Winning Banker Is A Must

On the “Tie” bet, you are betting that both the player and banker hands will tie. If they tie, you will be paid 9 for 1. There is also an additional proposition wager called Lucky 6. Should you choose to wager on the Lucky 6, you win 13 for 1 on any winning two card Banker hand totaling 6 and 21 for 1 on any three card Banker hand totaling 6.

1. For example: P(A,3,5) = 9 points win B(J,2,A) = 3 points. The hand closest to 9 wins. If you bet on the Player and the Player wins, you are paid 1 for 1 winning on your bet. If you bet on the Banker and the Banker wins, you are paid 1 for 1 minus 5% commission. If you bet on Tie and result is Player or Banker win, you lose your bet.
2. All of your business’s financial details. That includes all current and past loans and debts incurred, all bank accounts, investment accounts, credit card accounts, and of course, supporting information including tax ID numbers, addresses, and complete contact information.

Even the most elementary research efforts will tell you that the banker bet is your best choice in baccarat. That same research probably revealed that the player bet is only a slight underdog to the banker bet.

Players look at the similar house edge, and the commission for the banker bet and decide to go with the player. Look, this isn’t the craps table, where betting with the shooter is par for the course.

There’s no “hot hand” slinging 7s like machine-gun fire in baccarat and making the table rich. Check out why you should always make the banker bet in baccarat.

Baccarat 101

Examining how the baccarat game is played will help to understand what makes the banker bet so good.

In a baccarat hand, the player and dealer each receive 2 cards; the object is to get as close to 9 as possible. Note that 10 thru King are valued at 0, and Aces are valued at 1.

If the total of the 2 cards reaches 10 or more, the first digit is dropped. So, 17 becomes 7.

If either the player or the dealer has 8 or 9, it’s considered a natural, and no more cards are dealt. If there’s no natural dealt, the player is dealt another card on 5 or less. The player stands on 6 or 7.

The dealer stands on 7-9. However, what the dealer does beyond those 3 is determined by the player’s hand.

The drawing strategy for the banker’s hand is where the banker bet gets its advantage. The fact that the banker’s hand will only draw a third card if the player draws is a tremendous advantage.

Still, depending on the third card results, the player will determine if the banker’s hand draws at all.

In real money blackjack, the casino gets its advantage in much the same way. The player must act first. Of course, the player may bust and lose immediately in blackjack. You don’t have that worry in baccarat.

Conversely, you’re not going to sit tight on a weak hand and hope the dealer busts. The baccarat table takes all of the choices from the player and makes them for them.

The only decision a player needs to make is to bet on the banker, the player, or a tie.

You Have Choices

That’s right, in a game that eliminates all gameplay choices, the player has one critical decision to make.

That’s deciding where you’re going to place your bet.

Baccarat gives you only one chance to make a decision. You have 3 available betting options to choose from at the baccarat table.

These are to bet on the banker, the player, or a tie.

The tie bet pays out 8:1 if the player and banker tie the hand. Many players like the thrill of making the tie bet in hopes of cashing in on the 8:1 payout as opposed to the standard 1:1 for a win. Some players may get behind and see the tie bet as a way to recoup some of those losses quickly.

There are a few fundamental problems with this bet. Firstly, all ties at the baccarat table push. So, you’re risking money that you really don’t need to be putting in danger.

Secondly, bets occur in less than 10% of hands. You’re taking a 1 in 10 shot at an 8:1 payout. Does that math click for you?

In its most basic form, the tie bet is a total sucker bet, and you should never, under any circumstances, make this bet.

The banker bet and player bet are the only 2 you should ever consider while playing baccarat in a casino, online, or through a mobile baccarat app. While the 2 share a similar house advantage, the banker bet remains the slight frontrunner.

The Math Favors the Banker

The banker’s hand wins roughly 46% of the time. The player hand is lower at slightly below 45%, with ties accounting for the remainder.

