How does baccarat scoring use only the last digit of a hand’s total?

In the card game of baccarat, the scoring system is designed to keep hand totals within a single-digit range of 0 to 9. When calculating the value of a hand, all cards are added together, but only the last digit of the resulting sum is considered significant.1

For example, if a player is dealt an 8 and a 5, the mathematical sum is 13. Because only the last digit is used, the hand's value is recorded as 3. This rule applies regardless of whether the hand consists of two or three cards, ensuring that the total count never exceeds nine. Face cards and 10s are assigned a value of zero, while all other cards retain their face value.1