Baccarat Strategy
Baccarat - A Game of Chance
Baccarat is a game of chance, which means that the game does not lend itself to a specific strategy. Players should be very weary of any systems and strategies that claim that they have the perfect way to ‘beat baccarat.’ It would be incorrect, however, to say that the game of baccarat is without strategy entirely. The strategy that can be used in baccarat is that of betting strategy. Since the game is so closely governed by rules, the only real strategy left available to baccarat players is the way in which they place their bets.
What About Winning and Losing Streaks in Baccarat Games?
It is very important to remember that in baccarat, each deal is unconnected to the previous deal as far as the outcome of the hand will be. It is possible to have small runs of player hand wins, or of banker hand wins, although the tie win is not likely to occur in runs. Some players attempt to bet according to winning or losing streaks that occur. There is no problem with doing this, however, this is simply the use of a system to help in the decision-making process of where to place your bets. This does not mean that the streak is likely to continue, and it does not mean that you will win if you follow streaks.
Baccarat Banker and Player Betting Options
The probability of the banker hand winning is slightly higher than that of the player hand winning any given round. Players should remember that although the banker hand is slightly more likely to win than the player hand, there is a commission that the house takes from any winning bets on the banker hand. This commission is usually around 5%. Added to this, players who choose to only bet on the banker hand might well find that they get very bored very quickly. The odds of the player hand winning are only slightly less than that of the banker hand winning. Betting on the player hand means that any winnings are entirely for the player. There are no house commissions or taxes on a player hand winning.
Payouts for both the banker, or banco, hand, as well as the player, or punto, hand, are both at a ratio of 1:1. This means that if a player wins the bet, they will get the bet that they placed, plus a matching amount of money or chips.
The house edge, or advantagae for the banker hand is 1,01%. The house edge on the player hand is 1.29%. The house edge on the tie hand is 15.75%. Of course, these figures can change slightly depending on how many decks of cards are being used for the specific game.
Baccarat Tie Bet
No matter what strategy or system players would like to try, everyone agrees that betting on the tie bet is simply the worst bet in a baccarat game. The odds of winning a tie bet are very low. Most casinos offer odds of eight to one, or nine to one for the tie bet. While winnings would be greater on a winning tie bet, the likelihood of the tie bet winning are not so good. Most online casinos and land-based casinos will consider a ‘tie’ win a push. Players who had bet on the tie would receive their payouts, while those who had bet on either the banker or the player will keep their original bets in place, and the game will continue. No-one loses money, and the hand is dealt again.
Number of Decks Used in a Baccarat Game
The odds in baccarat are better when there are less decks of cards used for the game. Very few online casinos will use one deck, although there are those that do. Most often, the choice that may be available is either a game played with eight decks of cards, or with six decks of cards.
Money Management in Baccarat Betting
Baccarat is a game that is often played by high rollers, and players may feel under pressure to bet more than they can afford, simply in order to feel a part of the group. It is imperative that you decide how much you can afford to lose before you go to the baccarat table. Once you have reached your loss limit, stop playing.
Of course, if you are winning, you should also take care to put aside a percentage of your winnings so that you will finish your gaming session with a positive bank balance.
