The Baccarat Strategy
Baccarat is sophisticated and regal. Many people are surprised when they discover that it's a game that's amazingly simple to play.
The Basics
- Baccarat is not a game of skill. After you choose to bet on either the banker or the player, the game is out of your control. Unlike poker games, you cannot make decisions that will affect the outcome of the hands. There is no basic strategy to follow like in blackjack. Players simply choose a side and watch as the action unfolds.
- The fact that there is no decision-based baccarat strategy makes baccarat a game of chance. If you approach the game as such, then you won't stress out about trying to gain a substantial edge. Baccarat is an entertaining social experience. The game is out of your control, so just remember to have fun.
- Remember that you don't have to bet on every single hand in baccarat. If you want to sit out a few rounds, that's totally acceptable. If you're visiting a casino, make sure you experience at least a couple of hands in the baccarat pit. If your bankroll is measly, then you can still get the feel of the game by playing a couple hands here and there. When you want a break from the action, just sit out for a bit.
The Numbers
- The house edge in baccarat is very player-friendly. The house has only a 1.4 percent advantage on even-money bets. Because this advantage is so low, the house charges a five percent commission on winning banker bets. This means that the real payoff is not actually even. Players are paid 0.95 to 1.
- In baccarat, the odds of a player's hand winning are just slightly lower than the odds of the player's hand losing. The player's hand will win 44.62 percent of the time. The player's hand will lose 45.85 percent of the time.
- Ties are a rarity, but they do happen. The probability for a tie in baccarat is 9.53 percent. Don't ever bet on a tie, it's really not worth it. The payoff for a tie is 8 to 1, but the house has a huge advantage on these bets (14.4 percent). The even-money bets may appear less enticing, but they'll give you much more favorable odds.
- If you factor out the tie, then the banker's hand wins about 51 percent of the time. This one percent is a very marginal advantage, but it's slightly better than coin-flip odds. If you're unsure what bet to make, bet on the banker's hand to win. The odds are only minimally in your favor, but if you want to approach gambling with any degree of seriousness, you must play whatever advantage you can find.