However, because a tie pushes, it effectively raises the banker’s hand to 51%.

The banker’s hand is such a great bet that all things being equal, the player would actually hold an advantage over the casino.

Imagine how much money you could fleece the casino if you were guaranteed to win 51% over the long-term.

Obviously, the casino can’t have tables full of players taking the casino’s money with impunity. So, they charge a commission.

This small commission tilts the edge back to the house. Even with the 5% commission, the house charges, the edge is still an incredible small 1.06%.

Unfortunately, you’re still going to lose in the end if you play long enough. However, the small edge means you can get a hot streak going and take some incremental wins.

Baccarat is one of the best games in the casino for the player. You’ll be able to play for longer and walk away from the table a winner more often.

Games with a small house edge are perfect for beginners and anyone wanting to stretch their bankroll to its absolute limits.

How the Commission Affects Your Winnings

So, exactly what is this commission on the banker bet, and how does it affect your winnings?

The house charges a 5% commission on all winning banker bets. So, if you’re playing baccarat for $20 per hand and betting on the banker, you’ll receive $19 for every win.

For a winning bet on the player, a $20 bet would net $20 in winnings.

This $1 seems inconsequential, but remember it’s not a $1 commission; it’s 5%. That’s an important distinction because it takes the edge away from the player.

If you are a whale playing for $10k per hand, that’s a $500 hit for every single win. Of course, if you’re paying $10,000 per hand, $500 clearly has a different value to you than it does me.

Still, that’s 1 full bet for every 20 wins. That makes a significant swing when you’re losing as many as you’re winning.

You should pay close attention to the baccarat table’s rules before you sit down. Some casinos institute a firm minimum commission.

These minimum commissions may be as little as $1. If you’re playing for $5 per hand, that’s suddenly a 20% commission.

This exponentially raises the house edge. If you’re not able to play for at least $20 per hand, you’re better off finding another game.

I’ve asked everyone from casino executives to professional gamblers to explain the minimum commission trend to me, and not surprisingly, I’ve been given tons of different answers.

It boils down to two schools of thought. If you’re in the casino industry, it’s all about convenience and offering the best possible player experience.

If you’re a player, it seems easiest to chalk it up to greed.

Either way, you need to be wary of tables with a minimum commission.

Why the Banker Bet Is Your Best Bet

The banker bet offers some of the best odds in the casino for you. It’s well worth the commission when you factor in your expected loss and see how far your money will go.

For example, let’s imagine you are playing for $20 per hand and play 100 hands per hour. That means you’re putting $2000 into play every hour.

We know the expected loss is 1.06% due to ties. So, that works out to about $21 in losses per hour.

You don’t need a massive bankroll to spend all day playing baccarat for real money. You’ll obviously need enough to weather a losing streak, but it’s not as much as you’d need playing slot machines or roulette.

In fact, you’re facing such tight margins that you may be surprised how regularly you leave the casino a winner.

If you’re in the market to stay on the tables longer and win more often, baccarat’s banker bet is one of the best options in the casino.

Baccarat Strategies to Avoid

Now that you have a clear cut strategy to focus on the next time you fly to Las Vegas let’s look at some of the baccarat pitfalls that you’ll want to avoid.

Many baccarat players will bet with the “big player.” It’s akin to betting the “pass line” on the craps table.

Look, I know that it’s appealing to want to bet against the house. When it comes to casino gambling, it’s very much us against them.

Don’t ever place a bet to spite the casino. They don’t care, and you’re going to lose.

Successful gamblers are able to make their decisions completely void of any emotional bias.

It would be best if you also ignored the trends. Baccarat tables will prominently display the results of several previous hands.

Have the casinos suddenly decided to take a philanthropic turn and sprinkle this beneficial knowledge amongst the struggling gamblers on the floor?

Not at all.

