Top Baccarat Casinos

Wild Casino
$1100
Welcome Bonus
5/5
El Royale
$1100
Welcome Bonus
5/5
Slots.lv
$900
Welcome Bonus
4/5
Red Dog Casino
$1100
Welcome Bonus
5/5

Top Benefits
of Real Money Baccarat

Picture

#1

Game Translates Perfectly to Online Play

There are few casino games that translate better to online play than real money baccarat. Whether you choose to play at a live dealer table with other players or ‘head to head’ against a software based dealer the baccarat gameplay and strategy is exactly the same.

Top Benefits
of Real Money Baccarat

Picture

#2

More Betting Options Online

There are few casino games that translate better to online play than real money baccarat. Whether you choose to play at a live dealer table with other players or ‘head to head’ against a software based dealer the baccarat gameplay and strategy is exactly the same.

Top Benefits
of Real Money Baccarat

Picture

#3

Something for Everyone

Let’s face it, playing baccarat at a land based casino can be very intimidating. Most players have little patience for newcomers and the baccarat tables can get very busy. There’s also the chance that you won’t be able to find a game with bet limits that you’re comfortable with. None of this is an issue with real money online baccarat. No matter if you choose a software based game or a live dealer casino there will be plenty of bet minimums and limits to fit your bankroll. There are also options for newcomers to play at their own pace along with games that are perfect for more advanced players.

Online Baccarat vs Land Based Baccarat

vs
Online Baccarat
Land Based Baccarat
Players can choose between a software based dealer, ‘big table’ baccarat or ‘mini baccarat’.
Players can choose between a software based dealer, ‘big table’ baccarat or ‘mini baccarat’. (varies depending on jurisdiction and casino)
Players can enjoy familiar baccarat gameplay and strategy.
Players can enjoy familiar baccarat gameplay and strategy.
Wide variety of bet limits, side bets and progressive jackpots with options for novice players.
Wide variety of bet limits, side bets and progressive jackpots with options for novice players. (varies depending on jurisdiction and casino)

The Greatest Gambling Guide to Online Baccarat

A General Baccarat Overview: Three Tables, Many Rules

Baccarat, also sometimes referred to as Punto Banco, is one of the most popular and oldest strategy games on earth. The game most often selected by high-dollar gamblers, casinos and online gambling websites alike lure in wealthy players with popular and new Baccarat options.

In the past, Baccarat has been associated with a complicated rule set and incredibly high stakes. Today, however, it is minimal and simplified, and a gambler can enthrall themselves with a game of Baccarat with a medium-sized bankroll of available capital.

Baccarat is famous for its low house edge. Contemporary rules are relatively simple, and boils down to a player selecting one of three wagering options and placing their wager based on their selection, regardless of a utilized strategy or just going with their gut.

If players are partaking in Baccarat at a physical, brick and mortar casino, there are three tables which gamblers can join. Big Table Baccarat is intended for higher rollers, and are likely hidden in a special VIP area of the casino. The limits are far higher than the tables for standard players. Standard Baccarat tables are a similar size to craps tables, and as many as fourteen players can join at once. These players can bet either on the play or for the banker, although dealers generally bet on bankers.

Much like dice rotating around a craps table, the point of dealing rotates around the Baccarat table. If the player is reluctant to deal, they may pass to the next player, who deals only if the banker wins.

The player dealing places two face-down cards under the shoe. The player who placed the largest bet is dealt two cards, also face down. The player then looks at their cards and gives them back to the dealer. The dealing player then turns over the cards, and one of the dealers announces the totals. At this point, the dealer can request a third card. The dealers then pay winning wagers. Unlike the similar Pai Gow, in Baccarat the dealer is not liable for losses of other gamblers at the table.

The second table is Mini Baccarat, which has similar rules to Big Table, with minor differences. Dealers turn over the cards, speeding up the gameplay. However, this game variant of Baccarat is suitable for large numbers of players as well, due to lower limits on the tables. Most of the time, Mini Baccarat has the same odds as Big Table, but change slightly if cards are dealt from six decks. The third table variant is called Midi Baccarat, is suited for high rollers, and the table is far larger.

Baccarat Rules and Concepts

In most cases of Baccarat, as many as eight decks can be played at once. The value of all face cards and tens are zero, and numbered cards are equal to their numerical value, with an ace being equal to one. Dealers are required to turn one card over at the start of each new hand to determine the number of cards to be burned off the deck before starting that round.

