Baccarat is an extremely simple casino game, but this doesn’t mean that it has escaped the attention of strategists looking for that perfect win formula.
We’ll kick things off with the obvious disclaimer: there is no 100% winning baccarat strategy out there. Baccarat is a game that depends on Lady Luck, so there are no baccarat strategy tips that can help you consistently win — even if you play baccarat online.
With that said, incorporating a betting strategy when playing baccarat is quite a smart thing to do since its primary objective is to extend your bankroll as much as possible; thus prolonging your entertainment.
Without further ado, let’s dive into your future betting system and explain what most baccarat strategies entail and which are the safest ones to try.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PLAYING BACCARAT
With its origins said to be in ancient China and Rome, the game of baccarat is nothing if not old. Some say that its roots lie in the Chinese game of Pai Gow, whereas others argue that Italian gambler Felix Falguiere is its inventor.
Falguiere created a game using tarot cards, in which the goal was to reach the value of nine. That remains the very premise of modern-day baccarat, as the aim of the game is to wager on the hand you think will have a value closest to nine — the Player, Banker or Tie.
Here are some pointers to help you learn the basics of baccarat:
- The card values in baccarat are as follows: 10 and picture cards are worth zero, while the ace is worth one. Numbers two through nine are worth their face value.
- If the value of the cards dealt is higher than 10, the initial digit (1) is dropped. For example, if two nines are dealt, their combined value will be eight and not 18.
- When a round of baccarat kicks off, the dealer will deal two cards to both the Player and the Banker in an alternating manner. Although there are third-card rules that dictate when and if a third card should be dealt, you aren’t required to learn them. This procedure is taken care of by the dealer.
- The main baccarat bets are the Player bet, the Banker bet and the Tie bet
HOW TO PLAY BACCARAT — LEARN THE BASICS OF THIS CARD GAME
Casino games don’t get any simpler than baccarat. Whether it is played in land-based casinos or online casinos, baccarat is a straightforward game that is played between two sides: the Player and the Banker.
It’s important to clear the misconception that, in baccarat, players play against the dealer. This is not the case. Although the two sides are named as such, this doesn’t mean that the player will go toe to toe with the dealer, as happens in blackjack, for example.
The two sides simply represent betting options for the player, who will have to predict which of them will be dealt a hand of as close to nine as possible. For more of an in-depth look at baccarat gameplay, take a look at our article Baccarat Explained on our LV BET Casino Blog.
FIRST THE RULES, THEN THE STRATEGY
As we’ve mentioned, betting strategies give you the most favourable odds of winning as they help you make more effective and efficient playing decisions while also regulating your bankroll. However, before you can give betting systems a try, you must have a good grip on the game rules.
In baccarat, there are only three possible outcomes, but this does not mean that there aren’t other rules you need to be aware of. Some baccarat variants even offer interesting side bets that would be unique to that game alone, so as a rule of thumb, learn the rules first and then get into all the different strategies and advanced betting systems.
THE MOST POPULAR BACCARAT VARIANTS
As you can see, the basics of baccarat are quite straightforward. This is precisely the reason why most players tend to try out different baccarat games after they’ve learned how the game is played.
By far, the best baccarat casino out there is LV BET since it offers the widest selection of baccarat tables possible. In this section, we’ll have a look at some noteworthy variants for you to explore.
Don’t worry; each game of baccarat listed below will not entail learning new rules and concepts. The premise of the base game will remain: whichever side’s hand is closer to nine wins.
LIGHTNING BACCARAT
If you want to supercharge your gameplay, then Lightning Baccarat is definitely a spectacular choice.
Released by the leading Live Casino provider Evolution, Lightning Baccarat amplifies regular baccarat gameplay to a whole new, zap-tastic level as you would be able to spot several Lightning Card multipliers across your screen!
Up to five Lightning Card multipliers will be randomly generated from a virtual deck, holding values of 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 8x. Of course, the largest win you can earn would include a hand with the highest multipliers. Bear in mind that a 20% Lightning Fee is added to the total bet of each player.
