How To Play EZ Baccarat
Gaming | 5 MINS
EZ Baccarat is a commission-free baccarat variant where winning Banker bets pay 1 to 1 with no deduction. Below you'll find the complete ez baccarat rules, card values, all five betting options with baccarat payout amounts, how ez baccarat vs baccarat compares on house edge, and the full third-card drawing rules.
What Is EZ Baccarat?
EZ Baccarat is a commission-free version of Mini-Baccarat where winning Banker bets pay 1 to 1 with no 5% commission deducted. If you're wondering what is ez baccarat and how it differs from the standard game, the house maintains its edge through the Dragon 7 rule: when the Banker wins with a three-card total of exactly 7, all Banker bets push rather than pay out.
The game plays identically to standard baccarat in all other respects, same card values, same third-card drawing rules, same bet structure. Learning how to play ez baccarat also means understanding the two optional side bets. Dragon 7 (40 to 1) and Panda 8 (25 to 1).
How Are Cards Valued in EZ Baccarat?
Cards 2 through 9 count at face value. Aces count as 1. Tens and all face cards count as 0. When a hand's total exceeds 9, only the second digit counts, a hand totaling 14 is scored as 4. This makes 9 the highest possible hand value in the ez baccarat rules.
What Are the EZ Baccarat Rules and Betting Options?
The ez baccarat rules offer five betting options before each deal. The goal is to correctly predict which hand finishes closer to 9.
Player Bet: Wins when the Player hand is higher. Pays 1 to 1.
Banker Bet: Wins when the Banker hand is higher. Pays 1 to 1 (no commission). Pushes on a Banker three-card 7.
Tie Bet: Wins when both hands are equal. Pays 8 to 1.
Dragon 7: Wins when the Banker totals exactly 7 with three cards and beats the Player. Pays 40 to 1.
Panda 8: Wins when the Player totals exactly 8 with three cards and beats the Banker. Pays 25 to 1.
Each baccarat payout is fixed, there are no decisions to make after placing your bet. The cards are dealt and resolved according to the third-card drawing rules.
How Does EZ Baccarat Compare to Traditional Baccarat?
The core difference when comparing ez baccarat vs baccarat is the commission structure. In traditional baccarat, every winning Banker bet is charged a 5% commission (a $100 win pays $95). In EZ Baccarat, there is no commission, the Dragon 7 push rule replaces it, activating approximately 2.25% of the time.
This makes the game flow faster since the dealer doesn't track individual commissions. Mathematically, the baccarat payout structure is nearly identical between the two versions, the effective return on the Banker bet is within 0.04% of traditional baccarat.
What Is the EZ Baccarat House Edge?
The ez baccarat house edge on the Banker bet is approximately 1.02%, virtually identical to traditional baccarat's 1.06% after commission. The Player bet carries a house edge of about 1.24%. The Tie bet sits at roughly 14.4%, Dragon 7 at 7.61%, and Panda 8 at 10.19%.
For most players, the Banker and Player bets offer the best return in ez baccarat, while Dragon 7, Panda 8, and Tie bets trade higher house edges for the chance at larger payouts.
What Are the Third Card Drawing Rules?
Two cards are dealt alternately to the Player and Banker positions, starting with the Player. If either hand totals 8 or 9 (a "Natural"), the round ends immediately. When no Natural appears, the hands draw according to fixed rules, neither you nor the dealer makes decisions. This ez baccarat hit chart shows when each hand draws or stands.
Player Drawing Rules
| First Two Cards Total | Action |
|---|---|
| 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | Draw a third card (unless Banker has a Natural) |
| 6, 7 | Stand |
| 8, 9 | Stand (Natural) |
Banker Drawing Rules
| Banker Total | Draws When Player's 3rd Card Is | Stands When Player's 3rd Card Is |
|---|---|---|
| 0, 1, 2 | 1–10 | , |
| 3 | 1–7, 9, 10 | 8 |
| 4 | 2–7 | 1, 8, 9, 10 |
| 5 | 4–7 | 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 |
| 6 | 6, 7 | 1–5, 8, 9, 10 |
When the Player stands on two cards (totaling 6 or 7), the Banker follows the same draw/stand rules as the Player. Otherwise, the Banker draws according to the ez baccarat hit chart above based on the Player's third card value.
