Description
The bank is $5 to $2,000, in $5 steps, within the Banker’s balance.
Before any bet, each seat in turn from the Banker’s right may call banco: the first call claims the whole bank alone, and needs a balance that covers it.
Otherwise each seat may bet against the bank in turn, from $5, up to what is still uncovered. Whoever bets the most (equal bets: the seat nearest the Banker’s right) plays the Player hand for everyone betting.
Eight decks (416 cards), reshuffled when about 10% remain. Cards are dealt Player, Banker, Player, Banker. Aces count 1, tens and pictures 0, others their number; only the last digit of a total counts.
A two-card 8 or 9 is a natural and ends the coup at once.
The Player hand draws on 0–4 and stands on 6–7; on exactly 5 the player of the hand chooses.
If the Player hand stood, the Banker draws on 0–5 and stands on 6–7. If it drew, the Banker follows the table below, choosing freely only on 3 against a drawn 9 and 5 against a drawn 4. The Banker never sees the Player’s first two cards before deciding.
Player wins pay every bet even money. Banker wins collect every bet, less a 5% commission on the winnings. A tie returns every bet.
Instructions
The bank is $5 to $2,000, in $5 steps, within the Banker’s balance.
Before any bet, each seat in turn from the Banker’s right may call banco: the first call claims the whole bank alone, and needs a balance that covers it.
Otherwise each seat may bet against the bank in turn, from $5, up to what is still uncovered. Whoever bets the most (equal bets: the seat nearest the Banker’s right) plays the Player hand for everyone betting.
Eight decks (416 cards), reshuffled when about 10% remain. Cards are dealt Player, Banker, Player, Banker. Aces count 1, tens and pictures 0, others their number; only the last digit of a total counts.
A two-card 8 or 9 is a natural and ends the coup at once.
The Player hand draws on 0–4 and stands on 6–7; on exactly 5 the player of the hand chooses.
If the Player hand stood, the Banker draws on 0–5 and stands on 6–7. If it drew, the Banker follows the table below, choosing freely only on 3 against a drawn 9 and 5 against a drawn 4. The Banker never sees the Player’s first two cards before deciding.
Player wins pay every bet even money. Banker wins collect every bet, less a 5% commission on the winnings. A tie returns every bet.
Strategy and Tips
Focus on the Player total of 5
Most Player hand decisions are automatic: draw on totals from 0 to 4 and stand on 6 or 7. A total of exactly 5 is the only point at which the active punter can freely choose. Drawing is the usual percentage play on 5. It gives the hand a chance to improve before the banker acts, although the third card also gives the banker more information. For a simple, consistent strategy, draw on 5 rather than relying on instinct.
Draw in both banker discretion situations
Most banker draws follow the standard Baccarat tableau. The banker has a genuine choice in two situations: a Banker total of 3 when the Player’s third card is a 9, and a Banker total of 5 when the Player’s third card is a 4. Expected-value analysis favours drawing in both cases. Standing on 5 may feel safer, but it sacrifices value over repeated hands.
Respect natural 8s and 9s
If either hand has a natural 8 or 9 from its first two cards, the round ends immediately. Neither side may draw, even if the other hand has a low total. Check for a natural before considering any third-card decision.
Treat the size of the bank as a strategic choice
Winning allows the banker to carry the bank forward and add the latest winnings. This increases the possible return, but also puts a larger amount at risk on the following hand. Banking a smaller amount limits the damage from a loss, while pressing a growing bank increases both the potential profit and the potential loss.
Know when to pass the bank
The banker may voluntarily pass the bank to the next seat after a win. If the bank has grown to an amount you are no longer comfortable risking, passing protects the profit already made.
Do not rely on card counting
Cards already dealt can slightly affect the value of later decisions, but the potential gain is too small to make detailed card counting worthwhile for most casual players. Following the forced thresholds and making the correct decisions when you have a genuine choice is more useful.
Understand how the bank moves
Chemin de Fer uses one Player hand, and the bank passes to the next eligible seat when the banker loses. Baccarat Banque uses two separate punter hands against the banker, who keeps the bank after either a win or a loss.
Use the railway name as a reminder
“Chemin de fer” is French for railway. Think of the bank travelling around the table from one seat to another, particularly after the banker loses.
Base banker decisions only on visible information
The banker cannot see the Player’s first two cards. However, the banker acts after the Player hand has finished, so they know whether it drew and can see its third card. Use that public information when making a discretionary choice.
Account for commission when banking
The 5% commission applies only to winning banker hands. A punter betting against the bank does not pay it, so remember to account for commission when assessing your return as banker.
Do not assume holding the bank guarantees an advantage
Holding the bank means staking the money that other players bet against. The banker gains limited information by acting after the Player hand, but the Player’s original two cards remain hidden and a favourable result is never guaranteed.
Recognise where your decisions matter
Chemin de Fer gives the punter and banker genuine drawing choices in certain situations. Unlike Punto Banco and Mini Baccarat, where hands resolve automatically, your decisions can directly affect how those hands are played.
Frequently asked questions
How is Chemin de Fer different from Baccarat Banque?
Chemin de Fer uses one Player hand, and the bank passes to the next seat when the banker loses. In Baccarat Banque, two separate punter hands oppose the banker and the same player keeps the bank after either a win or a loss. Both are player-banked games, but their banking structures are notably different.
Why is it called Chemin de Fer?
“Chemin de fer” is French for railway. The name refers to the way the bank travels around the table from one seat to another. This movement is particularly clear after a banker loses, when responsibility for the bank passes to the next eligible player rather than remaining permanently with one person.
Does the banker see the Player’s cards before deciding?
No, the banker never sees the Player’s first two cards. However, the banker acts after the Player hand has finished, so they know whether it drew and can see its third card. The banker therefore has some public information when making a discretionary choice, but not the Player hand’s complete contents.
Do I pay commission when I am not the banker?
No, the 5% commission applies only to winning banker hands. A punter betting against the bank does not pay that commission. Your position at the table therefore determines whether it can apply, rather than the commission being deducted from every winning wager made during the game.
Does holding the bank give you an advantage?
Not automatically. Holding the bank changes your role because you stake the money that the other players bet against, but it does not guarantee a favourable result. The banker receives limited additional information by acting after the Player hand, although the Player’s original two cards remain hidden.
Is Chemin de Fer better for skilled players than automatic Baccarat?
It offers more scope for judgement because the punter and banker can face genuine drawing decisions. Punto Banco and Mini Baccarat resolve the hands automatically, leaving you to choose only your wager. Whether that makes Chemin de Fer “better” is personal, but it gives your decisions a direct role in how certain hands are played.