Winning at Baccarat: A Comprehensive Guide to Strategies, History, and Techniques

This article does not represent Mr. Tang’s opinion.

When it comes to gambling, most people immediately think of card games, and there’s good reason for that. Card games are among the most popular betting games worldwide, on par with slot machines. However, unlike slots, which are straightforward and unaffected by the player, card games require a certain level of skill to improve one’s chances of winning.

In games like poker or baccarat, it’s not just about card skills but also about reading the other players at your table. This is why the term “poker face” exists—to describe the ability to control one’s facial expressions so as not to reveal the strength of one’s hand.

Of course, reading players is not the only thing to consider. Winning the game also requires a reasonable strategy and money.

What makes baccarat special is its low house edge and the ease with which the game can be learned. Additionally, its portrayal in popular media, such as James Bond films, has quickly made it a favorite among many players. You can find baccarat in almost any casino, whether online or in person. Some casinos feature mini-baccarat tables, while others have high-limit rooms.

Almost every online casino offers at least one version of baccarat, often provided by different game developers. The key is that baccarat is readily available both online and offline and is easy to learn. However, that may not be enough. To truly increase your chances of winning, you need to learn some strategies that give you an edge. Fortunately, many tools are available today, and we will review them to see what they require, allowing you to decide which to apply in each case.

The History of Baccarat

Before we delve into actual strategies, let’s first review some key points about the game’s history. Baccarat boasts a rich and fascinating past, dating back to the 15th century.

It was invented by an Italian gambler named Felix Falguiere. The name “baccarat” comes from the Italian word for “zero,” reflecting the fact that all face cards and tens are worth zero—a rule still observed today.

The game started with popular medieval tarot cards but was eventually replaced by standard playing cards. As the game spread, it reached France, where it was known as Chemin de Fer, a variant of Baccarat en Banque. Over the centuries, the game spread throughout Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries.

At some point, it made its way to Cuba, where a writer and gambler, Tommy Renzoni, picked it up and brought it to America, directly to Las Vegas. Since then, baccarat has become a staple in Las Vegas casinos and other legalized gambling areas in the U.S.

The Rules of Baccarat

Next, let’s discuss how the game is played. It might seem a bit intimidating at first, but it’s quite simple and you’ll quickly grasp the details if given the chance.

Firstly, baccarat might seem complex, but behind its facade, each hand has only three possible outcomes. In fact, almost no skill is needed at the start. Even if you’re unfamiliar with card games, you can quickly learn how to play.

Here’s a basic rundown:

Like most table games, baccarat uses three to six standard decks of 52 cards. These cards are shuffled and placed into a dealing shoe, commonly known as a “shoe.” The dealer deals the cards from the shoe, while players only need to place their bets and let the cards determine the outcome.

When it comes to betting, you can wager on the Player, the Banker, or a Tie. Once bets are placed, the dealer will deal two cards to the Player and two cards to the Banker, all face up. The goal is to determine which hand is closer to 9.

Card values are as follows:

• Cards 2 through 9 are worth their face value.
• Tens (10) and face cards (J, Q, K) are worth zero.
• Aces are worth 1.

A crucial rule is that if the total exceeds 9, you subtract 10 from the total. For example, if you have a 9 and a 7, the total is 16. Subtracting 10, the final total is 6. Alternatively, just remember to subtract “1” from 16, leaving you with 6.

Another rule to remember is that each hand can have a maximum of three cards, and specific rules determine when the Player or Banker can draw a third card. Generally, a third card is drawn if the Player’s total is less than 5. If the total is higher than 5, the Player stands. If the total is exactly 5, the Player may choose whether to draw a third card.

For the Banker, a third card is drawn if the total is less than 3 or according to the most favorable odds rules. However, if the Banker’s total is 6 or higher, the Banker also stands.

Baccarat Payouts

Before discussing actual strategies, let’s cover baccarat payouts. This includes the three types of bets: Player Bet, Banker Bet, and Tie Bet.

Player Bet
If the Player’s hand is closer to 9 than the Banker’s, you win, and your payout is even money. For example, a winning $20 bet on the Player will earn an additional $20, totaling $40.

Banker Bet
If you bet on the Banker and win, you receive a payout minus a 5% commission. Thus, if you bet $20 on the Banker and win, you’ll receive $19, with $1 retained by the casino.

