What will you learn from our Baccarat strategy guide?
Playing online baccarat is a fun leisure activity. It can also be potentially lucrative with the right baccarat strategy in place. This is where our brief yet comprehensive guide on baccarat comes in. In this article, we guide you on the different baccarat variants, betting rules, and tips on playing. Understanding its rules, types of bets, and variants goes a long way to making your online baccarat experience more exciting and potentially lucrative.
Four important tips before you start
1. Get to know all the rules, odds, bets, and payouts
Know the baccarat rules, odds, and types of bets before you play with real money. This approach will not just help you play the game but help maximize your win potential. In online baccarat, the objective is to bet on which hand has the best value. Here, you can bet on the ‘Player,’ ‘Banker,’ or a Tie. It may seem like an easy decision to make, but each bet comes with specific odds and payouts. Baccarat has one of the lowest house edges in the business, with a bet on the Banker set at 1.06% (includes the 5% commission) and the Player with 1.24%.
2. Choose a baccarat variant smartly
Like other table games, baccarat online is available in different variants. The best variants available in US casinos are Classic Baccarat, High Limit Baccarat, Baccarat Squeeze, and No Commission Baccarat. Although they share the general rules, these variants differ in some rules, bet limits, and the commission fee. The slight changes in the rules or removal of a commission fee can be an advantage for the player who has a baccarat gambling strategy in place.
3. Plan your budget – how much are you prepared to win or lose
As always, it’s best to play responsibly. This means identifying a bankroll and sticking to this budget when playing online baccarat. Your bankroll for baccarat is an amount that you are willing to lose. Quit the game if you have used up your bankroll. It’s never wise to chase losses since there’s no guarantee that your next bet on the baccarat table is a winning one.
4. Don’t forget about the time you’re willing to spend on a game
In responsible gambling, it’s also important to identify the amount of time you want to spend playing the game. For example, you can set a 30-minute or 1-hour session every weekend, depending on the size of your bankroll. If you’re the type of player who struggles in keeping tabs at the time, you may want to use the Session Limits tool offered by the operator.
Popular Baccarat Strategies
Did you know that online baccarat has one of the lowest house edges in the business? When betting on the Banker, the house edge is 1.06%, including the commission and the Player’s bet boasts an advantage of 1.24%. For some players, this information alone is enough to play the game. Though it makes the game attractive, it’s still important to set a baccarat gambling strategy. It serves as a guide when setting your bankroll and in identifying the best bet to play (or even avoid). Before you play, check out some of the popular and tested strategies below.
The one-sided baccarat strategy
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Simple and easy to learn | A stop-loss should be in place |
| Offers 3:1 chance of winning when used properly | Tie bet is not included in the betting options |
This is a simple baccarat strategy that can work for all players, including beginners. In this strategy, you’ll stick with one side or type of bet, say a bet on the ‘Banker’ or a ‘Player.’ When the results go against you, stay focused and set a stop loss. In this strategy, you don’t allow yourself to lose three in a row. If it happens, wait for your side to win again before placing another bet.
The trend switch combat baccarat
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Players can profit from both trends | Stop-loss needs to be wider |
| Players need to know the different trends |
In this betting strategy, a player switches from one trend to the other. You start by flat betting and when you lose twice on one of the trends, just switch to the other trend.
Breaking the doubles strategy
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| A popular betting strategy that’s based on the zigzag pattern | The player needs to double down once if the target is not achieved |
Breaking the doubles is a modern baccarat betting strategy where you bet the opposites (PBPB) until you get into a double streak (PPP or BBB).
Card counting in Baccarat?
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Allows you to track the cards and values on the table | Not as effective when used in blackjack |
| Helps players minimize the house edge | Complicated, requires complete focus to keep tabs of the running total |
| Offers a better appreciation of the game | Takes a long time to learn and master |
Card counting is a popular strategy used in blackjack that can also work in baccarat. In this strategy, you will keep tabs on the cards dealt on the table and come up with a running total. For example, add 1 when an Ace, 2 or 3 are dealt, and add 2 if the table shows a 4. Now, you need to subtract 1 point if 5, 7, and 8 are dealt on the table and take 2 if 6 shows on the deal. In the baccarat card counting strategy, the 10-value cards are ignored. So, what should you do with the information? You need to bet on the Player if the running total is +16 or go for the Banker if the count is below this number.
1-3-2-4 baccarat strategy
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| A fun and exciting strategy to use | Does not change the rules or payouts so the house edge remains the same |
| Helps players minimize their losses | Primarily best for entertainment and not for serious baccarat play |
Another fun way to bet on online baccarat is through the 1-2-3-4 baccarat strategy. The objective of this baccarat gambling strategy is to increase your every time you win. Now, if you lose a round, simply return to your original wager and start again.
