Baccarat might look like a complex game for the real sophisticated casino players, but in actual fact it’s a simple game that’s more blackjack than poker. You’re playing solely against the dealer and trying to get a hand that’s worth as close as possible to 9. Sounds straightforward, right? Even better it’s a game with a surprisingly low house edge, at least if you place the right kind of bet. Ready to learn what this involves? Then continue reading our guide so that you’ll be ready the next time you’re playing at the best online baccarat sites!
What is the House Edge?
Before we get into the nitty gritty of baccarat’s house edge, we should explain what the term “house edge” actually means. You know the saying “the house always wins”? Turns out that’s true, as the casino always takes a percentage of every bet you place, no matter if you win or lose. This is known as the house edge, and is calculated over a long period of time.
Let’s say you’re playing a game with a house edge of 2%. This means that if you’re placing a number of bets worth a total of £100 then the casino is expected to make £2 in profit from you - or, in other words, you’ll lose £2. This is perhaps fair, since the casino or online gambling site needs to make a profit if it’s to continue running the games you enjoy playing! In any case you can still make wins as you play, but in the long run it’s the casino that will remain the true winner.
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The Basics of Baccarat
Now that we’ve cleared the topic of house edge we should take a look at the game that’s the subject of this article, baccarat. Baccarat is a game played against the dealer (not other players), with the aim that one of these two beats the other with their hand. Interestingly you as a player don’t need to win every time. This is because you place one of three bets before a round starts - player, banker, or tie. A player bet is self-explanatory, since it’s on your hand beating the dealer’s. A banker bet, on the other hand, is the exact opposite as it’s on the dealer’s hand winning. A tie bet, finally, is on both player and dealer having a hand with the same score.
After bets are placed a round of baccarat starts with both player and dealer getting two cards from a shoe consisting typically of 6 or 8 decks. Cards score in the following ways:
- An ace is worth 1 point.
- The 2-9 cards have the same value as their number.
- 10 cards and the Kings, Queens, and Jacks are worth 0 points.
When it comes to scoring, the cards’ values are simply added up. If the score is a double digit value then only the second digit is counted (for example, a hand of 7 and 8 totals 15, and as such is worth 5). A 2-card hand worth 8 or 9 is considered a natural win, and both player and dealer have to stand if their hand is worth 6 or 7. In case the player and dealer each have a natural win then the highest scoring hand wins, unless both have an 8 or 9, in which case a tie is declared.
The House Edge for Each Baccarat Bet
The House Edge for Each Baccarat Bet
Now that we know how baccarat is played we should get into the topic of this article, the house edge. Each type of bet has a different house edge, and the lowest might surprise you!
Banker Bet
The banker bet is actually the safest you can make as far as house edge goes! This is because its house edge is of a low 1.06%, which is among the lowest in all casino games. Why is this the case, you might wonder? It’s due to the rules dictating when the dealer can get a third card, which are actually more advantageous compared to the player. These make placing a player bet the best bet on the baccarat table, and the reason why many casinos charge a 5% commission on banker bets. If you ever see “No Commission Baccarat” tables, this is the lack of commission the title is referring to.
Player Bet
Player bets have a slightly higher house edge than banker bets, since this stands at 1.24%. This is still relatively low, especially when compared with other casino games like roulette or slots. That said player bets don’t come with the commission fee attached, making them preferable to some.
Tie Bet
We haven’t mentioned how baccarat pays out. It’s simple - both player and banker bets pay out 1:1, while tie bets pay at a much higher 8:1 or 9:1. This stands to reason, considering how unlikely a tie can be, and this comes with a much higher house edge of 14.4%. As such, tie bet can be considered losing bets, even if they do come with win potential that’s much bigger compared to the other two bet options.
Baccarat Tips and Tricks
Now that you’re familiar with the house edge works, you’ll want some tips for your next time playing this game. Our main suggestion is simple - stick to banker or player bets. Tie bets, as potentially lucrative they are, are losing bets with a massive house edge attached. While we’re at it, player bets are a bit better to go for due to the lack of commission involved, but as we’ve mentioned you’ll find No Commission Baccarat tables that don’t charge this fee on winning banker bets.
Baccarat is a simple and very enjoyable game, but it’s important to always play responsibly. Create a budget for playing online casino games, and stick to it. Place small bets so that your bankroll lasts longer, and never chase your losses. This is a game of chance, and there are no such things as winning or losing streaks in gambling. As you’ve seen with the house edge, there’s only one true winner and that’s the casino!
Get an Edge When Playing Baccarat!
While it comes with a fearsome reputation, baccarat is actually a straightforward game that’s a lot like blackjack. That makes it very easy to pick up and learn, if a bit trickier to master due to the rules involving how and when the player or dealer can get a third card. Now that you have the knowledge of its house edge at hand you’re ready to play in a more strategic and informed way even if, as they rightly say, it’s the house that always wins.