The cut card is then placed sixteen cards from the bottom of the shoe. The hand is considered done when the cut card appears, and the dealer plays one more hand before starting a new “shoe”. Players bet on the player, banker, or tie. Dependent on the table joined, baccarat players might also be able to bet on a player or banker pair.

When all bets have been placed, the dealer hands two cards to the player, and two to the banker. The value of the hand is the right digit of the total of cards. The hand with the highest value wins. To summarize, if a player was dealt a seven and eight, the total is fifteen and the score is five (right-hand digit of fifteen). It is important to note that scores are always between zero and nine. Busting is not an option. When the cards of both the player and banker have the same result, a tie occurs.

Sometimes, the player or dealer may receive a third card, if the variant is in that rule set. The most important rule of Baccarat states that a third card can be dealt if the banker or player have a total score of eight or nine, and they both decide to stand. If the player’s total is five or lower, the player is supposed to hit, like blackjack. If the total is more than five, the player stands. If the player stands, the banker will hit, if their total is also five or less.

Winning bets on the player or banker are paid one to one, but a five percent commission is charged on bank bets, lowering the odds to 0.95 to one, or 95%. Players will note that the dealer maintains focus of commissions owed with small markers. Commissions are collected at the end of a shoe.

Regarding tie bets, payouts may vary from casino to casino, but in most cases, are paid eight to one or nine to one (8:1 or 9:1). If the hand ends in a tie, the player and banker are refunded their bets. Once the player places a bet, it cannot be changed or rescinded. The player and banker hands are dealt in accordance with established rules.

Odds in Baccarat, House Edges, and More

Odds refer to the gambler’s chances of winning or losing a house bet. Baccarat is widely considered to be the casino game with the lowest house edge possible. Although in the past considered highly complicated, newer rules are simpler, and players just choose one of three betting options. Rules established have aimed at developing a small house edge on player and banker bets, and a large house edge on tie bets.

The house edge on a banker’s bet is 1.06% (making the player’s edge 98.94%), and the house edge on a player’s bet is 1.36% (making the player’s edge 98.64%). The house edge on tie bets, however, jumps to 14.4%, and to complement this, the payout is far more generous than the payout on banker and player betting types. The odds for a player’s hand to win in a game of Baccarat are 44.62% and the chance for that same player to lose is 45.85%. Thusly, the odds of a hand to end in a tie is the remaining 9.53%.

If you don’t include chances of a tie in odds calculations, the banker has 51% odds always, regardless of the bet made. This lower house edge makes Baccarat a preferred game by both high rollers and small-scale players alike. Regardless, don’t underestimate the importance of the 5% commission required to pay to the house.

If you are looking to win big, you are advised to bet on Banker or Player instead of opting for a tie bet. In accordance with other calculations, the Baccarat gambler wins 49.32% of all non-tied bets, while the banker wins the remaining 50.68%. Let’s assume a player wagers 1000 credits and expect to lose 506.8 and win 493.2. If the player takes 493.2 out of 506.8, they get a leftover value of 13.6, which winds up being the house edge against the player’s bet.

As for the banker odds, they can be calculated as such: Presume the player is still wagering 1000 credits, without forgetting the fact that the player owes a five percent commission on winnings. Therefore, the player will win 0.95 credits for every single credit they plan to wager. As stated above, the banker is expected to win 50.68% of all bets, so if the player was to multiply 50.68 by 0.95, they get an end value of 48.15. Thusly, the Baccarat player is expected to lose 49.32% of all bets. Deducting 48.15 from 49.32, the player gets a variance of 1.17. This represents the house edge for banking bets, and makes the player’s edge 98.83% As far as how tie bets factor into the equation, they occur on average 9.55% of the time. This means true odds are 9.47 to one.

Although the house has a serious advantage of 14.4% in tie bets placed, some players are willing to make a tie bet because of the significantly greater payout. This being the case, both the banker and player bets are far more lucrative on a per-hand played basis, regardless of the five percent commission taken out.

Table Configurations for Baccarat Variants

The game of Baccarat has made significant strides to become a far simpler, more enjoyable table gaming option at both land-based and online casinos. The game now can attract both beginner and high-roller players. There are three tables to choose from in Baccarat: full-size, mini, and midi. They are similar, but have slight differences to be aware of.