The RTP of Lightning Baccarat is 98.76%.
DRAGON TIGER
In Dragon Tiger, the two sides are called ‘Dragon’ and ‘Tiger’ instead of ‘Player’ and ‘Banker’. This is said to represent yin and yang in ancient Chinese philosophy. The same bet rules apply in Dragon Tiger, only that players will be betting on the Dragon or the Tiger instead of the Player and the Banker. A Tie bet will still be available, however.
In this baccarat variant, the dealer deals two facedown cards: one for the Dragon and one for the Tiger. The cards are then turned face up to see which of the two sides is closer to nine.
The main difference between Dragon Tiger and traditional baccarat is that no third cards are dealt, which means that the game is decided based on the one card dealt per side.
The main game of Dragon Tiger has an RTP of 96.72%.
BACCARAT CHEMIN DE FER
One of the oldest variants of baccarat, Chemin de Fer is a particular baccarat game that might need some getting used to. In fact, this variant is not recommended until you’ve racked up enough experience playing the traditional game. Nevertheless, this is how the action unfolds at this baccarat table.
In Baccarat Chemin de Fer, multiple players take on the Banker around the baccarat table and look to beat it by challenging its hand. The Banker will take on the player with the highest bet — or to the right of the dealer in cases where equal bets have been placed. If the Banker loses and the player wins, they will become the Banker.
When playing this card game online, the RTP is generally over 98%.
MINI BACCARAT
If you’re looking for a good intro to baccarat, it is recommended that you play Mini Baccarat as it is one of the easiest baccarat tables to get used to. In a land-based casino, Mini Baccarat tables are usually smaller in comparison to other tables, and hands are played at a much faster pace.
The latter is considered very favourable for the house, since the more hands are played per hour, the more times the house advantage is in effect. Like Baccarat Chemin de Fer, Mini Baccarat offers an RTP of over 98%.
NO COMMISSION BACCARAT
One of the most popular baccarat variants is none other than No Commission Baccarat, for the sole reason that it eliminates the standard 5% house edge. This is counteracted by the fact that the Banker bet pays 1:2 if the Banker wins on a certain number (which is usually six).
The rules for when the Banker holds and stands are thus adjusted in this baccarat variant, but there is no need to learn them, seeing as the action of dealing cards is completely automated in online variants and carried out by a dealer in live baccarat games.
On account of the changes made to the Banker bet, it isn’t the best bet to place in terms of minimising the house edge. In No Commission Baccarat, Player bets are the most worthwhile wagers over Banker bets. The No Commission Baccarat RTP is 98.94%.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF BETS AND PAYOUTS IN BACCARAT?
As can be seen from the description of the above baccarat variants, baccarat is a very straightforward game whose primary entertainment is delivered through the betting options available.
In this section, we’ll have a look at the main betting options you will find in most baccarat variants.
PLAYER BET
Just like the two other main bets, the Player bet is quite self-explanatory. This bet will pay if the Player wins, that is, if the Player hand is closer to nine than the Banker hand.
The odds of Player bets stand at 44.62%, and they pay even money. The house edge of this bet is 1.24%, making it one of the lowest among casino games.
BANKER BET
The Banker bet works the same way as the Player bet, in that it pays when the Banker becomes the winning wager.
Winning Banker bets pay 0:95:1, while the odds stand at 45.86% — the highest in the game. Its house edge of 1.06% makes it one of the lowest house edge figures you’ll ever see at both online casinos and land-based casinos.
TIE BET
As its name suggests, the Tie bet pays in the event that the Player and the Banker end up with the same card value.
Tie bets pay 8:1, and their odds are 9.52%. Their high house advantage of 14.36% makes them quite an undesirable bet for most players, but others might find it interesting enough to try somewhat periodically. In any case, placing Tie bets isn’t really recommended unless done very rarely.
