Baccarat Strategy Guide

With a history spanning over 600 years, baccarat has remained one of the most popular casino games to this day – recognized for its low house edge of only 1.06%. However, to maximize your gameplay and avoid unnecessary losses, you must apply the right baccarat strategy.

This comprehensive guide breaks down baccarat’s odds, game variations, and expert strategies, equipping you with the knowledge to play like a seasoned high roller.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

How to play baccarat
Baccarat odds
Best baccarat strategies
Can you increase your odds using a baccarat game strategy?
Popular baccarat games
Conclusion
FAQ
References

Table of Contents

How to play baccarat
Baccarat odds
Best baccarat strategies

Show Full Guide

Can you increase your odds using a baccarat game strategy?
Popular baccarat games
Conclusion
FAQ
References

How to play baccarat

Baccarat is known for its simplicity, where you bet on either the Player or the Banker. You wager on which hand will total closest to 9 (or a Tie) after two cards are dealt to each side. If you bet on the winning outcome, you win — as simple as that.

Essentially, this makes the game completely luck-based, which is an important fact to remember. On top of that, most variants use eight decks of cards, making card counting ineffective. This includes the most popular version, Punto Banco, on which many other variants are based.

The following rules apply when calculating the points for each side:

• Aces count as 1.
• Number cards (2–9) retain their face value.
• Tens and all picture cards (King, Queen, Jack) are valued at 0.

Whenever the total of a hand exceeds 9, only the last digit is counted. For instance, a hand with a 5 and a 7 doesn’t have a value of 12, but is instead counted as 2.

A basic baccarat betting table in a simulated RNG baccarat game

Once betting concludes, two cards are dealt to both the Player and Banker (in certain situations, a third card is dealt as well), and the side closest to 9 wins. If both end up with the same total, the Tie bet wins.

In some cases, a third card is dealt based on predetermined rules, adding a slight twist to the game. We’ll cover this next.

When is a third card drawn in baccarat?

There’s no secret baccarat pattern strategy involved here, and whether the third is dealt to both sides depends on predetermined rules:

‣ If the point total of either of the two sides is 8 or 9, both hands stand. This is called a natural.
‣ If the Player’s point total is 5 or less, they draw a third card. If it’s 6 or 7, the Player stands.
‣ When the Player stands with 6 or 7 and the Banker has 5 or less, the Banker draws a third card.
‣ If the Banker’s total is also 6 or 7, they stand.
‣ If the Player draws a third card, the Banker’s draws a third card based on a predetermined set of rules.

The table below shows whether the Banker stands or draws based on the Banker’s current total and the Player’s third card. The row numbers are the possible values of the Player’s third card, while the column numbers represent the Banker’s total from the first two cards.

	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
7	Stand	Stand	Stand	Stand	Stand	Stand	Stand	Stand	Stand	Stand
6	Stand	Stand	Stand	Stand	Stand	Stand	Draw	Draw	Stand	Stand
5	Stand	Stand	Stand	Stand	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Stand	Stand
4	Stand	Stand	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Stand	Stand
3	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Stand	Draw
2	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw
1	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw
0	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw	Draw

Baccarat odds

The odds and payouts in baccarat are straightforward to follow as outlined in the following table:

	Banker	Player	Tie
Odds	45.86%	44.62%	9.52%
House Edge	1.06%	1.24%	14.36%
Payout	1:1 (minus 5% commission)	1:1	8:1 (9:1 in some games)

Bear in mind that once you place the bet, that’s it; there’s nothing else you need to do. Due to this, the baccarat betting strategy mostly boils down to bankroll management, although players have adopted various methods to try and beat the odds.

Best baccarat strategies

The best baccarat strategy revolves around staying on top of your betting funds, being patient, and having a solid understanding of the rules and odds. While these principles are simple, there’s still plenty to explore in the the game that was introduced to the world by James Bond.

Keep reading to discover key tips and tactics for playing baccarat casino games.

Play Banker bets more often

As shown in the table above, the win rates for each bet in baccarat are approximately: Banker: 45.86%, Player: 44.62%, and Tie: 9.52%.

Statistically, the Banker wins most often, making it the best option despite the 5% commission some casinos deduct from your winnings on this bet. Even with the commission, the Banker bet maintains a low house edge of around 1.06%, which is still less than the Player’s 1.24%.

So, you can alternate between Banker and Player if you prefer variety, but statistically, it’s best to stick with the Banker bet most of the time.
Avoid no-commission baccarat

Some casinos offer no-commission baccarat, a variation that eliminates the standard 5% commission applied to Banker bets.

However, even though this sounds like the better choice, as the payout is 1:1 instead of 1:0.95, the house edge is actually higher than in the standard version. It’s around 1.46% on the Banker bet instead of the 1.06% offered in standard commission-based baccarat games.