Tie Bet
Finally, we have the Tie Bet. A Tie Bet means if the result is a tie, all bets on the Player and Banker are pushed. In this case, neither hand wins or loses. You can keep your bet, cancel it, reduce it, or add more chips, or switch bets.

Keep in mind that state and federal taxes may apply, so don’t expect a 100% return, as gambling in regulated areas is subject to rules.

Baccarat Strategies

1) Avoid Tie Bets
Given everything mentioned, a friendly tip is to always avoid Tie Bets.

While baccarat is one of the safest casino games, Tie Bets carry a high risk and are more likely to deplete your wallet rather than yield a profit.

Tie Bets offer the highest payout, at 8:1. However, statistically, the chances of winning a Tie Bet are very slim. The house edge for this bet is as high as 14.36%. In other words, if you make 100 $1 Tie Bets, you would statistically lose $14.36, which is the best-case scenario. This is because you’re betting on an outcome that is highly unlikely to occur, which is contrary to the goal of filling your wallet rather than emptying it.

If the Banker has a 1% edge, it’s better to bet on the Banker with odds of 1:1.06. This means if you make one $100 bet, you’ll lose $1. Indeed, if you bet on the Banker and win, you must pay a 5% commission, but if this is a concern, it’s better to bet on the Player, where the house edge is slightly higher at 1.24%. Compared to the 14.36% of the Tie Bet, this is still low.

So, here’s your first lesson in baccarat strategy: Never bet on a Tie.

2) Bet on the Banker
Next, let’s talk about one of the simplest yet most effective winning strategies in baccarat: betting on the Banker. This is also one of the most recommended strategies by those familiar with the game and its related strategies.

This advice is spot-on because it all boils down to basic mathematics. As mentioned earlier, the Banker Bet has the highest chance of winning due to its theoretical house edge of 1.06%. This means your payout percentage will be 98.94%.

So, if you make 100 $1 bets, you would theoretically get back $98.94. Of course, this is purely statistical, and luck remains a major factor, as it all depends on the cards. Sometimes, you might win 10 out of 9 hands, or even all 10 if you’re exceptionally lucky, but sometimes you might still lose more than you win. Once the cards are dealt, no strategy can change the cards you have or the total value.

However, the RTP for the Banker Bet is higher than the RTP for the Player Bet, even if only slightly. As discussed earlier, the Tie Bet is the worst option, so once again, avoid betting on a Tie.

Another reason to bet on the Banker goes beyond RTP or house edge. The reason lies in the math.

Assuming the casino uses eight decks of 52 cards, Tie Bets are at a ratio of 8:1, a significant but rare occurrence. On the other hand, the Banker Bet pays out (minus the 5% commission). Player Bets also provide a 1:1 payout.

So, mathematically, the Player’s hand has a 44.63% chance of winning, a 45.87% chance of losing, and a 9.51% chance of a Tie. The 45.87% loss for the Player means the Banker Bet wins 45.87% of the time, while the Player wins 44.63% of the time, and the remaining 9.51% is a Tie.

Even if we ignore the Tie results, the Banker’s chance of winning is 50.68%, while the Player’s chance is 49.32%. In other words, the Banker has a greater than 50% chance of winning each hand. The Player follows closely, with a slight risk-return trade-off if you choose the Banker and incur a 5% commission. But even with the 5% commission, you keep most of the winnings if the Banker wins, compared to winning nothing if you bet on the Player and lose.

As you can see, it all comes down to pure numbers, and

betting on the Banker is mathematically the best bet.

3) Consider Pattern Betting
The third strategy to consider is pattern betting. While this involves more subjective thinking and is somewhat debatable, it’s also important to discuss.

Pattern betting involves identifying patterns or trends in previous hands and using this information to predict future outcomes. For example, you might notice that the Banker has won the last five hands, or the Player has been on a winning streak. Some players believe in the gambler’s fallacy—that past results influence future outcomes—even though this is not statistically true.

The key to successful pattern betting is the recognition that such patterns or streaks may or may not continue. It’s a gamble within a gamble, with no guarantees. But it’s a strategy used by many gamblers and is worth considering as an option. Often, you’ll see players “chasing” a streak or betting against a pattern.

In summary, betting on the Banker is your safest bet in baccarat. Avoid Tie Bets, and while pattern betting can be fun and offer short-term excitement, remember that it doesn’t alter the house edge. Play responsibly and be prepared for the fact that baccarat, like all gambling games, involves both luck and strategy.