Standard Table Layout for Baccarat

Most brick and mortar casinos have full-size tables located in secluded areas, separate from the main floor, in what is generally called a “high roller” area. Table limits vary wildly on Baccarat tables. Typically, they hover between $50 and $100,000+. The full-size table is oval with yellow numbers on each side. These numbers are from 1 to 15, with 13 skipped because it is considered bad luck. Sometimes the number four is also left out, as it is considered unlucky in some Asian cultures.

Baccarat tables have a U-shaped cut out on one side in the center. This is intended to house the dealer, and is referred to sometimes as the “caller’s place”. Depending on the starting choices, there are three betting areas and three dealers running the game. One is sitting and the others are standing and taking care of bets on their side of the large table.

The dealers hand out chips when players join, trade in chips when needed, pay out bets and collect the owed commission at the end of each shoe. The third dealer, in the middle of the table, is the caller, and is responsible for urging players to place wagers, call for cards, and announce wins.

The dealers take turns, rotating positions around the table with each new shoe. Gameplay is monitored by either a ladderman or pit boss, solving in game issues as needed. When joining full size Baccarat, the dealer on your side greets you and gives chips in exchange for part of your bankroll. Gameplay stops until your money is distributed, and then bets are placed.

Mini Table Layout for Baccarat

Mini Baccarat has gained popularity recently due to its simplistic rules and reasonable limits, generally varying between $5 and $25 per round.

Mini Baccarat tables are essentially half-size versions of full-size tables, hosting a maximum of seven people. The caller is in the center of the table, the chip rack is beside them, and there are seven commission boxes collected from the participants by the one dealer.

Mini Baccarat follows the same rules as the full-size version. The level of stakes and size of the table, as well as number of staff and attendees, sets the two games apart. Players sit on one side of the mini table, and the dealer across from them. The croupier is in the center, as the dealer does not rotate from player to player. The shoe is beside the croupier, as are the stacks of chips given to players.

On the side of the players there are two labels: Player and Banker. These indicate the two categories of bet. In Mini Baccarat, three betting areas correspond to the three options. The tie area is near the croupier, and covers numbers one to seven. The banker bet area is after the tie area, and the player area is after that. The banker bet area goes after the tie betting zone. You will see numbered circles and the word “bank” printed inside them.

Other Baccarat Variant Layouts

The above two layouts are the most common, but Midi Baccarat layouts exist in the wild, and are meant for up to nine simultaneous gamblers. The French variation, known commonly as Chemin de Fer, and the other variant called Punto Banco, host between six and nine players at once. As for the Deux Tableau variation, it is played mainly in Monte Carlo casinos, and allows as many as sixteen players to be seated.

Online Baccarat Hits the Mainstream

The monumental rise of the online gaming and gambling niche has made it possible for gamblers to play Baccarat without leaving their homes. There are several advantages to playing Baccarat online:

  • The online Baccarat table is closely mirrored to the Mini layout. There are three betting sections: player, banker, and tie.
  • Depending on the online casino being used, players may have the opportunity to place side bets.
  • Gamblers in online Baccarat are usually the only ones at the table, and the dealer is virtual, fast, and flawless.

Live dealer Baccarat alternatives follow standard rulemaking for Baccarat, and allow players online to interact with dealers and other players from the comfort of their own home.

Global Variants of Baccarat: How to Play and More

Although now accessible for average-betting players, Baccarat has historically been reserved for players with far higher bankrolls, and were found only in specific, “high roller” areas of the casino, far separated from the casino floor. Baccarat has always been considered elite, as requires players to apply a distinct combination of knowledge and fast-paced skill. However, now simplified, the game is becoming more and more popular for its low house edge compared to such games as roulette, blackjack, and craps.

Basic Baccarat rules require players to get as close to nine as possible with two to three cards dealt. Unlike blackjack, there is no option to bust, or go over nine and be disqualified. Suits, pairing, and straights do not count into totals with Baccarat. Aces are worth one point, and all face cards are worth zero. If your hand exceeds zero, counting starts back over.

If the total of the two cards is less than 7, the player has the right to request a third card. However, if the total is eight or nine, the higher number wins. The dealer can do the same. After the third cards are turned face up, the winner is determined from the resulting values.