PLAYER PAIR
Also known as the P Pair, this side bet pays when the Player hand is a pair. The payout of this bet is 11:1.
BANKER PAIR
Also known as the B Pair, this side bet pays when the Banker is dealt a pair. The payout of this bet is 11:1.
EITHER PAIR
Also known as Either Pair, this side bet pays when either the Player or the Banker are dealt a pair. The payout of this bet is 5:1.
PERFECT PAIR
This side bet pays when either the Player or the Banker are dealt two identical cards, in both rank and suit.
The payout of this bet is 25 to 1, but some higher payouts could also be offered in the rare event that both sides have a perfect pair.
DRAGON BONUS
This side bet is further subdivided into what are called the P Bonus and the B Bonus. There are two scenarios in which this bet pays:
- When the selected hand (the Player’s hand in case of the P Bonus and the Banker’s in the case of the B Bonus) wins with a natural eight or nine.
- When the non-natural hand wins with a margin of at least four points.
This bet offers a payout of 30:1 for margins of nine points between the two sides. Although this might seem high, do keep in mind that this isn’t a scenario that you’ll see very often.
WHAT ARE GOOD BACCARAT BETTING SYSTEMS?
Before kickstarting your baccarat session, money management should be your primary objective.
This is achievable through the use of baccarat betting systems — specific plans which dictate the size of each bet depending on the result of the previous one. In this section, we’ll tackle each and every betting system out there.
NEGATIVE PROGRESSION SYSTEMS
The premise of every negative progression system is increasing your bet after a loss and decreasing it after a win, recouping lost bets with every high-value win.
Having said that, increasing your bet size after each loss with baccarat strategies like these can quickly eat up your funds, especially if you happen to be suffering from a losing streak.
The following are negative progression betting systems:
- The Fibonacci betting system
- The Martingale system
- The Labouchere betting system
- The D’Alembert betting strategy
POSITIVE PROGRESSIVE SYSTEM
A positive betting system works exactly the opposite of how negative ones do, in that they require you to increase your bet after a win and decrease it after a loss.
This baccarat system looks to capitalise on winning streaks and, conversely, minimise losses as much as possible.
The following are positive progression baccarat strategies:
- The Paroli baccarat strategy
- The Parlay System
- The 1-3-2-6 System
- The 1-3-2-4 System
FLAT BETTING BACCARAT SYSTEM
Flat betting systems refer to the somewhat mundane practice of placing the same bet value every time.
Although these baccarat strategies consolidate the grip a baccarat player has on their bankroll in a way that few other systems do, they are quite a boring way to play baccarat online.
Most players enjoy switching things up by trying different progression systems, since flat betting offers no real change to the action whatsoever.
THE BEST BACCARAT STRATEGIES THAT WORK
Now is where we’ll explain the different betting strategies out there in the hopes of unveiling your preferred baccarat betting strategy.
Remember that none of these strategies can help you win baccarat bets with any form of consistency. These are simply measures that you could take to stretch your bankroll as much as possible.
THE FIBONACCI SYSTEM
This strategy is based on the Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21 and so on), which states that the inital bet placed must be worth one unit — the first number in the sequence. If it is unsuccessful, the next wager should remain the same, that is, one unit.
If still unsuccessful, the next number on the sequence must be factored into the bet (2), which means that the third bet must be worth two units. This must continue until the bet is won, in which case the player must move back two numbers in the sequence.
THE MARTINGALE SYSTEM
The Martingale baccarat strategy is a negative progression system that dictates that you should double your bet upon each loss and return to your original bet after each win.
The Martingale system is among the simpler baccarat strategies in this list, as it aims to capitalise off of the eventual likelihood of a broken losing streak. Theoretically, with the Martingale system, players would be able to yield small returns once they win. However, they must watch out for the table limit.