This is because the Banker bet doesn’t pay 1:1 every time. Whenever the Banker wins with a point total of 6, you get only 50% of your stake returned. Therefore, playing a no-commission baccarat game long-term isn’t the right move, statistically speaking.
Martingale baccarat system

The Martingale is one of the most popular betting systems in casino games that offer even-money bets. Adopting it can be a helpful baccarat pattern strategy to maintain control of your bankroll. The way it works is straightforward. You start with a certain bet amount, double it every time you lose, and return to the original bet whenever you win.

That way, you’ll offset any losses as soon as you record a win. The advantage of this system is that it helps you stay ahead when you win, but the problem is that several consecutive losses can escalate your stake quickly. This makes it extremely difficult to recover your losses if you hit table limits or run out of funds.
The Paroli baccarat system

Another popular betting strategy useful for baccarat players is the Paroli system, often known as the Reverse Martingale. Here, you double your bet after every win and return to the original stake whenever you lose.

This system’s main advantage is that it pursues wins instead of offsetting losses. The goal is to capitalize on a winning streak, leading to massive potential gains while minimizing risk.
Play the Tie bet sparingly

The Tie bet may seem tempting due to its 8:1 payout, but its low win probability of just 9.52% makes it a risky choice. At the same time, the house edge of 14.36% is roughly 14 times higher than the Banker bet.

The payout is high but not worth the risk in the long run, so avoid the Tie bet altogether or play it only occasionally when you’ve built up a bankroll and want to take a calculated risk.
Don’t lean on previous results

Many online baccarat games display the history of past rounds, in some cases showing results from more than 100 previous hands. However, this should be used for informational purposes only, never as an indicator of future outcomes.

Every round features the same fixed odds for all bet types, so what happened before doesn’t matter. While it’s possible for the Player to win ten times in a row, this is purely due to circumstance and not a sign of an underlying pattern.

Past results can be displayed in various chart formats, the most popular being ‘Bead Road’ and ‘Big Road.’ They provide a visualization of previous results, where more superstitious players look for patterns that can affect future results. However, there is no evidence to suggest this strategy works.
Practice on virtual baccarat

If you’ve never played baccarat before or are trying a new variation, it’s best to play RNG baccarat games found on many of the best baccarat online casino sites. These let you place lower minimum stakes compared to live variations, sometimes from just $1, to help you learn the ropes without risking your finances.

Some live baccarat games also allow for low minimum stakes but come with short time limits, where there are only a few seconds between each new game. The fast-paced nature can be overwhelming for some, pressuring new players into mistakes. In virtual baccarat, you control the pace of the game.

Many live baccarat games feature side bets with high payouts and low odds

Can you increase your odds using a baccarat game strategy?

No, you cannot affect the odds in any baccarat game — they are entirely fixed. No strategy or betting system can change that.

However, you should recognize that the Banker side has a statistically higher chance of winning and that playing no-commission baccarat also doesn’t increase your returns over long-term play.

The strategies we discuss here won’t change the game’s odds or payouts, but they can help you manage your money wisely and minimize unnecessary risks.

Popular baccarat games

Baccarat is not just a single game but a broad category with many variations from different software providers. We’ve covered the standard version, so let’s learn about the most popular baccarat variants you might want to try.

Lightning Baccarat

Lightning Baccarat is a live dealer variant developed by Evolution. This version retains the classic gameplay but introduces a unique Lightning feature, which randomly assigns multipliers of up to 8x to several cards each round. If one of these cards is part of your winning bet, your payout gets a significant boost.

However, the game also includes a 20% fee that’s added to each bet to fund lightning payments. So, for instance, a $10 bet will actually deduct $12 from your balance. However, the boosted payouts (that can reach up to a huge 310,721x) are more than worth it should they hit.

Baccarat Squeeze

This live dealer baccarat variant enhances the game’s suspense by focusing on the dramatic card reveal. The dealer slowly peels back the cards, building anticipation before revealing the outcome, while multiple camera angles capture every moment.

Besides the added suspense, Baccarat Squeeze is the same as standard baccarat, with the rules and payouts unchanged.

EZ Baccarat

EZ Baccarat eliminates the standard 5% commission on winning Banker bets and introduces two side bets. These are Dragon 7 — Pays 40:1 if the Banker wins on a three-card total of 7, and Panda 8 — Pays 25:1 if the Player wins on a three-card total of 8.

Dragon Tiger

While Dragon Tiger isn’t technically a baccarat variant, it is often considered a simplified version of the card game. Instead of the Banker and Player, the two sides are called Dragon and Tiger, and only a single card is dealt to each. The higher card value wins. The game is fast-paced and has no special rules, as there is no second or third card.

The payout on a Tie is 10x, and you get 50% of your bet back if both cards are equal. The card values follow the standard ranking, with 10s and face cards carrying their usual value (i.e., King is highest). The Ace is worth 1.

Dragon Tiger is a simplified casino game, similar to Baccarat

Conclusion

Baccarat is a game of chance, but understanding the odds and implementing smart bankroll management baccarat strategy can help you play more effectively. Nothing can guarantee a win, but you can use the tactics described here, like sticking to the Banker bet and avoiding no commission baccarat, to maximize your chances and minimize losses.