As the years progressed, various variations of Baccarat were created. Few of them managed to pique and hold player interest, though, and would fade into obscurity. Below are some variants that stood the test of time for Baccarat.

French Baccarat: Chemin de Fer

Chemin de Fer is sometimes referred to as “railroad” Baccarat. It is a French variant, notable for croupier stake-setting, and players competing against one another instead of against the dealer alone. This variant is not popular outside of European casinos and online gambling sites, mainly played at land-based casinos in France.

Chemin de Fer begins with an initial round of betting. If the player wishes to match the dealer stake, they say “Banco”, which means to go to the bank.

Players who do this become the next banker, making wagers smaller than the full required stake. Betting then continues. Players have the chance to make wagers until the banker’s stake has been matched. In case the banker’s total is exceeded, croupiers can refuse bets.

Once bets are completed, cards are dealt, and the highest-staked player plays for the bettor group. In case the total of their cards is eight or nine, they turn over cards. If the hands exceed nine, the dealer pays all stakes. If the total is lower, the dealer collects the wagers.

In Chemin de Fer, the shoe moves counterclockwise, resembling a train. The casino is not involved in the overall betting process, and does not provide any financial backing. However, the casino does provide dealers the chance to run the game, as well as equipment necessary.

What truly sets Chemin de Fer apart from other Baccarat variants is the flexibility offered on the drawing of a third card. Players have the option of drawing or standing when the final value is a five, while banker play remains optional.

Chemin de Fer requires active participation from players. Gamblers are given the opportunity to both deal and shuffle the cards, which are then dealt face-down, while in another common variant Punto Banco, they are dealt face-up. The player with the largest bet on the cards dealt can see the cards. Meanwhile, other bettors await the outcome.

Baccarat Banque

In the Baccarat Banque variation of standard baccarat, the role of the banker is auctioned off before the start of the game. This variation is also referred to commonly as “a deux tableaux”, which translates from French to “two tables” in English. In Baccarat Banque, the banker is determined at the beginning of each round, while in Chemin de Fer variants, all players assume the role of the banker.

There are three decks of cards in a shoe deck for Baccarat Banque. When the cards are shuffled, the player is dealt two hands, while the banker is dealt one hand. One hand is dealt to the left of the table and one to the right. Then, players choose whether to bet on their side of the table or on both hands. In which case, the bet is moved to the center of the table. Players are not allowed to bet on dealer’s hand in Baccarat Banque.

Gamblers then have the option of “going bank” and potentially taking the banker position. In case none of the three challenges in Baccarat Banque is completed, players are not allowed to try and bust the same banker twice.

The Baccarat Banque variation is available predominantly found in European brick and mortar and online casinos. In this variant, the casino acts as Banker, enabling players to make far larger bets. Additionally, Baccarat Banque can begin if only one player joins the table. In Chemin de Fer, there is a requirement of at least two players for play to progress properly.

Drawing rules are not well-defined in Baccarat Banque, unfortunately. The dealer may follow American rules, or request some changes to boost house edge, and the casino’s chances of winning.

It is vital to note that in Baccarat Banque, one player acts as a dealer and banker for the entire shoe, not just for one hand. The croupier generally chooses the player to their right or with the largest wager or bankroll to be the banker.

European Baccarat

There are two main differences that set European Baccarat apart from the American Baccarat variant that has been described in detail above. Initially, the player select choose whether they would like to stand or draw on an outcome of a five. Additionally, the banker can choose whether to request a third card or not.

The banker’s hand in European Baccarat variances is fully financed by the casino. So, if the banker is provided with $3,000. If the first player bets $2,000 and the second player bets the remaining $1,000, the other players are not given the opportunity to bet.

In situations where the player is willing to cover the banker’s bet fully, they are meant to call out “banco”, which means other players are no longer given the opportunity to place bets for the remainder of that round.

Punto Banco Baccarat

Punto Banco variants of Baccarat are the closest variations to the classic game of Baccarat. The main difference between Punto Banco and other variations is that the game action progresses in tandem with established rule sets, and there are no optional or additional plays available.

Punto Banco is usually run by a single dealer in charge of game action. Such type of Baccarat tables are found in smaller casinos, but some casinos use kidney-shaped Baccarat tables, where three dealers oversee the game. These types of tables can host up to twelve players at once.