THE REVERSE MARTINGALE/ PAROLI SYSTEM
To implement this baccarat strategy, all you have to do is determine a standard bet and double it after each win until three consecutive wins are obtained. If your bet is lost, return to the standard bet. If you win three times in a row, return to the standard bet as well.
THE LABOUCHERE SYSTEM
The Labouchere system revolves around the idea of setting a bet objective and dissecting it in relatively achievable sums.
Let’s say that our objective is to win €20. We must now split that €20 into a handful of new numbers, for example, 5-4-1-2-4-4. If we manage to win the amounts in this sequence, we’ll have reached our objective (5+4+1+2+4+4=20).
The way we should go about betting is by first placing a bet that combines the leftmost and rightmost numbers in the sequence we mentioned above. In this case, our first bet must be €9 (5+4). If our bet is successful, we can eliminate the two numbers from the sequence and move on to the new leftmost and rightmost numbers.
What happens if the bet is lost? In that case, we must add our lost bet to the rightmost side of the sequence, which would then look like this: 5-4-1-2-4-4-9. As a result, our next bet would be €14 (5+9).
THE D’ALEMBERT SYSTEM
This strategy dictates that you must first choose your first bet. Every time your bet loses, you should increase it by one unit — only to revert it to your original bet once a win is struck.
The D’Alembert system is one of the best baccarat strategies for beginners as it is not overly complicated, and does not require betting larger amounts so quickly.
THE OSCAR’S GRIND SYSTEM
The Oscar’s Grind system is similar to the Pluscoup Progression and was also known as Hoyle’s Press. It involves the use of betting cycles as it aims to help players finish their betting cycle with one unit of profit.
In pratice, players must first begin by placing a bet of one unit. A betting cycle ends when players hit a win. And, once this happens, the next step is to increase their bet size to two units, to kick off the next cycle. If players lose, however, their next wager will remain the same at one unit.
So, to summarise, a new cycle begins every time players hit a winning streak and increase their bet by one unit. On a loss, the cycle continues with the same-value bet. This strategy is great for players who don’t have the largest bankroll as their funds won’t deplete as quickly as other systems. That said, it might take a while to see some considerable profit.
THE PARLAY SYSTEM
The Parlay system features the doubling of successful bets and a return to the original wager when a loss is suffered. This continues until the player reaches a target win goal, after which the system resets.
THE 1-3-2-6 SYSTEM
The 1-3-2-6 system is a positive progression system that looks to capitalise on a potential winning streak while actively limiting losses. This strategy dictates that if you lose a bet, you must return to your original bet. However, if you win all four bets (consisting of one, three, two and six betting units), you also revert back to the original wager.
THE 1-3-2-4 SYSTEM
This betting system is almost virtually the same as the 1-3-2-6 system, except that it lessens the risk of the last bet in the sequence.
BETTING BANKER SYSTEM
With a low house advantage of 1.06%, Banker bets are very smart bets to place if you want to minimise the house edge as much as possible. After all, a Banker bet has a Return to Player (RTP) of 98.94% — one of the highest among all casino games.
The Banker wager is also more likely to win than if you had to bet on the Player. While the difference between the two wagers is small, that small percentage can make all the difference.
So, this system dictates that players should continuously bet on the Banker as it has a higher chance of winning.
BEST BACCARAT BETTING TIPS FOR YOU
Although incorporating certain systems into your betting style can be both interesting and entertaining, there are some general pointers about betting on baccarat that we’d advise you to follow.
AVOID TIE BETTING
When betting on a Tie, you are essentially betting that both the Banker and the Player will have a hand of equal value. This wager offers the best payout in the game at 8:1; however, it also has the worst odds of winning, with a house edge of 14.36%. Your safest bet is to bet on the Player or the Banker, as these wagers offer much better odds.
SET YOUR BUDGET, OR SKILL MANAGE YOUR BANKROLL
Learning money management should be the top priority of new casino customers. Each and every baccarat strategy we’ve mentioned above should adhere to a strict budget-management plan; otherwise, baccarat can become a very dangerous game to play.
