Dragon Tiger eliminates baccarat's third-card rules entirely. The game resolves in a single card comparison, making it purely a game of chance with no procedural complexity for the player. Both games display "roadmap" scoreboards. Dragon Tiger's shows clumps of Dragon or Tiger results, baccarat's tracks Banker and Player patterns. But neither roadmap provides a predictive mathematical edge, since each round is independent.
Flowchart of a Standard Dragon Tiger Round
Understanding the step-by-step sequence helps new players visualise the flow before their first session:
Step 1: Betting Window Opens
The dealer (or software) signals that bets are accepted. On most live tables, this window lasts 10 to 15 seconds. Players select chip size and place wagers on Dragon, Tiger, Tie, or any available side bets.
Step 2: Betting Window Closes
The "No More Bets" announcement appears. No additional wagers are accepted.
Step 3: Card Deal
The dealer draws one card face-up for Dragon and one card face-up for Tiger. In live-dealer environments, this sequence is handled by a human dealer on camera, often with RFID-equipped cards for automatic recognition.
Step 4: Comparison and Result
If Dragon's card outranks Tiger's card, Dragon wins. If Tiger's card outranks Dragon's card, Tiger wins. If both cards share the same rank, it is a Tie.
Step 5: Settlement
Winning Dragon or Tiger bets pay 1:1. Tie bets pay according to the table's posted odds (commonly 8:1 or 11:1 depending on the provider). If the result is a Tie and the player bet Dragon or Tiger, the standard rule is that 50% of the main bet is returned and 50% is retained by the casino.
Step 6: Next Round
The cycle restarts immediately. In live settings, statistical roadmaps update on-screen showing the latest result.