Baccarat may have a reputation as a high-stakes game for the elite, but it's actually one of the easiest casino (he said) games to learn. With a very low house edge and minimal decision-making, it's an appealing option for all skill levels.
The Goal of the Game
The game involves a simple comparison between two hands, the "Player" and the "Banker". The objective is to bet on which hand casino you think will have a total closest to 9. Your betting options are simple: Player win, Banker win, or a Tie between them.
Card Values in Baccarat
- Cards 2-9: Are worth their face value.
- 10s, Jacks, Queens, casino and Kings (Face Cards): Are worth zero points.
- Aces: An Ace is valued at 1.
The score of a hand is the rightmost digit of the sum of the cards. For example, a hand consisting of a 7 and an 8 is not 15, but 5. A starting hand of 8 or 9 is a "natural" and the best possible hand.
The Three Bets and Their Odds
The beauty of baccarat lies in its simplicity. Once you've placed your bet, there are no more decisions to make; the dealer follows a fixed set of rules to draw additional cards if necessary. Let's examine the three wagers and their associated odds.
| Bet | House Edge | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| The Banker Bet | Just over 1% | This is statistically the best bet in baccarat. It wins slightly more often than the Player bet. Winning Banker bets are subject to a 5% commission, but it's still the most favorable wager. |
| The Player Bet | ~1.24% | This wager is almost as good as the Banker bet and is a perfectly acceptable choice. |
| Bet on a Tie | ~14.36% | Never make the Tie bet. The probability of it occurring is very low, and the house advantage is huge. |
The clear strategy in baccarat is simple: consistently bet on the Banker. This simple tactic ensures you are playing against the lowest possible house edge. Baccarat's combination of simplicity, casino low house edge, and suspense makes it a timeless classic.