Misguided players believe they can spot trends and turn the tables on the casino. I’m going to say this once, casino games are games of chance, and the cards don’t care about probabilities or previous results.

Conclusion

Know that you have a better understanding of why you should always make the banker bet in baccarat, you’re ready to launch yourself on a course of casino gambling success.

Keep in mind that you’ll still have an expected loss, but you’re going to spend hours on the tables, enjoying all of the exciting action.

Many casino games don’t require any skill to play. Slot machines, keno, and roulette are perfect examples of simple games that don’t feature extensive strategy.

The drawback, though, is that many of these same options don’t provide great odds. Slots, particularly those in land-based casinos, feature some of the highest house edges in gaming.

You can switch to blackjack or video poker, both of which offer great odds. However, you won’t win consistently if you’re bad at strategy.

What can you do if you want solid odds without studying complex strategy? Play baccarat for real money! I’ll explain why below.

Baccarat Features Some of the Best Odds

Decades ago, many gamblers ignored baccarat. After all, this game featured high stakes ($50 and above) and carried the reputation as a snobby, elitist affair.

Fast-forward to today and baccarat’s reputation has changed greatly. Mini tables feature low stakes ($10) and a down-to-earth atmosphere.

Many players are just now beginning to see one of baccarat’s best attributes as a result: its low house advantage. You can achieve a 1.06% house edge as long as you bet on the banker hand winning every time.

The casino takes a 5% commission out of banker hand wins. Even still, you’re almost in a coinflip situation when gambling against the casino.

Another favorable proposition includes wagering on the player to win. This bet carries a 1.24% house advantage.

Although just a little less favorable than the banker wager, the player bet is still worthwhile if you’re looking for some variety. Plus, you don’t need to worry about settling 5% commissions at the end of your session.

The tie bet carries either a 14.36% or 4.85% house advantage. The difference involves whether it pays 8:1 (14.36%) or 9:1 (4.85%) when the player and banker tie.

In either case, you should avoid betting on these hands tying. The tie wager is baccarat’s version of a sucker bet.

Baccarat Strategy Is Easy

Baccarat isn’t the only game that gives you a strong chance to beat the casino. As mentioned before, though, blackjack and video poker feature extensive strategy.

In contrast, baccarat doesn’t require much thought at all. You achieve optimal strategy just by wagering on the banker hand, this is why Baccarat is the best game for first-time gamblers.

If you’re feeling frisky, you can bet on the player hand. Those who are into trend betting sometimes alternate between the two propositions.

Here’s an example of trend gambling:

• You normally wager on the banker hand due to its superior odds.
• However, you witness the banker win four times in a row.
• You feel like the player is due for a victory after losing four straight.

You don’t stand any better chance of winning by following trends like these. Nevertheless, trend betting is fun for a change of pace.

Overall, though, you only need to worry about wagering on the banker. Done repeatedly, this strategy drops the house edge to its lowest point.

How to Play Baccarat

Baccarat isn’t like blackjack, where you and every other player receive a separate hand. Instead, the table features two spots near the dealer marked “Banker” and “Player.”

After wagers have been placed, the croupier deals each side two cards to begin a hand. The hand that scores closer to 9 wins.

Here’s a quick recap on how to play baccarat:

Winning Banker Is A Mustache

1. You place your chips in one of the three designated betting areas.
2. The croupier deals a hand to the Banker and Player side.
3. The hand closest to 9 wins.
4. The dealer sorts out all winning and losing bets.

How Are Baccarat Scores Determined?

This game’s simplicity is one of its greatest attributes. You merely need to put chips in the proper betting circle to play.

However, you may be interested to know exactly how scores are determined. Here’s a brief rundown on the scoring process:

• An 8 or 9 on the first two cards is a “natural.”
• The banker or player automatically wins with a natural if the other side doesn’t also have one.
• The player receives a third card if their score is under 5.
• The player stands with a 6 or 7.
• When the player receives another card, the banker draws for a third one depending upon the following rules:
• Banker always draws if the player has 0 through 2.
• Banker always draws on 3 unless the player has 8.
• Banker draws on 4 if the player has 1 through 7.
• Banker draws on 5 if the player has 4 through 7.
• Banker draws on 6 if the player has 6 or 7.
• Banker always stands on 7.

