Baccarat is one of the most popular casino card games, loved for its simplicity and thrill. The game has only three possible outcomes – player, banker or tie – making the baccarat odds and payouts some of the best among casino games. There are several easy strategies recreational players can use to boost their prospects of winning at PlanGames Casino.
Understand the Baccarat Rules and Odds
Baccarat is played between two hands – the player and the banker. Two cards are dealt to both hands and whichever is closest to 9 wins. Face cards and 10s count as zero, while Aces count as 1. If either hand totals over 9, the second digit represents the score. So a 5 and 9 would equal 4 in baccarat.
Once you understand the objective and gameplay, study the mathematical baccarat odds and payouts:
- Player win: Pays 1 to 1
- Banker win: Pays 1 to 1 minus a 5% commission
- Tie: Pays 8 to 1
The house edge favors the banker slightly at 1.06%, versus 1.24% for the player. But with the 5% commission on banker wins, both bets statistically even out for the player. Ties are more unlikely at under 10% probability, but pay the most.
Manage Your Bankroll Properly
Set a budget per session and divide into units per bet. Never risk more than 1-5% of your bankroll per bet. Baccarat’s variance means you can quickly win or lose a dozen hands in a row. Proper bankroll management prevents you from going broke too fast.
Baccarat tables generally have higher betting minimums than other table games. So factor that into your budget. Slowly increase your bets as your bankroll grows to maximize profits.
Know When to Hit and Stand
Baccarat strategy largely comes down to knowing when the player or banker should hit with a third card or stand. No decision is required for the first two cards. But a choice must be made for the third card according to strict drawing rules:
Player
- 0-5: Player hits
- 6-9: Player stands
Banker
- 3: Banker draws with 0-2, stands with 7-9
- 4: Banker draws with 2-7, stands with 0, 1, 8, 9
- 5: Banker draws with 4-7, stands with 0-3, 8, 9
- 6: Banker draws with 6-7, stands with 0-5, 8, 9
Memorize these drawing rules and follow them precisely with every hand. Deviating from basic strategy only hurts your odds over the long run.
Consider the Third Card When Betting
While baccarat outcomes are random, betting patterns do emerge around the key third card. Use these trends to help guide your betting decisions:
- Bet player when the player third card is 4, 5, 6, or 7
- Bet banker when the banker third card is 3, 4, 5 or 6
- Bet ties when the third cards dealt to both hands match
Again you can’t predict exactly what will happen. But staking your bets based on third card probabilities can increase your payouts.
Play Baccarat Squeeze for More Excitement
Online baccarat comes in different popular varieties. Standard baccarat shows all cards face up immediately. But baccarat squeeze slowly reveals the cards one by one to build excitement and suspense.
Baccarat squeeze takes longer per hand, but injects fun through anticipating what the hidden cards could be. The gradual reveal lets you adjust your bets before the winner is ultimately exposed. Look for the baccarat squeeze version to enjoy the game even more.
Try Live Dealer Baccarat
Live baccarat takes the squeeze concept further by having a real human dealer run the game in real time. You place bets on a virtual table, while video streams the dealer shuffling cards, dealing hands and revealing winners.
Live dealer baccarat makes you feel like you’re playing in a real big bamboo slot free, with the ease of betting from your device at home. Interact with the dealer and other players with live chat functions too.
Start with Free Baccarat
If new to online baccarat, always first play free baccarat games to understand the flow of gameplay and betting options with no financial risk. Reputable sites offer free play on baccarat alongside real money versions.
Practice in free baccarat allows mastering the drawing rules, perfecting strategy and building confidence before transitioning to real cash baccarat. Just remember the betting dynamics differ when actual money is on the line.
Find the Best Baccarat Bonuses
All reputable online casinos offer bonuses to attract new players and thank loyal customers. Seek out the best baccarat bonuses when signing up:
- Welcome bonuses: Match a percentage of your initial deposit up to a certain amount
- Reload bonuses: Match deposits to encourage you to continue playing
- Referral bonuses: Receive bonus cash for getting friends to join
- VIP schemes: Get rewards including bonus credits as you play more
The top sites tailor bonuses specifically for baccarat fans. Ensure you understand the bonus terms before playing.
Pick Sites with Baccarat Side Bets
While classic baccarat has just three main bets, some variants offer additional side bets to amplify winning opportunities:
- Pair Bet: Wager whether your first two cards will form a pair. Pays 11 to 1.
- Dragon Bonus: Bet whether your hand will win by a large margin. Pays 40 to 1.
- Panda 8: Bet whether player or banker will get three cards totaling 8. Pays 25 to 1.
Side bets add layers of excitement and chances to win bigger payouts. They carry higher house edges, but can lead to major scores when hitting.
Play Both Player and Banker
Veteran baccarat players often bet on both player and banker each hand. This way you win money no matter which side prevails. Just be ready to pay the 5% commission when betting on the banker.
Betting on both does minimize big swings and reduces variance over time. But you sacrifice potentially larger payouts from riding hot streaks betting just one side exclusively during positive runs.
Track Results and Analyze Trends
Savvy online baccarat players always track past hand results and analyze trends. Many sites offer statistics showing percentages of how often player, banker and ties have hit over past hands. You can also track your own custom stats.
Analyzing these percentages and past results allows detecting any noticeable winning or losing streaks. You can then tweak your bets to try capitalizing on positive or negative runs as they unfold.
Play Baccarat on Mobile
Top casino apps allow playing fluid baccarat games directly on your smartphone or tablet. This makes baccarat easily accessible anywhere, anytime – play on the go, at home relaxing, or during breaks at work.
Mobile baccarat offers the full features and betting options as the desktop experience. Baccarat’s simple rules and betting structure translate smoothly to small touchscreens. Just ensure your wifi or mobile data connection remains stable when playing.
