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Baccarat
Baccarat

Baccarat Strategies

Baccarat is a game of chance and suspense; a guessing game. That’s part of the thrill. A player’s only decision is to bet on the Banker’s hand, the Player’s hand or a Tie, and there are no real strategies to boost the odds to win.

Does betting on streaks help my chances?

A horseshoe with a question mark below it.

Many players follow patterns – and base their bets on them. Whether it’s a streak, such as several Banker or Player hands in a row, or alternating Banker and Player wins, players may bet against the pattern, thinking they’re due for a win.

But Baccarat is a game of pure chance, and basing bets on streaks or past hands won’t give you an edge. The cards don’t know what happened previously.

Do Betting Systems work?

A money pouch spilling out coins.

Betting systems that call for players to double their bet after a loss are tried at every casino game. This could only work if you could guarantee another hand would be a winner – and that’s not possible. The next hand’s outcome is just as random as any other, so it isn’t much of a system at all. It also requires an unlimited bankroll, since a $10 bet can easily turn into $1,000.

The best bet is to avoid strategies like this – you could run out of money before winning at all.

Know the odds

A poker chip dropping into the slot of a box labelled 5%.

The Banker hand will win slightly more than 50% of the time, making it a good bet. However, every win for that bet costs a 5% commission. The odds on the Banker hand are slightly better, but you pay for it.

Take Breaks to Extend the Fun

A bag of potato chips next to a cold beverage.

With a near 50/50 split between Banker and Player hands, it’s great when you’re winning, but if you lose a few hands, you can be out by a large amount of chips. It’s easy to go through your bankroll quickly.

The best way to get the most for your money is to take your time with breaks. That will give you more overall time to extend the fun.

Keep your winnings and bankroll separate

Two pockets holding cash - one containing slightly more money than the other.

Keep your initial play amount and your winnings separate; try using different pockets. Only play from your original bankroll and stop once it’s gone. That way, you can walk away from the casino with something in your wallet.

Don’t chase your losses

Baccarat is a game that’s meant to be fun. To keep it fun, it’s best to accept that sometimes you may lose. Just don’t keep playing as a way to win back lost money. The odds don’t favour it.

Tip

No one wins every session they play. Sometimes it’s best to lose a small amount and walk away.