Baccarat is one of the best-odds games in any casino. Here's the correct strategy, why you should always bet Banker, and the one thing most players get wrong.
Baccarat has a reputation as a high-roller game, but it's also one of the most player-friendly in terms of house edge. The strategy is simpler than almost any other table game - and yet most players make decisions that cost them significantly.
The Rules in Brief
Baccarat has three possible bets: Player (your hand wins), Banker (dealer's hand wins), or Tie (both hands equal). Two cards are dealt to each side; the hand closest to 9 wins. Face cards and 10s count as 0. If either hand totals 8 or 9 ("natural"), no more cards are drawn. Otherwise, a third card may be drawn based on fixed rules - you don't decide this.
The Correct Strategy: Always Bet Banker
This is the entire strategy, mathematically proven:
- Banker bet house edge: 1.06% (after 5% commission on wins)
- Player bet house edge: 1.24%
- Tie bet house edge: 14.4%
Never bet Tie. The 8:1 or 9:1 payout sounds appealing, but a 14.4% house edge means you lose 14.4p per £1 wagered on average. The Banker bet gives the casino just over 1p per £1 wagered - among the lowest edges in any casino.
Why Banker Is Better Than Player
The Banker hand wins slightly more often than the Player hand due to the third-card drawing rules (which favour the Banker). The 5% commission on Banker wins is the casino's mechanism for balancing this advantage.
Betting Systems in Baccarat
As with roulette, no betting system changes the underlying house edge in baccarat. Martingale and Fibonacci systems can extend short-term runs but expose you to the same long-run mathematics. Flat betting on Banker is the optimal approach for any player seeking the best mathematical outcome.
Live Baccarat: The Best Version to Play
Live baccarat at operators like LeoVegas, Unibet, and Ladbrokes offers the standard game with additional side bets (Pairs, Perfect Pairs, Super 6). Avoid the side bets - they all carry house edges above 5%. Stick to Banker, enjoy the atmosphere, and the house edge stays at just over 1%.