System Martingale
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Easy to play | Not recommended for long playing sessions |
| There are no complex rules of equations to memorize | The odds are not in your favor |
| Best for players with big bankrolls | Will not work for players with a limited bankroll |
The Martingale betting system is a popular betting strategy that works for several casino games like roulette and baccarat. In this baccarat gambling strategy, you just double your bet after a loss. If you get a win, you revert to the original bet. In this betting strategy, you take advantage of the highest wager in the cycle.
The Fibonacci Strategy
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Can boost the win potential since the player increases the after a losing round | Big losses when things go bad |
| Less aggressive strategy than Martingale | Requires a big bankroll |
| Players can enjoy long game sessions | Beginners may need to memorize the sequence |
Initially used for roulette, the Fibonacci betting strategy is now also used in other casino games like online baccarat. As the term suggests, this follows the famed Fibonacci sequence, where the next number is equal to the sum of the two previous numbers. Here, you move to the next number in a sequence when you lose and step back two if you win.
The Paroli System
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Betting strategy is easy to learn | Winnings are not guaranteed |
| Can potentially provide small yet consistent wins | House edge remains the same |
The Paroli baccarat strategy is a positive progression betting system which means that you increase your wager after winning a round. Although your profits in several rounds of baccarat are not assured, this is still a popular baccarat gambling strategy since this is easy to learn.
The Labouchere System
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Flexible since the player can adjust the betting sequence at the start | A complicated betting system is not recommended for beginners |
| The progression allows the player better control of the baccarat game | It Will require a huge bankroll |
First used in the game of roulette, the Labouchere system is now popularly applied in online baccarat. In this baccarat gambling strategy, the player aims to make a predetermined profit and continues to play the game until this objective has been met. There’s an element of choice here since the player starts with a sequence of numbers. The potential profit for each cycle or sequence of numbers is equal to the total value of all numbers in that sequence. When you place your bet, this should be equal to the sum of the first and last number in the sequence. If you win, you cancel the first and last number in your sequence.
The D’Alembert System
This betting system is primarily applied to wagers with a 50-50 percent chance of winning. Using this principle, a player can also use this strategy when betting on either the Banker or the Player. This baccarat strategy works like this: after a loss, you add one unit to your next wager. And after a win, you will deduct one unit from your next bet.
Which Baccarat Strategy should you choose?
As you can see, there are several baccarat strategies that you can use when playing in real money. Each betting strategy has its advantages and disadvantages, and some require you to follow complex rules or memorize a sequence of numbers. These strategies do not guarantee a win, but they can help lower the house edge, minimize your losses, or increase your chances of winning a payout. Before you play, make sure to check and review the different baccarat variants and their rules. From here, you can easily decide which baccarat strategy is right for the game and your playing style.
The best strategies to try when you’re new to casino
If you’re a beginner or a new member of a casino, there are a few baccarat strategies that are worth checking out. Here’s a look at the recommended strategies for beginners.
- Martingale system. This is an easy strategy that requires you to double your wager after a loss.
- One-sided baccarat strategy. In this strategy, you bet on one side and stick with it.
- Paroli system. New baccarat players can also benefit from the Paroli system. Here, you increase your bet after a win.
Baccarat strategies to play if you’re a pro
There’s also a set of baccarat strategies that can work for experienced players. Let’s check some of these betting strategies below:
- Fibonacci strategy. In this betting strategy, you must know the famous mathematical sequence. You will use the number sequence as the basis in making a bet.
- Card counting. This betting strategy is best left for experienced players. It requires complete focus and patience to fully master the approach and track the actual card count on the table.
Baccarat strategies that got the most wins
Betting strategies help lower the house edge and in increasing your chances of collecting a payout. All the strategies described in this guide can help you lessen the odds, minimize losses, or collect huge payout potential. There is no best bet in baccarat, only bets with better odds. And for many players, the best strategy is to go primarily for the Banker’s bet to take advantage of the 1.06% house edge. For all other strategies, you can’t go wrong with the Player’s bet.
General beginner mistakes to avoid
The rules of baccarat are straightforward, offer a friendly house edge, and have that classy feel to it. With these, many players tend to take the game lightly and often play unprepared. This should not be the case if you want to enjoy and win big. If you’re a beginner, it’s best to explore first the different variants and play these in the free demo. Identifying a baccarat strategy is helpful, too, as it helps lessen the house edge or minimize your potential losses. Finally, it’s highly recommended to set a bankroll for baccarat and stick with it. A serious mistake of many beginners is to chase the losses and think that a win is due on the table!