Baccarat is a card game played at casinos; it consists of a game between the hand of the player and the hand of the banker. The game of Baccarat has three potential outcomes. In the first two outcomes, the win consists of having the highest score. This game, although very familiar to European casinos, it is still much unknown to the majority of the betting public. In this article, we will show how the rules are quite simple and attractive to play since it is not required to have some special knowledge of strategy nor special skills in terms of gambling.

How to Play Baccarat and Consistently Win

How to Play Baccarat and Consistently Win

How to Play Baccarat

Baccarat requires a six-deck or an eight-deck shoe, there’s the possibility to play Baccarat in three distinct ways, the punto banco variation, the baccarat chemin de fer in which is possible to have multiple gamblers against the dealer and the baccarat Banque. With this article we intend to explain the rules of punto banco variation since it is one in which the cards force the flow of the game, making it difficult to conceive a strategy.

How to Consistently Win at Baccarat

How to Consistently Win at Baccarat

How to Consistently Win at Baccarat

How to Wager

It’s possible to bet in the banker, the player or standoff, this last one is rarely used.

The Hand

The dealer will give two cards each; the goal of this game is to bet on the hand you think that will have the highest value. It is possible to draw a 3rd card for either side or both, based on three-card rules that will be explained later in this article.

Face cards and 10 cards have no value while cards below 10 count at face value and aces have a worth of 1, The count only considers single digits, for instincts, if you have 15, it will be counted as 5.

Winning Baccarat Strategy

Winning Baccarat Strategy

How the First Two Cards are Counted

In Baccarat the counting of the cards is made by the dealer, he adds up the value of the two cards for the banker, and if it’s more than 9, he’ll simply cut off the first digit, keeping the count to single digits. Having a count of 8 or 9 is seen as a “natural”, having a “natural” 9 is the strongest hand available in this game. After knowing the result of the banker, the player’s cards are revealed and counted the same way. The hand with a “natural” will be declared as winner, if both hands have the same “natural” value it’s considered as a tie and if neither hand has a “natural”, it’s possible to draw a third card to either the banker, the player or both, based on a set of rules that are compulsory to the game.

The Third Card Rules for the Banker

There are six rules compulsory for the bank to draw a third card; (1) If the total is 2 or less, regardless of the third card of the other part; (2) if the total is 3, it is possible to draw a third card except if the player’s third card was an 8; (3) if the total is 4, it is possible draw a third card, except if the player drew a 0, 1, 8 or 9 as a third card; (4) if the total is 5, it is possible to draw a third card if the player’s third card was a 4, 5, 6 or 7; (5) if the total is 6 it is possible draw a third card if the player’s third card was not a 6 or a 7 and finally, if the total is 7, the bank stands.

Proven Baccarat Strategy

Proven Baccarat Strategy

The Third Card Rules for the Player

This one has fewer rules regarding the third card drawing, however, the complexity of two of them is higher; (1) if either the player or the bank has a total of 8 or 9 on the first two cards, no third card will be drawn. This is a situation called “natural” and the hand is over; (2) if the total is less or equal to 5, a third card can be drawn and finally, (3) if he draws a third card, the bank third card rule will determine the draw of a third card.

The Final Result

Like in several card games, the hand that has the highest score will be the one to win and the proper payout will be made. If a tie happens, only the bets made on ties will be paid by the dealer, there’s no “back” and “lay” format in Baccarat, the remaining bets will be kept in the table for the next hand, this is why betting in standoffs in not very popular.

1326 Baccarat Strategy

1326 Baccarat Strategy

House edge and Baccarat payouts

For the Punto Banco variation, the house edge for Baccarat has different odds; for the banker, it’s a value between 1,06% and 1,17%, for the player it’s between 1,24 and 1,36% and in the case of a standoff it’s between 14,12% and 14,44% in case of an 8:1 or 9:01 payout. Regarding the payout, for the player is even money, $1 per every $1 bet, for the banker is $.95 for every $1 bet, and the difference is due to the difference in probabilities.

Baccarat is very simple to play, it’s just a question to pick the cards and look at them and it has low house advantage and a near-even payout, that’s why it attracted popularity in Asia and in European casinos and it’s a good choice for those that dislike a lot of strategies and are fond for chance games.

EZ Baccarat Strategy

EZ Baccarat Strategy

Baccarat Strategy