Tips for Better Baccarat Play

I’ve discussed how easy it is to use perfect baccarat strategy. Nevertheless, you might still appreciate a few extra tips.

Stick with the Banker Bet

I can’t reiterate this single piece of advice enough. If you want the best-possible chance of beating baccarat, then you should always wager on the banker winning.

The bummer is that casinos take 5% out of wins. Their reasoning is that you have a 50.68% chance of winning banker wagers.

Therefore, they must take these commissions to ensure their edge stays intact. Even still, the banker bet’s 1.06% house advantage is one of the lowest in gaming.

Don’t Obsess Over Betting Systems

Earlier, I covered how trend gambling offers an interesting way to enjoy baccarat. But neither trend betting nor any other gambling system will help you win long-term profits.

The problem with these strategies is that they do nothing to counteract the house advantage. You can watch trends and manipulate your betting patterns anywhere you want.

The only thing that gambling systems are truly good for is spicing up sessions. You may get lucky and have immense success with a system while also getting to try a new method of playing.

Always Leave Enough to Cover Commissions

You don’t need to worry about manually paying commissions in online baccarat or many land-based settings.

Online real money casinos automatically take 5% of your winning banker wagers. Meanwhile, some brick-and-mortar venues see you cover commissions following every hand.

Other casinos, however, don’t require you to pay these 5% cuts until you leave the table. Such scenarios create difficulties if you don’t separate commissions from your main bankroll.

Winning Banker Is A Mustard

Assuming you can’t cover the full amount at the end of a session, then casinos will obtain your personal details. They’ll ensure that you pay up at a later date or face legal consequences.

Choose Stakes You’re Comfortable With

Mini baccarat has made playing in land-based casinos more affordable than in past years. You can play land-based baccarat for as little as $5 to $10 in some cases. Online baccarat features just $1 stakes.

However, you still need to avoid getting carried away. You may be tempted to bet more during hot streaks or even when you’re losing.

The latter situation is extremely dangerous, because it constitutes chasing losses. You could end up losing your entire bankroll as a result.

That said, you should set a stop-loss limit (e.g. $100) before each session. You want to quit for the day upon hitting this limit.

Collect Baccarat Bonuses & VIP Rewards

Both land-based and online casinos usually offer loyalty rewards to baccarat players. You should take advantage of these VIP benefits to pad your bankroll.

Internet casinos have the added bonus of offering bonuses. For instance, you might get a free $25 bet for live dealer baccarat.

Or, you could receive a match deposit bonus. An example of the latter would include a 100% match bonus worth up to $200.

Get Your Baccarat Bankroll Ready

You never want to risk money that you can’t afford to lose on baccarat or any other casino game. Therefore, you should come up with a casino bankroll management plan.

Your first goal here should be to avoid betting anything that’s needed for bills and other expenses. This process involves going through your weekly/monthly finances and determining how much is left over for gambling.

Next, you want to set a unit size and determine how many units you’re willing to lose in a given session (i.e. stop loss).

Here’s an example:

• You have a $300 baccarat bankroll.
• You normally make $5 bets.
• 300 / 5 = 60 units
• You set a stop loss of 15 units.
• You’ll never gamble past 15 units in a session.

Conclusion

You don’t have to master a difficult game like blackjack to win more often in gambling. Baccarat provides around the same odds of winning and is much easier.

You just need to follow the simple strategy of wagering on the banker hand winning every time. This strategy is good enough to yield around a 1% house edge.

Other tips include creating a bankroll management plan, going for bonuses/VIP rewards, and forgetting about betting systems.