Advice for Baccarat Gamblers
- Jamieson
- May 30, 2022
- 3 min read
Should you find yourself in the lively gaming hubs of California or the sophisticated casinos of Monaco, it's likely you've witnessed baccarat in action in various styles.
Nonetheless, it's unlikely you've experienced a performance as smooth as that of Sean Connery at the beginning of the first animated James Bond series.
The gameplay mechanics offer unique variations. When engaging in 'punto banco', the outcome is largely dictated by the card values, while in 'chemin de fer', players have the ability to influence the game by choosing whether to draw a third card. Despite these differences, the foundational principle remains unchanged: players place bets on either the Player or Banker hand, aiming for the highest total once all cards are revealed. A total of nine is considered the best outcome and is the reason why characters like Mr. Bond often achieve this hand.
How does baccarat work?
The main objective in baccarat revolves around achieving a winning hand, which can either be for the Player or the Banker. The aim is to amass the best possible combination with the available cards. The winning hand is determined by its score, where the final digit is significant, and players should take note of the ranking of the card suits—clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades—in order of importance. Face cards hold a value of zero, while an ace is equivalent to one. For instance, if you possess face cards and an 8, your total would not be 18, but simply 8. If your cards are a 3 and 4, your score would be 7, while combining a 9 and 7 would yield a total of 16, but effectively counts as 6. And that's the essence of the game. The only additional layer of complexity arises with the potential drawing of a third card by either player. There is a straightforward chart outlining when the Player or Banker gets a third card, which typically does not happen when either side has an 8 or 9 after the initial deal, known as a 'pocket'. However, in cases where this condition is not met, a third card may be drawn under specific circumstances. If the Player's hand totals between 0-5, they will draw again, while a score of 6 or 7 means they will stand. A total of 8 or 9 is considered winning. The Banker follows a similar strategy, drawing a third card if they also have a score of 0-5, but will hold steady with 6 or 7, again standing on 8 or 9.
However, if a third card is drawn for the player, the dealer must adhere to specific guidelines regarding the scoring system:
0, 1, 2: The dealer will draw another card, irrespective of the player's third card.
3: The dealer will draw a third card unless the player's third card happens to be an 8.
4: The dealer draws another card if the Player’s third card is a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7.
5: The dealer will take a third card if the Player’s third card is a 4, 5, 6, or 7.
6: The dealer draws a third card if the Player’s third card is a 6 or 7.
7: The dealer stays.
It's crucial to consider the advantages granted to the dealer. Any winning bets made against the dealer will incur a 5% commission on the winnings.
Tie Betting
In instances where both the player and banker end up with the same score, the game concludes in a tie. In such cases, all wagers placed on both the Player and Banker will be returned. This is the sole opportunity for a tie bet to win, provided all other bets are unsuccessful.
Odds
One of the most attractive features of baccarat is its exceptionally low house edge compared to other casino games. The banker side bet has a house edge of only 1.06% (including the 5% commission), whereas betting on the player has a slightly higher house edge at 1.24%. Typically, the payout for tie bets is around 8-1 in casinos, which results in a house edge of 9.5%. This makes tie bets unfavorable, and they should be avoided.