While baccarat is not the first game that crosses your mind when you think about casinos it is certainly one of the top five games when it comes to gambling, in both traditional brick and mortar ones and modern online casinos. Excluding modern titles, crash games, and various other casino novelties, baccarat stands in a stratosphere of its own together with the likes of slots, poker, blackjack, and other casino mainstays. Have you ever played it?
It is hard to imagine a casino goer who hasn’t tried to play at least a few hands of baccarat. After all, the two card drawing game is rather similar to blackjack, and very popular among players. It even features as one of card games that famous secret agent James Bond 007 plays in the 1981 movie For Your Eyes Only. A straightforward game, played by many, drawn by quick rounds, and a chance to double your win each draw.
While enticing to play for both the experienced players and rookies alike, it is not wise to play this game, or any other for that matter, before you know some of the rules, how it’s played, and viable strategies to win. In this article we are going to talk about each of these points, and after you read it, your chances of winning in baccarat will be higher than only a few moments before.
The Basics of The Game
As we said, one of the reasons why baccarat was and remained popular is its simplicity. It is played between two players – Player & Banker. What makes baccarat different from blackjack and similar card games is the fact that players do not decide the outcome after cards are dealt. They simply wager on which side is going to win by placing a bet on either the player or on the Banker. Also, it is possible to place a wager on a tie.
Unlike blackjack where the main goal is to reach 21 or as close as possible to it, in baccarat the player will be looking to reach the magic number nine (9). Both the player and the banker are dealt two cards. The combined value of cards determines the total of the hand. The hand closest to nine is the one that wins. If the hand exceeds nine, and you draw 17 for example, the number that counts is the last one and that hand has a value of 7.
The best part about baccarat is that it can be played by up to 14 players and most tables usually have a layout that accommodates 12 to 14 players. The more the merrier. Each player is given three betting areas that include spaces for Player, Banker, and a tie. For people who are only starting to learn how to play baccarat the primary betting options are as listed – Player, Banker, and a tie. The dealer stands in the middle of the table shuffling cards to players, and the flow of the game, its speed and fluidity are in the hands of the dealer.
How to Play Baccarat?
As we said, in essence, baccarat is rather a simple game. Even as a new player, you will quickly grasp the basics. The dealer is in charge of the game, and you can learn the basics by handling a few cards without too much hassle. The centrepiece of the game is the dealer and he’s the one drawing cards once the bets are made. He draws two cards for both the Player and the Banker. Upon revealing the cards, the dealer decides whether to draw an additional third card. When the first draw is either 8 or 9 both hands stand and no additional card is drawn in a stand that’s called natural. When the table has a hand that equals 5 or less, an additional card is being drawn. Depending on the rules of specific baccarat tables, the Banker can decide whether to draw additional cards too.
What makes baccarat mathematics so interesting is the manner in which cards are counted. In baccarat, cards from 2 to 9 retain their face value. A 10 and other face cards do not hold value in this game and they’re counted as 0. So, when you have a face card, let’s say a Q, and a 3, you draw an additional card. The final value of the hands is always in the region of 0 to 9. He who holds card value closer to 9 or 9 itself is the one that wins that given hand.
The moment you grasp these basics you can start wagering real money on baccarat. The chances to win are always present. When you bet on the player, the house edge is a tad bit higher, but the payout is straight 1:1 if the Player’s hand beats the dealer’s. Among players, this is the more popular bet between the original two. Betting on the banker is the bet that statistically speaking gives you better chances of winning. It comes with a lower house edge, and when the Banker wins you get a 1:1 payout but with a 5% commission. The moment you fully start understanding baccarat is the moment when you can start considering playing on a tie. As you probably guess this is a bet that wagers on the outcome where the player and the banker have the same total. In a case of a tie the payout is set at 8:1. It is a riskier option but the one that pays out the best the moment you hit.
Whether you want to bet on the Player or the banker, or maybe putting your bankroll on a tie, you shouldn’t go all in before you learn the game of a baccarat on a slightly deeper level. To do this, you need to know that there are more than a few viable strategies to play this amazing game.
