# item.guide
Side-by-Side Comparison Card Games

Baccarat vs. Spades

Comparing 2 standards across 21 specifications. 21 key differences identified.

Comparing:
Baccarat
Spades

Baccarat (Punto Banco) is a standard casino card game where players bet on whether the 'Player' hand or 'Banker' hand will achieve a point total closest to 9, or on a Tie. Cards 2–9 are face value, 10s and face cards count as 0, and Aces count as 1. Fixed mathematical tableau rules dictate when a third card must be drawn.

View full Baccarat spec sheet →

Spades is a standard 4-player partnership trick-taking card game where Spades are permanently the trump suit. Players simultaneously bid the exact number of tricks they expect to win. Bidding Nil awards a +100 point bonus (or -100 penalty), while taking extra tricks beyond the bid accumulates 'bags', triggering a 100-point penalty for every 10 bags.

View full Spades spec sheet →

Specification Comparison Table

21 Parameters
Parameter / Spec
Standard Shoe Size
6 or 8 decks
Target Score
Closest to 9 modulo 10
Cards 2–9 Value
Face Value points
10, J, Q, K Value
0 points
Ace Value
1 point
Banker Bet Payout
1:1 (minus 5% commission)
Player Bet Payout
1:1
Tie Bet Payout
8:1 (or 9:1 at select tables)
Banker House Edge
1.06% lowest edge
Player House Edge
1.24%
Tie House Edge
14.36% (at 8:1) unfavorable
Total Players
4 in 2 fixed partnerships
Deck Size
52 cards (13 dealt per player)
Permanent Trump Suit
Spades (♠) always trumps other suits
Rank of Cards
Ace (High) to 2 (Low)
Standard Winning Score
500 points
Contract Trick Points
10 points per bid trick won
Overtrick (Bag) Points
1 point per extra trick
10-Bag Penalty
-100 points deducted at 10 bags
Nil Bid Bonus / Penalty
+100 / -100 points (0 tricks won)
Blind Nil Bonus / Penalty
+200 / -200 points (bid before looking)