Educational worksheet. Work through nine hypothetical punto banco hands to test exactly when Player or Banker draws a third card, including the Banker-3 exception.
What the worksheet tests
Punto banco uses a fixed drawing chart, not a choice by the person observing the hand. Start by scoring the first two cards on each side modulo ten. A two-card natural eight or nine stops the hand immediately. Otherwise Player draws on totals zero through five and stands on six or seven. If Player stands, Banker draws on zero through five and stands on six or seven. If Player draws, Banker uses a second chart that depends on the value of Player’s third card, not Player’s final total. These are separate tests: initial scores, the natural test, Player action, and then Banker action.
Four checks before every answer
First, confirm both two-card totals. Second, look for either natural: a natural ends the drawing stage for both sides even if the other side has a low score. Third, apply Player’s automatic rule. Fourth, apply Banker’s relevant rule. When Player takes a card, a Banker total of 0–2 always draws; 3 draws except after Player’s third-card 8; 4 draws after Player’s 2–7; 5 draws after 4–7; 6 draws after 6–7; 7 stands. When Player stands on 6 or 7, Banker’s drawing range is instead 0–5.
Cases 1–3: the exceptional Banker three
Case 1: neither hand has a natural, Player begins at 4 and draws an 8, while Banker begins at 3. Banker stands; the third-card 8 is the specific exception. Case 2: Player begins at 4 and draws a 0-point king, while Banker begins at 3. Banker draws; a 0 is not an 8. Case 3: Player begins at 5 and draws a 2, while Banker begins at 3. Banker draws again. The final Player scores differ among these cases, but the relevant Banker rule checks the third-card rank’s point value.
Cases 4–7: Banker four, five and six
Case 4: Player’s initial total 3 leads to a third-card 2; Banker begins at 4 and draws. Case 5: Player’s total 3 leads to a third-card 8; Banker begins at 4 and stands. Case 6: Player’s total 2 leads to a third-card 4; Banker begins at 5 and draws. Case 7: Player’s total 2 leads to a third-card 3; Banker begins at 5 and stands. As a final check, when Banker starts at 6 it draws only after Player’s third-card 6 or 7.
Cases 8–9: Player stands or either side has a natural
Case 8: Player opens on 7, Banker on 5: with no natural, Player stands and Banker draws. No Player third-card value is available, so the standard Banker 0–5 rule applies. Case 9: Player opens on a natural 8, Banker on 4: neither side takes a further card. A common worksheet mistake is drawing for Banker before checking the natural. To practise without money, write an initial pair of totals, mark “natural / Player draws / Player stands,” and then consult the appropriate row.
What the answers cannot establish
These decisions are procedural. Correctly applying the tableau determines which cards belong to each hand; it does not foretell what those cards will be or which side will win. Some non-punto-banco variants have different choices, so confirm the version before generalising. The companion rules article explains the complete chart; this worksheet is intended as an application exercise rather than a second basic rules introduction.
Related lessons
Full third-card rules · Natural 8 or 9 stop rule
Sources and methodology
Wizard of Odds — standard baccarat drawing rules; Bet5Games — complete third-card chart. Worked examples are hypothetical, not recorded casino results or predictive systems. Figures are educational estimates for stated rules, not live odds.
For adults in jurisdictions where gambling is legal. Learning the rules does not reduce the financial risks of gambling; stop if it causes harm.