Baccarat may have a reputation as a high-stakes game for the elite, but it's actually one of the easiest casino games to learn. The game's low house advantage and simple gameplay make it a fantastic choice for anyone visiting a casino.
The Goal of the Game
In Baccarat, casino you are not playing against the dealer or other players; you are betting on the outcome of two hands, named the Player and the Banker. The aim is to wager on the hand—Player or Banker—that will end up with a higher score. You can bet on the Player's hand to win, the Banker's hand to win, or for the hands to Tie.
Scoring the Hands
- Cards 2-9: Are worth their face value.
- 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings (Face Cards): These cards have no point value.
- Aces: An Ace is valued at 1.
Hand casino totals are calculated by adding the values of the cards. If the total is a two-digit number, only the second digit is used. A 7 and an 8 would total 15, so the hand's value is 5. If the Player or Banker is dealt a total of 8 or 9 on the first two cards, casino it's called a "natural" and the round ends.
Which Bet is Best?
The beauty of baccarat lies in its simplicity. Once you've placed your bet, casino 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 | Expected Loss | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Banker | Just over 1% | Despite a 5% commission on wins, this is the smartest bet you can make. It has the lowest house edge of the three. |
| Player | ~1.24% | This wager is almost as good as the Banker bet and is a perfectly acceptable choice. |
| The Tie Bet | Extremely High (over 14%) | While the 8-to-1 payout is tempting, the Tie bet has a massive house edge and is one of the worst bets in the entire casino. It should be avoided by serious players. |
The optimal strategy for baccarat couldn't be easier: always wager on the Banker. This simple tactic ensures you are playing against the lowest possible house edge. Baccarat's combination of simplicity, low house edge, and suspense makes it a timeless classic.
