards.

The object is to bet on two hands of cards, guessing which will come closest to a count of 9. You can bet that

The value of each hand is then added up. Tens, kings, queens and jacks count as zero, aces count as one, and all other cards count as their face value. If the card total exceeds 9, the last digit counts as the value of the hand. For example, 6 + 7 = 13, which becomes 3. If the value is under 5, a third card is dealt.

Some casinos also offer Punto 2000, which works in exactly the same way, except that bets on the bank winning are paid out at evens, unless the bank wins with a value of 6, when bets are then paid out at 1-2.

During The Game

Dealers will never take chips or money from your hands - if you want to buy chips, simply put your money down on the table.