Players are meant to bet on the player or bank, and then cards are dealt. The one whose hand has a total closest to nine is declared a winner. This rule applies to both types of Baccarat tables.

Players decide whether player or bank will win, and place their bet in the designated table section. If players choose the player to win, they place the selected number of chips in front of the numbered seat. However, if the player instead chooses to gamble on the bank, they pass the bet to the dealer, who places it in a small box.

Players can also choose to bet on a tie, which means they presume the player and the bank will have equal value cards and the outcome of the hand will be a draw.

When all bets are placed, the player occupying the first seat takes over the role of banker, and begins dealing cards and placing them into the center of the table. Then, the dealer puts the cards in order. If you opt for the Mini Baccarat variant, the dealer will control the dealing process.

The first card is dealt to the player, the second to the bank, the third to the player and the fourth to the bank. When both parties have two cards, it is determined whether a third card is dealt.

In regards to the payouts, winning bets are paid one to one, but players shouldn’t underestimate the commission owed to the casino. In terms of odds, placing a wager on a bank bet provides players the strongest chances of winning, while the house edge for tie bets will often exceeds 14%.

Mini Baccarat

Mini Baccarat follows a similar rule set to the American variant of Baccarat, but what makes it appealing to players is the reasonable table limits, making it possible to enjoy the game, even if players have an average bankroll size. Additionally, Mini Baccarat tables are found on the standard area of the casino floor, and therefore the players are not required to enter the high limits areas.

As its name implies, the Mini Baccarat table is far smaller than the standard Baccarat table, and the game action itself is far accelerated. A Mini Baccarat table can host up to seven players, plus the dealer.

There are six areas on the Mini Baccarat table: tie, banker and player betting zones, a shoe, commission boxes, chip stacks. Players have three betting areas in front of them: a red circle, where they can put chips to bet on the player, yellow circle to bet on the bank and a white number that indicates a bet on a tie. The croupier sits opposite players and oversees collecting commissions owed by the players to the bank.

As for the other rules for Mini Baccarat, they differ very little from the rules applicable to standard Baccarat. Eight decks of cards are used. The casino collects five percent commission on a banker’s hand. However, if the player places a bet on the player and it wins, no commission is to be deducted from the player’s winnings. If the hand ends in a tie, no commission is collected, and both parties’ wagers are returned.

Baccarat Playing Systems That Work

It should not be surprising that Baccarat is amongst the favorite table games for both regular gamblers and high rollers. The game has a low house edge, and bankrolls tend to last longer. Those who utilize betting systems are convinced of their effectiveness, and applaud the systems for assisting in the accumulation of further winnings. However, these players can’t disapprove the math behind betting system usage only having a short-term positive winning impact.

There are two types of betting systems present in Baccarat strategies: positive progression and negative progression. Common systems are Martingale, Paroli, The 1-3-2-6, Labouchere, Chemin de Fer, and Fibonacci.

The Baccarat Martingale Strategy

The Martingale system in Baccarat is a strong example of a highly effective negative progression. However, Martingale masks a good number of risks, and players need to carefully consider their bankroll size before implementing. The concept behind the Martingale system (most well-known for its utilization in blackjack) includes determination of an initial bet, doubling wagers when losing and returning to the initial bet when winning.

The sequences where you lose more than six times in a row are rare, and sequences where you lost more than ten times in a row are almost statistically impossible. However, there is an inherent risk of exceeding the table limit, which can damage the bankroll. Casinos welcome negative progression bettors, but players should still be careful applying the Martingale system to Baccarat.

Martingale can lead to major payouts. As far as Baccarat is concerned, Martingale can be employed with relative ease. Players place bets on the player or banker. If the bet wins, one unit of the winnings is set aside for other bets, and the player returns to the initial wager. However, if the player loses, they double the bet and try again until a win is registered.

It’s important to mention that if players place wagers on banker bets, they owe a five percent commission on any winnings. However, banker bets remain the most favorable in terms of odds. It is advised with Martingale to place wagers on the player hand, to enjoy the one to one payout for winnings hands. Negatively, if players experience a losing streak, their bankroll can dwindle to nothing in a matter of minutes, or the bet doubling might exceed the maximum allowed bet at the table.

