Although the rules may seem complicated to players who are new to the game, they are actually quite straightforward.
First, the shoe (where the cards are drawn from) is passed to the player to the right of the dealer, who then draws two cards. The player will then announce the total of the two cards. If the player has a total of 8 or 9, they will declare a “natural” victory, and the game is over.
If the player’s total does not reach 8 or 9, the dealer might draw a third card, depending on the player’s total score. If the player’s total is between 0 and 5, they must draw a third card. The same applies for the dealer in the case that the player does not draw a card.
If the total of all three cards is 8 or 9 for either player, the game ends in a “natural” victory. If none of the players draw an 8 or 9, then the player with the highest total wins the match.