Baccarat Strategy
Baccarat is associated with wealth and commonly played by members of the upper class. This glamorous casino game is not usually available at low limit tables in live casinos. Even though baccarat is a favorite of high rollers, you can find a lot of low limit tables online. If you do not wish to bet a huge sum of money, the best place to play is at an online casino.
Baccarat has some of the best odds of any casino game, with a house edge as low as 1%. Stick with the advice below and you will stand nearly a 50/50 chance of winning at this casino favorite.
Bet the Banker
There are three bets available is Baccarat - Player, Banker and Tie. The Banker is actually an even money bet, which means there is no house advantage. The catch is that the casino takes a 5% commission. Nevertheless, betting on the Banker hand is the best bet you can make in baccarat, and actually one of the best bets available anywhere in the casino.
The Player comes in at a close second and is not a bad bet either. However, if you are strictly trying to give yourself the best chance at winning, stick with the banker. The house edge looks something like this:
Banker: 1.17% House Edge
Player: 1.36% House Edge
Avoid Tie Bets
The third bet in baccarat is the Tie, which has a horrible casino advantage. Commonly referred to as the "sucker bet," Tie bets carry a house edge of a whopping 14.4%. Despite a generous eight-to-one payout, you should avoid Tie bets at all costs.
Number of Decks
The best baccarat games are characterized by using the fewest number of decks. The fewer decks the casino uses, the better your odds. Typical games do not use less than six decks of cards, but some online casinos can utilize Microgaming software to use only a single deck. The key is finding the best baccarat sites online.
Lowest Commission
Most casinos charge a standard 5% commission on winning Banker hands, but it is not uncommon to find lower baccarat commissions. The Horseshoe in Las Vegas was known to offer a 4% commission on their big table game for years. Some online gambling sites have commissions as low as 2.75%.
You can make your money go a lot further by looking for these reduced baccarat commissions; they are often run as promotions at many casino websites.
Betting Strategies
Many baccarat players try to use betting strategies and identify score card patterns to beat the odds. Don't be fooled by these tactics; they do not work. Baccarat is completely random and the results of previous hands do not affect future outcomes. The Player and Banker hands have the same odds of occurring during every single hand. Any hot or cold streak is simply the result of random chance. The best betting strategy is to always bet the on the Banker.
Money Management
Baccarat offers a low house advantage and implementing a good money management system can let you play for a long time with a limited bankroll. One good approach is to follow these basic rules:
1. Decide how much you will play with. Remember not to risk more money than you can afford to lose.
2. Divide your money into predetermined bets. For example, if you bring $500 to the table you could make twenty $25 bets.
3. Pocket any winnings as soon as the hand is over. Once you have wagered the entire $500, walk away.
If luck is on your side, pocketing your winnings can lead to a nice profit. Even if it is not your night, there is almost no chance you will walk away empty handed. No matter what system you choose, the most important thing is to manage your money smartly. The key to any gambling strategy is discipline.
Final Thoughts
Baccarat offers one of the lowest house advantages of any casino game. Whether you play at live table or at an online gambling site, the key is to always bet on the Banker and stick with games that use the fewest number of decks and offer low commissions.