The Baccarat Paroli Strategy

Paroli is also one of the most preferred betting systems available for Baccarat. Simplified and effective, this strategy is used more often by common gamblers than high roller players. The Paroli Baccarat strategy is not expected to beat the house edge over time. However, player bankrolls are more protected, and players can come across a windfall of winning streaks without the exposure of their bankrolls to risks that might have been necessary with other strategies such as the Martingale.

In accordance with the Paroli Baccarat strategy, players bet one unit. If they win, they double again. If they win the second time, they double the third time. This repeats until they win the third time, and then starts over. However, if a player was to lose, they start from the beginning. To summarize, the Paroli Baccarat system will lead to a one unit loss or a seven-unit gain, depending on how well the strategy plays out.

The 1-3-2-6 Baccarat Strategy

The 1-3-2-6 Baccarat strategy is another positive progression Baccarat system, fully focused on the placement of long-term winning bets as compared to attempting to win on each hand.

Let us presume that a gambler thinks they will have winnings hands four times in a row in a Baccarat game. In this case, that gambler is meant to bet one, three, two and six units for the four-hand winning streak. If the notion is correct and the strategy works properly, after that fourth hand, the gambler will be ahead.

Remember, with the 1-3-2-6 Baccarat strategy, smaller bets can lead to larger profits. If a player’s initial bet is one dollar and it wins, the payout is one dollar. The second bet should be three dollars. If the player wins the second time, they will make a four-dollar profit. The third bet should be two dollars, and the fourth bet should be six dollars. Doing the math, the player would have made a ten-dollar profit from a total wager of two dollars.

The Labouchere Baccarat System

The Labouchere Baccarat betting strategy is by far one of the most widely used systems. It works for many other table games, so it should come as no surprise that there is a Labouchere system in place for Baccarat as well. The application of this system in Baccarat is more complex than the previously reviewed betting strategies, however. Basically, the Labouchere idea requires players to place bets on one unit. In case the bet wins, the player eliminates any outside numbers. If the next bet is also a winning one, the player starts over and wagers one unit.

Another name for the Labouchere system is the “cancellation” system. Unlike the Fibonnaci system, which is touched upon below, Labouchere’s Baccarat strategy requires removal of the oldest and the most recent losses. Statistical analyses across a broad range of systems show that Fibonacci players generate over 33 percent more profits.

The Chemin-De-Fer Baccarat Strategy

The Chemin-De-Fer strategy for Baccarat is like the approach used in the defensive plays for blackjack. This strategy dictates that in most cases, players wager on the dealer to lose and the player to win.

The Fibonacci Baccarat System

The Fibonacci strategy is a low risk betting system, making it very appropriate with high-stakes Baccarat play. The wager amount is the sum of the previous two losses, just like the Fibonacci sequence where the next number is the sum of the two previous numbers.

The sequence begins with the player wagering a single unit on the player winning the hand. If the bet loses, they bet a single unit once again. If they lose again, the next bet is the sum of the previous two numbers, so two units. This process continues until the player wins.

One of the greatest advantages of applying the Fibonacci Betting system to Baccarat play is it enables players to remain focused while playing and not give into emotion. Additionally, the strategy ensures participation in shorter gambling sessions. On the downside, Fibonacci can’t be defined as a system that assists players to generate solid winnings. Yet, the winnings generated are sufficient to cover previous bets.

Basic Baccarat Strategy Explained

In addition to the strategies above, there is an overarching basic strategy that forms the backbone for all more advanced or segmented Baccarat strategy. Most of the categorized and advanced strategies follow the main rules of the basic strategy. Basic strategy for Baccarat consists of four main components:

  • Players can bet one unit that two hands in a row will not make three hands in a row.
  • Players who suffer three losses in a row can wager three units that two in a row will not make three in a row.
  • Players must repeat the above sequence if they lose the bet.
  • If they lose four bets, the player must wait until the next shoe and start all over.

Application of this Baccarat betting strategy signifies that the player must make a bet every time they get a second-row entry. If they somehow manage to suffer eight consecutive losses, it is advised to stop betting until the next shoe as well.

If the player wins in three games of the four mentioned above, the player should still revert to the first stay and start the process over.

This basic Baccarat strategy comes with several advantages. Initially, players aren’t required to bet on every hand. This means maintaining oversight of wins and losses isn’t such a tedious and overwhelming undertaking. Every system presumes players will increase the bet if the odds are favorable.

