Baccarat is a fun, easy to play table game that can entertain gamers for hours on end. Due to its ease, Baccarat is a great game for beginning gamblers, or for those who just want to spend some time in a lighter, more social environment.

How to Play Baccarat and Win Consistently

How to Play Baccarat and Win Consistently

Even though Baccarat is a fairly straight forward game, there are a few specific rules gamers need to know, which will help with betting and scoring, so let’s get started learning how to play.

Baccarat Pattern Strategy

How to Play Baccarat

Baccarat is, in essence, is a card value game. Two opponents, a “player” and a “bank,” are given hands ranging from two to three cards depending on the circumstances. Within these hands, the values of the 10 and face cards are disregarded, essentially dropping the tens place from any hand total. Gamers at the table, which is usually about the size of a craps table, place bets on whether the player will win, the bank will win or they will tie. Bets on either opponent pay out at 1:1, like a typical red or black bet on a roulette wheel, while winning bets on a tie pay out at 8:1 or 9:1 depending on the house. There is, however, a tax or commission that casinos will leverage on bets on the bank. After a hand is completed, a different gamer at the table gets to try their hand at the game and the cards are dealt them. The game works its way around the table, allowing anyone who wants to join in to do so.

How to Consistently Win at Baccarat

How to Consistently Win at Baccarat

How to Consistently Win at Baccarat

How to Wager

Wagers can be placed on the player, the bank or a tie. If a bet for the player wins, the payout is 1:1. The payout is almost the same for a bet placed on the bank, but since many casinos leverage a tax or commission of 5 percent on these bets, it actually pays out .95:1. There is no tax or commission leveraged against a bet placed on a tie, so winning tie bets pay out at a nice 8:1 or 9:1 flat. If a tie does occur, then only the tie bets are paid out and all other bets are left on the table as action for the next hand.

The Hand

Hands are dealt out of a shoe containing either six or eight decks, depending on the casino’s preference. The dealer first places two cards under the shoe, which will be the banker’s hand, and then deals two cards to the player. While the object of the game is to have the highest value of cards in your hand, similar to Blackjack, there are no decisions made by Baccarat gamers because all hitting and standing is determined by circumstances that will apply to rules explained later.

Baccarat System PDF

Baccarat System PDF

How the First Two Cards are Counted

Aces and cards 2-9 are scored at face value, while the 10 and face cards are ignored. For instance, if a hand contains a 2 and a 5, the total of that hand would be 7. If, however, a hand contains a 5 and a Jack, the total would be 5 because the Jack was ignored. Not only are the cards with a value of 10 ignored, but all values of 10 are also ignored. Meaning, if you have a hand that contains an 8 and a 9, the value would be 7 because the number in the tens place has been removed from the total value of 17.

The Third Card Rules for the Banker

If the two-card total is 1 or 2: Draw a card no matter what.
If the two-card total is 3: Draw a third card, unless the player’s third card was an 8.
If the two-card total is 4: Draw a third card, unless the player’s third card was a 0, 1, 8, or 9.
If the two-card total is 5: Draw a third card if the player’s third card was 4, 5, 6, or 7.
If the two-card total is 6: Draw a third card if the player’s third card was a 6 or 7.
If the two-card total is 7-9: Stand.

The Third Card Rules for the Player

If the two-card total is 1-5: Draw a third card.
If the two-card total is 6-7: Stand. The bank will draw if their hand is at 0-5 and stand at 6-9.
If the two-card total is 8-9: Stand. The bank will react according to the rules above.

Mini Baccarat Strategy

Mini Baccarat Strategy

The Final Result

The hand containing the highest scored value at the end of the round will be declared the winner. Depending on the winner, bets will be collected and paid out accordingly. If a tie occurs, bets for the player or bank will be left on the table as the action for the next round.

House Edge and Baccarat Payouts

The payout for a bet on the player pays out at 1:1, even money. Bets for the bank will be paid out with a tax or commission of 5 percent, essentially paying out at .95:1. Winning bets placed for a tie will payout at 8:1 or 9:1 depending on house rules.

Baccarat Strategy

While Baccarat has mostly even odds, casinos will build in an edge for themselves by leveraging a tax or commission on bets placed on the bank. If gamers are looking to go big, betting on ties will do it, but the house advantage on a tie bet is 14.44 percent, which might make you think twice.

EZ Baccarat Strategy

EZ Baccarat Strategy