Top Baccarat Strategies
Those players that have baccarat as their favourite game often play it by applying some of the most popular baccarat betting strategies. The strategies that apply to baccarat are rather similar to the ones seen in blackjack, poker, and roulette. Once you read the following section of this article, we’re sure you will have your favourite baccarat strategy in mind for the next time you’re ready to wager some money at Stake online casinos and sportsbooks. Check out the top baccarat strategies:
The Martingale System
As old as the gambling itself, the martingale system has been around for a while. It is a strategy that needs to be approached with caution despite the fact that many players see it as a gospel. The Martingale system revolves around a system that is often advised to players not to apply – chasing losses.
While chasing losses is something we advise players not to do, with Martingale strategy is precisely what you need to do. This is how it’s out to play. Let’s say you place a bet, and it lands you a win of $20. That’s nice! Now envision the loss of that same wager – Marty kicks in. The Martingale system relies on a wagering principle that requires players to double their bets after every single loss. Its strength lies in persistence as you’re not to stop doubling your wagers until a win lands. This system works if you have enough cash on hand as with an eventual win, after doubling each wager, you will not only win, recoup the losses, but will have some money to spare.
With three available bets in baccarat, the player, the banker , and a tie, you could create a hole in the system by failing to respect it to a point by deciding to change your bet. When applying the Martingale strategy it is important not to change your bet. This is one of the reasons why this strategy is not foolproof. In theory it works, but to win every time your bankroll needs to be rather deep. With enough chips, this system will fall your way eventually. But, if your bankroll is limited, the martingale system could quickly empty your pockets leaving you no funds or time to put it into motion the way it is intended.
Back the Banker Strategy
If you’re a rookie to the game of baccarat, someone needs to tell you one public secret – when playing baccarat always put your bets on the banker. Bankers bet us your best option to win frequently. As we already said, your chances grow with Banker bets despite having to pay a commission. When betting on the players hand the payout is 1:1 while on the banker it stands at 0.95:1.
Because of what we said, the famous Back the Banker Strategy came to fruition. It is put in motion when you play each hand of baccarat by covering the Banker. The moment you decide to go down this lane is when you ought to know that there’s no turning around. Each bet needs always to be on the banker.
The factors that come into play here are the winning percentages for every win. A chance of a Banker’s win stands at 45.86% while the Player bet is at 44.62% with a tie standing at 9.52%. Those who are eager to follow the Back the Banker Strategy will never bet on a tie. It is always one bet – the same bet. Backing the Banker is a serious approach that is intended for those that can consistently make the same move until it works.
The Baccarat Paroli Strategy
If you’re one of the players who enjoy their Baccarat online, you need to give a chance to the baccarat Paroli strategy. In essence, Paroli is rather similar to the Martingale system but with an added dose of optimism. Its positivity can’t be neglected and when Paroli suits a player it is rarely given up on.
With Paroli strategy, a player needs a certain dose of luck to make it work. For one, you need to win, and you need to win in waves. Paroli kicks in when a player is on a winning spree. When you place a $10 bet on the banker, and you win $19.50, to make Paroli work your next bet needs to be a full $19.50. Paroli only works when you’re on a run of back-to-back wins. Players love it as it banks on winning sprees.
The downside to this approach is that you’re always betting with all of your winnings. Just like with the Martingale system you never know when this spree of wins is going to happen. So, it is a high risk-high reward system that is rather unpredictable. Yet, unlike Martingale is opposite to chasing losses, it’s rather betting higher with the house money and your original wager. If Paroli turns out to be the strategy you’re going with it is vital that you apply it with limits in mind in both the losses and the eventual wins.
The Baccarat Fibonacci Strategy
Let’s play the numbers game. The Fibonacci number sequence is a rather familiar term. It was devised by an Italian mathematician Fibonacci and it is a sequence that is calculated by the solution being the adding together of the two numbers coming before. The base of the Fibonacci numbers is the following sequence: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144 etc.
While initially devised for roulette, the Fibonacci strategy can be applied to baccarat too. It revolves on the basics of the sequence itself. With each losing bet you get to the next number in the sequence. So, if you place a $10 bet and you lose your next bet needs to be $10 too. If you lose two in a row, your next bet needs to be $20. If you lose $20, your next bet will be $30, and the $50, and so on until you win. The moment you win, you get back at the start of the sequence. This approach is a tweaked Martingale with less aggression and a better game flow considering that you will not be doubling your bets each round.
Baccarat is a fun game, and it gets even better the moment you learn how to play it, and start applying the right strategy. All that remains to be asked, is what you’re waiting for, and which strategy will be your go to baccarat solution?