For instance, if a player plays the fast and furious Baccarat tables, they can’t spend a half hour thinking of their next move. They must make the correct decision quickly. However, the more they play, the more exhausted they become, leading to mistakes more often. Applying the basic strategy above, most shoes will result in fifteen bets made, minimizing the chance of damage due to carelessness in that player’s bankroll.

Additionally, the basic Baccarat strategy gives players reasonable results, based not on individual hands, but instead on full shoes of decks. If a player plays ten thousand hands (excluding ties), they will note that the player wins will be the same as the banker win. In other words, the basic Baccarat strategy almost guarantees that a player will win about 55% of bets, lose 40% of bets, and tie the remainder (five percent).

The validity of this strategy can be proven quite easily. It is through independent testing and produced results that the outcome should remain similar. To ensure effective testing, players don’t have to use the same shoes for their strategic “QA” process. Computer simulations of Baccarat are available at most land-based and online casinos, and do just fine for testing purposes.

Players can expect a high-result of 61% winning bets, 32% losing bets, and 7% tie bets based on one hundred wagers. Presuming as many as 32 shoes may be used in those 100 bets, the results can be shown as follows, with the first row being the shoe number, the second row being units won (positive) or lost (negative):

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
5 9 5 3 -6 -4 5 5 1 4
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
2 -2 0 -6 8 6 -3 -1 2 3
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
9 -3 4 4 2 5 -3 1 4 3
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
-2 -3 -1 -3 6 -9 2 1 -2 1
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
3 -2 -2 -2 -5 -4 -4 1 7 1
51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
5 -5 -8 3 3 7 2 -2 1 1
61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
-6 3 -6 7 3 1 6 6 -2 0
71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80
0 -4 -11 4 1 -9 -5 1 -2 1
81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
-10 0 0 2 3 -4 -7 3 4 -12
91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100
-3 1 -5 1 10 -6 -7 1 2 -3

Focus on Shoes One to 32

There were 21 winning shoes and ten losing shoes in the first 32 shoes. The thirteenth show was a tie. In the case of the first 32 shoes, the winning values represented 65.6% of the total, and the losing values representing 31.3%. The tie equaled out to 3.1% of the total.

Units won averaged 4.3, and units lost averaged -3.3. The overall net win is 57 units.

Focusing on real world scenarios, where a player is meant to use up 167 shoes in total, the resulting gameplay should expect winning shoes to be 61.1%, losing shoes to be 32.3%, and tie shoes to be 6.6%. This equates to 109.5 winning shoes on average, 52.3 average losing shoes, and 5.2 shoes ending in a draw.

Focus on Shoes 33 to 64

There were 17 winning shoes and 15 losing shoes, meaning the winning units averaged 3.2 and the losing units averaged 4.1. The outcome was not as good as the first 32 shoes, but is also not surprising. It’s important to not underestimate the importance of variation.

Looking at the combined results of the first 64 shoes, players can see that the winning shoe count is 38, the losing shoe count is 25, and the tie shoe count is one. So winning shoes accounted for 59.4% of the total. The difference between the assumed 61.1% average and 59.4% is miniscule, but let’s analyze after the final 36 shoes of the 100.

Focus on Shoes 65 to 100

Looking at the last 36 shoes, the player won 17 times and lost 15 times. Four wagers ended in a tie. The net loss was 40 unites, and up to 50 units were won. What can be drawn from all 100 simulated shoes is that up to 55 were won and 40 were lost. Five ended in a tie, and the overall outcome of playing through all 100 shoes was a net win of ten units, proving the validity of the basic betting strategy in a completely random sampling of 100 shoes.

Getting Started Playing Baccarat Online

There are many gamblers who find themselves suspicious of the concept of gambling online. They express concern regarding whether these online casinos are safe or not. The truth is that most of these online gaming sites are owned by larger casino corporations or by-the-book small-to-medium sized businesses looking to expand their clientele, versus making a quick buck and then disappearing into the ether.

Advantages to Playing Real Money Online Baccarat

Online Baccarat has a far better level of convenience than its physical counterpart. There is no need to get dressed, get ready, and then travel somewhere to place a bet at a Baccarat table. This process can be done from start to finish, from the comfort of your own home, any time of the day or night. This is ideal for the disabled, those who have prior responsibilities requiring them to be home or not traveling, or those with very busy schedules and little time to sit down and play at a real Baccarat table or a large casino.

