Baccarat strategy

So let me get this straight, one of the almost purely luck based game is going to have a strategy guide? Anyone who has knowledge of the game of Baccarat has immediately scoffed at the sight of the title here – but just like any casino game, there are small elements of this popular incarnation that can be exploited and used to your advantage.

James Bond always wins at it right? And there has got to be a reason all those high-rollers at the casino are drawn to the ‘game of kings’. Let’s take a look at some of the strategies you can implement to turn the odds of this seemingly luck based game in your favour.

Understanding How the Game Works

Seems like a prerequisite to playing, but most gamblers don’t have the basic grasp on the game required to make informed decisions, and just bet at random due to the fact they are constantly told it is solely a luck based game.

Two hands are dealt of two cards each, taken from eight decks of cards. One hand is called the Player hand and one hand is called the Banker hand.

Gamblers can bet on the likely winner of either hand, be it the banker or the player.

The deal passes clockwise around the table between the betting parties, though players can elect to pass the shoe. The player dealing will deal out two cards and pass them to the table banker. The first hand dealt is more often than not the Player hand.

Knowing the absolute basics is imperative when it comes to mastering the art of baccarat, with the elimination of variables and the unknown the key to mastering any casino game.

The Bankers Edge in Baccarat

As with most casino based games, the house will always try and take an advantage going into the contest.

A basic mathematical analysis of the game breaks the figures down thusly:

Player 1.36% – Banker 1.17% – Tie 14.4%

Which begs the question, if the casino is aware of such a discrepancy, and baccarat does not follow the paradigms of say, a Blackjack where the game is played directly against the dealer, how does the casino make their money? Casinos have taken the odds discrepancy into account, and made adjustments to tilt the advantage back into their favour by way of a 5% commission on winning banker bets.

To put it in the simplest terms; let’s say you are wagering 100 credits. Taking into account the 5% commission on winning banker bets, you will win 0.95 credits for every one credit wagered. Expecting to win 50.68% of the time, multiply 0.95 by 50.68 and you get 48.15. You still can expect to lose 49.32, and the difference is 1.17, resulting in a 1.17% house advantage.
A great rule of thumb with betting on baccarat is: when it doubt – bet on the banker.

Where to Play Online

BettingPlanet recommends several online sites for players who want to indulge in a bit of the fun and frivolity that online baccarat provides.

• Royal Vegas Casino offers Baccarat as well as many other table games. Bonus offers and many other options for gamers makes this website the go-to option for players looking to have a flutter with their hard earned cash.
• Guts.com offers gamers both regular and live dealer versions of Baccarat, compounded by the fact that Guts utilises the Net Entertainment engine, you know you are in good hands.
• Casino-Mate gives a down-under theme to the old favourite of Baccarat. Offering three different ways to play Baccarat, as well as up to a huge 1,400 dollars in free bets, casino mate delivers on what it promises – an Aussie good time.