Basic Tips For Winning Baccarat Games

Very few games have an automatic edge for the player - in the casino, the house almost always has the edge. Baccarat, a well-known casino table card classic, is one of those few titles where the house edge is low and the player can really get the advantage. Here are some tips on how to prosper playing baccarat and to walk home from the casino with a little extra profit in your pocket.

Basic Rules

Knowing the basic workings is the best way to get you on track to winning baccarat. It is fairly simple, as you must place your bet between only three possible outcomes for one of two different hands. The hand you have bet on simply needs to match up with the winning hand. The first hand is for the banker and the second is for the player. The edge definitely favors the player - the house edge for the banker's bet is 1.01%. This leaves 99% punter's edge.

Winning Hand

The hands are dealt, and the cards totaled. A hand with 8 or 9 points is the winner, and the game has its own system of points. Aces are worth 1, 2-9 are face valued, and 10 through King are worth nothing. If there is no score of 8-9, there is a third card rule for drawing another card to make for a total of 3 in the hand. You would be hard pressed to find a foolproof system that will always predict the game's outcome, so a lot of winning baccarat is sheer luck.

Payouts

This game is normally known to be popular with those who have big bankrolls, especially when you consider the payouts. The winner gets 1:1 banker/player bet, which might seem like a small number if your maximum bet is $5, but could really make someone's day if they bet $100 and win. If you were to come out the winner on the banker's bet, a commission of 5% gets deducted from your prize. Both hands need to boast the same score in order to be the winner of a tie bet, which can net you 9:1 but definitely gives the edge back over to the house.

Online vs. In-House

You'll be able to find this game at any Internet or brick and mortar casino, but which location should you choose? The major difference is that at an Internet casino, you will be able to utilize a free version of the game that will help you practice and learn how it all works. At a regular casino, you will have to pay for every round, which could make a mistake pretty costly.

Final Words

Again, there is no super-secret card counting system that can net you the prize every time. You do rely a lot on luck, and with the low house edge, it is not that difficult to be lucky when it comes to this game. Now that you know a little about the basics, you can take your newfound knowledge to the casino and start winning baccarat!