The game of baccarat is played using a fixed set of rules for both the player and the dealer. These rues represent the best odds of winning for both the player and for the house. This doesn't leave any room for player decisions, as the game is played out automatically according to set rules.
Calculations have been made that show the average odds of winning are as follows:
Odds of player winning - 44.62%
Odds of dealer winning - 45.85%
Odds of a tie - 9.53%
Thus, it would seem to be to your advantage to bet on the house winning on every hand.
To even out the odds however, the house charges a commission (typically 5%) on winning player bets placed on the house. How should this change the way a player wagers?
Factoring in the commission it turns out that you are still slightly better off by betting that the house will win. This assumes the commission is the usual 5%, however, should the commission change then you have to change strategy.
If the commission is less than 5% then it is to your advantage to bet with the house
If the commission is more than 5% it pays to bet on the player winning
Baccarat sometimes allows for a bet to be made for a tie, and sometimes it doesn't (mini baccarat typically played online usually does). Although the odds of 8 to 1 may sound appealing, it is considered one of the worst wagers in the casino, so don't bother making this bet part of your baccarat strategy.
Removing the tie hands in the event there is no payoff, the odds of the player winning are 49.32% and 50.68% for the dealer. For various commissions we can calculate the following average payoffs then, assuming 100 wagers of $1 were made. 4% commission Betting on the player Betting with the house
Winning $49.32 $50.68 * 96% $48.65
$49.32
($0.67)
Losing $50.68
Difference ($1.36)
You lose less by betting with the dealer.
5% commission Betting on the player Betting with the house
Winning $49.32 $50.68 * 95% $48.15
$49.32
($1.17)
Losing $50.68
Difference ($1.36)
You lose less by betting with the dealer.
6% commission Betting on the player Betting with the house
Winning $49.32 $50.68 * 94% $47.64
$49.32
($1.68)
Losing $50.68
Difference ($1.36)
You lose less by betting with the player.
In conclusion? You're better off betting with the dealer provided the commission is 5% or less whether tie games are allowed to be bet on or not. Simple as that.
Baccarat TipsTip #1: The one card placed faceup on the table indicates how many cards the dealer will burn. If the card turned up is a four of clubs, the dealer will burn four cards.
Tip #2: In baccarat, the casino takes a commission whenever a player wins a bet placed on the banker side. This is because betting on the banker has an inherent 1.06 percent advantage. Bets are paid at 0.95-to-1.
Tip #3: Twos through nines are counted at face value; tens and all jacks, queens and kings count as zero; and aces count as one. Suit is irrelevant in baccarat.
Tip #4: First and third cards are dealt to the player. Second and fourth cards are dealt to the banker.
Tip #5: For any total over nine, only the last digit is taken - for example, a total composed of a six of clubs and a six of diamonds is two. If either the player or the banker has a total of eight or nine, it's called a natural and automatically wins - unless the other hand also has a natural, in which case the two hands tie.
Tip #6: If the player holds a total of less than six or seven, the player draws.
Tip #7: With a total from zero to two the bank always draws; with a total of seven the bank always stands; with a total of three the bank draws, unless the player drew and its third card was an eight; with a total of four the bank draws, unless the player drew and its third card was an eight, nine or ace; with a five the bank draws, unless the player drew a third card outside the range of four through seven; with a six the bank stands, unless the player drew a third card of either a six or a seven.
General Tips
It is a good idea to avoid tie bets altogether, since they give the house a significant advantage, close to 20%, in fact. By sticking to only the banker and player bets, the house advantage will remain at a minimum, thereby maximizing your chances of winning. Betting on the player gives the house a 1.36% edge Betting on the banker gives the house a 1.17% edge Either way, the house has the edge and should win in the long run. Some baccarat players believe in streaks and will bet on whatever won the last hand. This strategy does not give you better odds though as each hand is like the flip of a coin.
The Martingale Betting System
This dangerous sytem can dig you into a deep hole very quickly should you have a long string of losses. It is an easy system to understand. You attempt to win 1 unit ($1/£1, or $5/£5, or whatever) on every hand. Your first bet is 1 unit on player or banker. If the bet is won, you start again at 1 unit. If the bet is lost, you double the next bet to 2 units. Winning at this stage gives you a win of 1 unit (1 unit lost followed by 2 units won). Should you lose again, then you double your bet again, this time to 4 units. And again, a win at this stage is of 1 unit (1 unit lost, 2 units lost and 3 units won). And so on until you win.
Given a 'normal' sequence it should not be too long before you register a win which covers your losses and provides a win of 1 unit. The object is to assemble a hand of two or three cards with a points value as close to nine as possible. The perfect hand is one that totals nine in the first two cards. Eight is the second-best hand and, along with the nine, it constitutes the two natural hands. The only hand that will beat a natural eight is a natural nine. If any player hand or the Bank has a natural eight or nine, the others may not draw a third card. In a tie, bets are called off. Aces count as one, picture cards as 10 and the others their face value. If your hand total is in double figures, then the first figure is ignored. So a hand totalling 18 would count as eight. The player with the most money is usually is declared the banker - this is the casino in Baccarat Banque and rotates in Chemin de Fer. The banker deals three hands of two cards each, face down. These hands are for two players, one to the right and one the left of the banker, plus his own hand. Other players at the table may bet on either hand (cheval) or both to beat the banker's hand. If a player declares banco, it means they are betting the total value of the bank's funds and all other bets are withdrawn. If either player has a count less than eight or nine, he may stand (saying non) or get one more card face up (saying carte).
The player must stand on six or seven and must draw on four or less. Casinos usually take their percentage of the bank and bets as their fee for the game. Baccarat Rules