Due to strong competition for player spots, online gambling sites tend to offer highly lucrative signup bonuses to new Baccarat focused players. These signup bonuses generally hover in the range of 25% to 70% of a player’s initial investment. Along with this is a typical 24-hour customer service line or chat room for more convenient question answering in a player’s Baccarat journey.

Also, most online Baccarat sites have more vigorous rule sets than brick and mortar physical casinos. Regardless, it’s still important to check the rules before you begin play, to ensure familiarization with how things flow. Additionally, online Baccarat tables alleviate potential distractions of other live players (such as cigarette smoke, loud talking, strange smells, etc).

Disadvantages to Playing Real Money Online Baccarat

Unlike their brick and mortar counterparts, where the exchange of money into tokens to use at the Baccarat table is instant, online Baccarat can sometimes take a good bit of time for funds to be validated and fully deposited into a player’s bankroll. In addition to this, customer service on some smaller online Baccarat gambling sites is subpar, with response rates in the hours, and with responses possible only via email or ticket system.

Typically, there are very specific requirements necessary to reach the level of whatever bonuses the Baccarat gambling sites offer. Also, players will miss out on the banter and ambience present in land-based Baccarat gameplay, which is all part of the “experience”. The convenience of online Baccarat games can also become addicting for some players, with gambling addiction rates rising with the influx of gaming sites available.

And of course, the ever-present disadvantage for American users: Operation of gambling sites in the United States is not legal. For this reason, most Baccarat-inclusive gambling sites are offshore, and have no official government agency to assist their players in the event of a dispute between the online gambling provider and the player. This leads to the following question:

Are online Baccarat gambling sites safe? Do they play by the rules?

Most potential new online Baccarat players are curious about the safety and trustworthiness of Baccarat gambling sites, as most are offshore with no real oversight or centralized governing bodies to answer to. When online gambling websites came to fruition, hackers and scammers ran rampant on the larger and smaller sites offering free play and real money Baccarat online. This included not only software-based cheating, but also collusion between players. In the current day and age, major online Baccarat sites have strong protection measures in place to prevent cheating and hacking. Many are licensed, practice fair gambling protocols, and are regularly audited by third parties to ensure everything remains on the up and up.

Getting Started Online Baccarat Gambling

First off, you’re going to need a relatively fast computer and access to the Internet. Once this is acquired, set up an account with the site you wish to begin playing real money online Baccarat on. This generally consists of filling out an application and depositing an initial bankroll into an account for the allocated purpose of Baccarat. Before doing this, it’s vital to read up on information on the selected gambling site in terms of transfer options, minimum deposits, new customer rewards and bonuses, and how much play is required to obtain the Baccarat bonus.

You also need to know how to remove money from your account, and how long the withdrawal process takes. Additionally, most online Baccarat sites require a download of their specific software to your computer. Some sites allow web browser play, but those are few and far between.

Concluding the Greatest Gambling Game Guide: Baccarat

Baccarat is a high stakes, high impact game. There are strategies to gain an advantage over those not using them, but in the end, the house is meant to always win. Regardless, workarounds exist to attempt to put the odds in the favor of the player.

This guide has gone through a general overview of Baccarat, including the three tables and rules, as well as a longer explanation of the complicated rules and concepts to Baccarat. We touched upon the odds in Baccarat, including house edges and more.

We went in-depth on the table configurations for the variants of Baccarat, including the standard and mini table layouts, other layouts, and the rise of online Baccarat. We also discussed global Baccarat variants, covering: Chemin de Fer, Baccarat Banque, European Baccarat, Punto Banco Baccarat, and Mini Baccarat.

We touched upon various Baccarat strategies that have worked, covering Martingale, Paroli, 1-3-2-6, Labouchere, Chemin De Fer, and Fibonacci. We also explained the basic Baccarat strategy, showing an example of a sample one hundred shoe push, and how the statistical advantage can be in the player’s favor.

We then went in-depth regarding playing real money Baccarat online, discussing the advantages and disadvantages to real money Baccarat online, whether online gambling sites are safe and compliant to the rules, and how to go about getting started.

Baccarat is a wild world. We are confident that you now have a good amount of necessary information to get started in the world of Baccarat, whether real-world, live online, or simple online gameplay. Happy gambling!