Baccarat Strategy – How to Reduce the House Edge in Baccarat

Baccarat is one of the world’s most beloved casino games, from sticky California card rooms to elegant Monaco casinos. It generates more casino revenue than any other game; high rollers often place bets of $100,000+ per hand on it.

Though baccarat involves some level of skill, its odds favoring the house are stacked heavily in its favor. There are strategies available to lower this house edge; counting cards can reduce this house advantage by as much as 0.05% overall! Furthermore, this game is easy to learn with low minimum bet requirements.

The object of the game is to bet on which hand will total closest to nine. Players and the banker receive two cards each, with their values added together; 10 value cards count as zero while ace values are one. Hand totals may exceed nine; any extra digit is dropped and only its second number recorded as part of its total.

At a standard round of baccarat, the dealer distributes one card to each box: first is player card and then banker’s. If the third banker card is 9, the Banker Hand wins and no further cards are drawn; otherwise if third card is 6, Super Six bet pays 12x initial bet amount and when first two cards result in either 0 or 9 it pays 9x initial bet amount as per game rules.

Baccarat is an intricate table game with a complex rule set. A minimum bet of $20 or $25 per hand varies by casino; an optional side bet on either a Player Pair of Cards (usually called “Pair Bet”) can also be placed; its payout usually equals 11x its initial bet amount.

Bankroll management is at the heart of any effective baccarat strategy. Deliberating how much money to spend and adhering to it are two keys components. Furthermore, knowing when and how much to lose can help players understand that losses are part of the game and when to walk away. No matter the complexity of a game’s setup or difficulty levels, always play within your budget and do not chase losses!