We’d recommend wagering small amounts instead of going for high stakes bets, as well as going for the bets with the lowest house edge.
DO NOT PLACE ALL-IN BET
Hitting a losing streak is not super fun, no matter how entertaining the gameplay. Players might be tempted to go all-in to fluff up their bankroll a little and boost their winnings, but this is not a good idea.
Going ‘all in’ essentially means that you must bet your entire bankroll in one swoop, and we’re sure you can see why this would be a problem. If you’re lucky, a risk like this could definitely pay off, but given this is a game of chance, you won’t know whether it would. It is better to place smaller bets and protect your bankroll rather than risk losing it all at once.
CHOOSE LOW-HOUSE EDGE BETTING
The theoretical house edge describes how much of an advantage the house has over the player. Through the house edge, punters would be able to calculate the payout percentage of every bet — naturally, the lower the house edge, the better the chances of winning.
In baccarat, it is recommended that players make low-house edge bets for the best possible odds.
ENJOY BACCARAT BONUSES
Casino bonuses are a great way to get a few extra chips on the table. Players may earn anything from bonus cash to bonus chips and even real cash, but they would be subject to Terms and Conditions. Either way, bonuses should be taken advantage of if the player is eligible for them.
DON’T FOCUS ON COUNTING CARDS
Card counting has long been banned from land-based casinos as it involves trying to calculate how many cards are left in the deck to try and determine the dealer’s hand. Card counting was considered cheating not long after it was invented, and is impossible to do when playing at online casinos.
PLAY SAFELY AND CAREFULLY
As with all gambling games, it is important that you bet responsibly and utilise Responsible Gaming and bankroll management tools to help keep your gambling activities in check.
DON’T LOOK FOR 100% BET WINS
Winning bets will not happen 100% of the time, regardless of the game you are playing. Instead of looking to ‘crack’ the game and discover a win recipe that doesn’t exist, we recommend enjoying the game and the unpredictability that it offers.
CONCLUSION — BACCARAT, SKILL OR LUCK?
There is no baccarat strategy out there that can help you win at baccarat with any guarantee. That’s the bottom line of each and every baccarat strategy out there, which is why we’d advise against playing baccarat with that intent in mind.
Most casinos that operate legitimately offer games in which predicting a win is impossible, and this is largely the case in any casino worth its salt. If casinos were to offer such games, they wouldn’t be in business for very long.
A popular way to get a better bang for your buck is through a Deposit Bonus. Check out LV BET’s ‘Promotions‘ page to see what Deposit Bonus you can get your hands on when you play baccarat online. Please note that the availability of bonuses at LV BET will depend on the player’s jurisdiction; the rewards may vary as well.
If you want to explore what other table games we have to offer, try out a few hands at one of our magnificent poker tables, give roulette a spin, or wager some chips on brilliant blackjack games. You can also take a crack at online slots and even sports betting!
FAQ
✅ WHAT IS THE HOUSE EDGE IN BACCARAT?
Baccarat has a house edge of 1.06%.
✅ WHY ARE BANKER BETS SO IMPORTANT IN BACCARAT?
Banker wagers offer the best chances of winning, and so, most players choose this option over the Player hand or Tie.
✅ WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM BACCARAT BETS?
The minimum and maximum bet values depend on the variant you’re playing. A game like Baccarat en Banque might offer lower bet values than a variant like Lightning Baccarat, for example.
✅ BACCARAT OR BLACKJACK — WHICH GAME ARE YOU MORE LIKELY TO WIN?
Baccarat offers one of the lowest house edges at 1.06%; however, with a solid strategy, in blackjack, players could reduce the edge to as low as 0.50%.
✅ DO BACCARAT SECRETS REALLY EXIST?
No. In reality, there is no secret winning strategy that guarantees success as baccarat is a game of chance. That said, using a good betting system may help you increase your chances and beat the odds!