Baccarat is a game of chance that allows players to place their bet on one of the three main bets and go for additional side bets if they want to. There is nothing you can do to affect the outcome of a Baccarat round.
Baccarat
Last Updated on December 4, 2024 by Janine Tan
Baccarat is Singapore Most Popular Casino Game. First of all, let us introduce the game of Baccarat to you. You need to understand its basics so that you can learn how to beat it. Baccarat is a game of chance played with cards. To win it, you need to guess correctly which side, Banker or Player, will have a hand worth 9 or closest to this value. Besides the Banker and Player bet, the game also offers the Tie bet you can place if you believe that all the sides will have cards of the same value.
When it comes to card values, those from 2 through 9 are worth their face value while 10s, Js, Qs, and Ks are worth zero while As are worth 1 point. In case the total of a hand exceeds nine, 10 is subtracted from the score. So, if one of the sides receives, for instance, a 9 and 5, the total would be 4 (9+5=14-10=4). Anyways, when playing Baccarat online, the total of each hand will be calculated automatically, so you don’t have to worry about it.
Now, on to the gameplay. The game starts with the player placing a bet to the side they believe will have a successful hand. As you see, we use the word “believe”, so the game is based on guessing and luck. However, don’t give up on it now, as we will provide you with more useful information later in the article, and they can really help you master the game and have leverage.
Both sides receive two cards and depending on the total of their hands, the third card rule may apply. Again, this is a part of the game that should not bother you as it is performed automatically. The only part you should take care of is choosing the bet you will place.
How to Play Baccarat online?
Playing Baccarat is as easy as it gets. So, once you have decided which side you will place your bet on, both sides will receive two face-up cards. If one of the sides has a total of 9 or 8, it wins. This is called natural. If you have placed a bet on the winning side, you will receive a 1:1 payout. However, winnings on Banker bets are reduced by 5%, which is a commission fee we will explain later in the text.
As we have mentioned, there is another betting option called Tie. It pays the biggest prize of 8:1 or 9:1, depending on the version of the game you play. However, this bet comes with the biggest house edge. If you have played a Player or Banker bet and Tie wins, you get your original bet back.
How to Win Baccarat Online
How to win at casino games is one of the most common questions, and Baccarat online players are no strangers to asking it. If you are a fan of one of the most popular games at Macau-based casinos, you must be interested in how to win it. Whether you play Baccarat at RNG-operated or live casino tables on Singapore-facing gambling sites, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will try to give all the answers to this million-dollar question
House Edge Explained
One of the main reasons while high-rollers love Baccarat is its house edge. This is one of the casino games with the lowest house advantage. When played with 6 or 8 card decks Baccarat has the house edge of 1.06% on the Banker bet and 1.24% on the Player wager. As for the Tie bet that pays 8:1, it sits at 14.44% and 14.36% with 6 or 8 decks in play, respectively. If the same bet pays 9:1 – which is a less common option – its house margin decreases to 4.93% and 4.84%, respectively.
While one may think that the house advantage in Baccarat is higher than the house margin in Blackjack, that’s not quite true.
The thing is that you can benefit from the low house edge in Blackjack only if you stick to the strategy, which means that you need to acquire certain skills. On the other hand, Baccarat is a game of sheer luck, which means that it is easy to play and, consequently, win at it. So, let’s learn what you can do about winning at Baccarat.
A Winning Baccarat Strategy – Is There One and Can You Rely on It?
A game of chance and a winning strategy – these two words don’t belong in the same sentence, one may think. Well, when it comes to Baccarat, while there is no winning strategy, there are a few tips that can help you beat the game. First of all, make sure to choose a reputable and fully licensed online casino accepting Singapore players.
One of the most useful pieces of advice you may get is to never play the Tie bet. Looking at its house edge, you can easily see that it is quite high, so going for it is a risky business. Although it pays the biggest prize of all the main bets, playing it involves risk, so we would recommend you to skip it. After all, even if the round ends in a tie, you won’t lose your bet.
Speaking of betting options, Baccarat online may offer fewer bets than some other casino games. Yet, two out three main bets it offers will provide you with high odds of winning. In particular, it is recommendable to play the Banker bet as it comes with the lowest house edge. Although it comes with a 5% commission fee that is subtracted from a 1:1 payout, it wins most of the time, so you should go for it as long as it wins.
Another good option is the Player bet you can switch to when the Banker bet loses. So, start placing bets on Banker until this side loses. When this happens, you can skip one or two rounds and decide, based on the winning side(s), whether you will bet on Banker or Player next.
On some gaming portals and forums, you may stumble upon articles and opinions that advocate betting systems. You should not mix up these with strategies, as they don’t suggest moves you should make but how much you should wager per round. Whether it is a positive or negative betting system, you should not go for it as it may drain your bankroll.
What About Online Baccarat Side Bets?
Baccarat games offer various side bets that you can play for added excitement. They award bigger payouts, which makes them highly attractive. However, there are two things you should bear in mind when it comes to these additional wagers. To start with, you will have to invest more money per round if you want to try your luck on side bets. Another thing is that they come with a higher house edge, which makes them a highly risky betting option.
We won’t go into details about Baccarat side bets, but we would like to point out that they may turn out to be money consuming as they are least likely to win.
Closing Thoughts
Baccarat is a fast-paced and exciting game to play. You can start playing it without learning complex rules or strategies. And what’s even better, you can start winning at it immediately. Apply the tips given above and if Lady Luck is on your side, you will be a successful Baccarat player. Given that the two recommended main bets payout lower prizes, you may be tempted to place larger bets. Do so only if your budget allows you to and don’t forget to manage your bankroll as it is key to online casino success.
FAQs
If you stick to the low-risk bets, like Banker or Player, you have high chances of winning at Baccarat. Although this is a game of chance, these bets have the highest odds of winning, so make sure to play them and you can beat the game of Baccarat.
The best bet you should place is definitely Banker, but you can also try your luck with the Player wager from time to time. Avoid playing Tie and side bets to keep your bankroll safe.
The house advantage in Baccarat is one of the lowest of all casino games. It varies from one betting option to another, with the Banker bet having the lowest house edge of 1.06% and the Player bet coming with the house margin of 1.24%. When it comes to the Tie bet, the house advantage ranges between 4.84 & and 14.44%, depending on whether the game uses 6 or 8 card decks.
The three main bets in Baccarat include Banker, Player and Tie. Besides, players can also go for optional, side bets that vary from one game variant to another.
