Baccarat Essentials
The simple game with one of the lowest house edges.
Baccarat is the favorite game of high rollers worldwide—and for good reason. It's simple to play, requires no skill decisions, and offers one of the lowest house edges of any casino game. You simply bet on Player, Banker, or Tie, and watch the cards reveal.
How Baccarat Works
Two hands are dealt: Player and Banker. Each hand receives 2-3 cards. The goal is to bet on which hand will total closest to 9.
Card Values
- 2-9 = Face value
- 10, J, Q, K = 0 points
- Ace = 1 point
If a hand totals more than 9, only the last digit counts. Example: 7 + 8 = 15, which counts as 5.
Good to Know
The Three Bets
BANKER (Best Bet)
House edge: 1.06% • Pays 0.95:1 (5% commission) • Wins about 45.8% of hands
PLAYER (Second Best)
House edge: 1.24% • Pays 1:1 • Wins about 44.6% of hands
TIE (Avoid)
House edge: 14.4% • Pays 8:1 or 9:1 • Occurs about 9.5% of hands
Warning
Why Banker Is Best
Even with the 5% commission, Banker bet has lower house edge (1.06%) than Player bet (1.24%).
Strategy Insight
The Simple Strategy
Optimal baccarat strategy is remarkably simple:
- Bet on Banker every hand
- Never bet on Tie
- That's it
There's no skill, no counting, no strategy adjustments. The game is pure luck with fixed odds on every hand.
Scorecard Patterns
Casinos provide scorecards showing past results. Common patterns like "Big Road" and "Big Eye Boy" are tracking systems players use.
Pro Tip
Side Bets to Avoid
Most baccarat tables offer side bets with high payouts:
- Player/Banker Pair – House edge ~10%
- Perfect Pair – House edge ~25%
- Lucky 6 – House edge varies, usually 10%+
- Dragon Bonus – House edge ~2-10%
All side bets have significantly worse odds than the main game.
Key Takeaways
- 1Baccarat is pure luck—no skill decisions required
- 2Banker bet (1.06% edge) is the best bet in baccarat
- 3Never bet on Tie (14.4% edge) despite the high payout
- 4Pattern tracking is entertainment, not an edge
- 5Avoid side bets—they carry much higher house edges