If you want to play baccarat like a true professional, you need to know the technical terms. Of course, understanding strategies plays an important role in your game – but slang is just as important. Once you have mastered the baccarat-specific terms (such as „What does monkey actually mean in baccarat?“), You can bet with more confidence and avoid embarrassing situations where you don’t understand what others are talking about.
By the way: This baccarat glossary is also used by native English speakers, as the game includes terms from French, Italian, Spanish, etc. Although the game is simple and easy to understand, knowing the slang and expressions of experienced players will help you tremendously, so you can easily participate in their game rounds and feel like a pro at Bizzo Casino.
That’s why our baccarat training team invites you to study the glossary before you sit down at the gaming table – because you are very likely to encounter these terms. You might even encounter some of them while playing in the casinos on our Baccarat Casino page. So, let’s put the cards on the table!
List of Baccarat terms
Before we dive into all the baccarat slang, you should know that the terms can be divided into several groups. So let’s take a look at each one of them.
Types of stakes in the game
Banker Bet: One of three possible baccarat bets with a 1:1 payout. She doesn’t stand for the casino or the dealer.
Player bet: The opposite of the banker bet. She has a house edge of over 1% and also a payout of 1:1.
Tie Bet (Tie Bet): One of the three baccarat bets that pays out 8-1 or 9-1. In the event of a draw, the player and banker get their stake back.
Cheval (cross bet): This term comes from French and means „across“. It is a bet type that will only be won if you and another active player win the bet. If only one wins, it is considered a draw, and the Cheval bet remains.
Dragon Bonus: A side bet where you bet on the score of your chosen hand. You win when the hand is 8 or 9 points ahead or at least 4 points ahead.
Loss Bet: A bet against the bank with a higher house edge.
Match Play (Double Bet): Baccarat promotions where you can double your real money bet without increasing your own bet. Used by casinos to attract players.
Push (push bet or draw without decision): A bet that advances to the next round, with no win or loss.
Run (follow-up bet): The name of a side bet that bets on consecutive hands.
Flat Bet (Fixed Bet): Also known as flat betting – means you always bet the same amount, regardless of whether you win or lose.
Card and hand values
Zero: The worst combination in the game – consisting of jacks, queens, kings and tens.
Down Card (Hidden Card): A card dealt face down that is only revealed at a certain point in time. You can adjust your bets depending on this card as it can affect the final result.
Edge sorting (edge marking): A method in which you try to recognize the cards based on small differences in the spine of the card. However, you cannot use Edge Sorting in online baccarat.
Upcard: A card that is open on the table.
Natural: If your first two cards add up to 8 or 9 points, it is called one „Natural“. The round ends automatically unless the other hand also has a natural 9.
Picture cards: All cards with a portrait, i.e. Jack, Queen and King.
Monkey: The term „Monkey“ in Baccarat refers to Jack, Queen, and King – they all have the value 0.
La Grande: The best possible hand in baccarat (Natural 9). The term comes from French and literally means „the great one“.
La Petite: Or Natural 8 – also from French, means „the small one“.
Hand: The cards you receive and play with in a baccarat round.
Muck: Slang term for the eight 52-card decks shuffled at the beginning of the game.