Baccarat
Baccarat is favored by high rollers for its simplicity and low house edge. The Banker bet has a house edge of just 1.06%, making it one of the best bets available. No complex strategy required, just bet Banker consistently.
Play Baccarat FreeHow to Play Baccarat
Baccarat is one of the simplest card games in the casino. You choose one of three bets (Player, Banker, or Tie) and the dealer handles everything else. Two hands are dealt (Player and Banker), each receiving two or three cards according to fixed rules. The hand closest to a total of 9 wins.
Card values are unique to baccarat: Aces count as 1, cards 2-9 are face value, and 10s and face cards count as 0. When a hand total exceeds 9, only the last digit counts. For example, a hand of 7 and 8 (totaling 15) is worth 5. This 'modulo 10' rule means no hand can bust, so you always have a valid total between 0 and 9.
Drawing rules are automatic and predetermined. If either hand totals 8 or 9 (a 'natural'), no more cards are drawn. If the Player hand totals 0-5, the Player draws a third card. The Banker's third-card rules are more complex and depend on both the Banker's total and the Player's third card, but you don't need to memorize them because the dealer follows the rules automatically.
The Banker bet is the best bet with a 1.06% house edge (despite the 5% commission on wins). The Player bet has a 1.24% house edge. The Tie bet pays 8:1 but carries a massive 14.36% house edge, one of the worst bets in the casino. Smart baccarat players stick to the Banker bet almost exclusively.
Quick Rules
- Bet on Player, Banker, or Tie before cards are dealt
- Hand closest to 9 wins. Totals over 9 drop the first digit
- Aces = 1, number cards = face value, 10s and face cards = 0
- A 'natural' 8 or 9 ends the hand immediately
- Banker bet has 1.06% house edge (best bet in the game)
- Tie bet has 14.36% house edge, always avoid it
Beginner Tips
#1Bet on Banker consistently. It has the lowest house edge at 1.06%, even after the 5% commission
#2Never bet on Tie. The 14.36% house edge makes it one of the worst bets in the entire casino
#3Ignore 'pattern tracking' scorecards. Each hand is independent and past results don't influence future ones
#4Baccarat is a game of luck, not skill. The optimal strategy is simply choosing Banker and managing your bankroll
#5Look for tables with lower commission rates. Some offer 4% or even no-commission variants (though rules may differ)
Practice This Strategy
Practice what you've learned with a Up to $15,000 + 350 Free Spins (4 deposits) welcome bonus.
Baccarat Strategies. Ranked by Score
Always Bet Banker
The simplest and most effective baccarat strategy: always bet on the Banker hand. With a 1.06% house edge, it is the best bet on the table.
Pattern Recognition Myth-Busting
Why tracking patterns and streaks in baccarat is a waste of time. The math behind the gambler's fallacy and why past results never predict future outcomes.
Edge Sorting
The controversial technique used by Phil Ivey to win $20M. Exploiting tiny manufacturing defects in playing cards.
Recommended Tools
Key Terms to Know
A two-card hand totaling 8 or 9 in baccarat. When either the player or banker has a natural, no more cards are drawn. A natural 9 beats a natural 8. Naturals end the hand immediately.
Banker BetA bet on the banker hand in baccarat. Has a house edge of 1.06% (after the 5% commission on wins). The best bet in baccarat despite the commission. The banker hand wins slightly more often due to third-card rules.
Player BetA bet on the player hand in baccarat. Has a house edge of 1.24% with no commission on wins. Slightly worse odds than the banker bet, but no commission makes payouts simpler.
Tie BetA bet that the player and banker hands will have equal totals in baccarat. Pays 8:1 but has a massive house edge of 14.36%. One of the worst bets in the casino. Should always be avoided.
House EdgeThe mathematical advantage the casino has over the player, expressed as a percentage of each bet that the casino expects to keep over the long run. For example, a 2% house edge means the casino expects to keep $2 for every $100 wagered. Different games and bets within games have different house edges.
Bankroll ManagementThe strategy of controlling how much you bet relative to your total gambling funds. Good bankroll management typically means never risking more than 1-5% of your total bankroll on a single bet or session.
Baccarat FAQ
What is the house edge in Baccarat?
The house edge in Baccarat ranges from 1.06% - 14.4%, depending on the specific bet and strategy used.
What is the best Baccarat strategy?
The highest-rated strategy is Always Bet Banker with a score of 8.5/10.
How many Baccarat strategies are there?
CasinoEdges analyzes 3 different Baccarat strategies.