Baccarat is a game of chance, a betting game that involves no skill. In fact, you do not even have to know the rules of the game to play it. All you do is bet on one of two sides, or a tie.
The winner in baccarat is the side who gets a score closest to 9. Double digits are not counted. The ten cards are 0 in value.
Baccarat has the image of being a rich man's game. Indeed, the bets can run very high. The game is a favorite of high rollers. Hollywood legend Sessue Hayakawa liked it enough to squander almost $1,000,000 on it in one night. But you don't have to be a millionaire to enjoy playing baccarat. Here are some things to keep in mind to help you play better.
- Gamblers bet on either Player or Bank. If a gambler wins on a Bank bet, they must pay a commission to the house, usually 5%.
- The odds for a tie bet are very poor. Usually it is not a good idea to bet on a tie. But if you win, the payout is much bigger.
- The simplest strategy is to bet on the Bank all the time. Even with the house commission, it still has a slight edge over the Player.
- Baccarat rules are confusing for the beginner. Make sure you understand the rules before playing as even the dealer makes mistakes on occasion.
- Despite what debunkers tell you, it does pay sometimes to watch patterns in wins and losses. Keep a record of your bets, wins and losses and look for trends. It does not mean it will work, but it is worth trying especially if you don't play long enough for the full house advantage to sink in.
- Do not take baccarat systems seriously. All gambling systems for games of chance like baccarat, roulette and slots should be looked upon skeptically. None of them can guarantee a win.
- If you play slots, you will see a similarity with baccarat. Cold and hot streaks happen here too. Sometimes you are just on a losing streak. Unless you are a high roller who does not mind throwing away a fortune for fun, you should quit while you're ahead in the game.
- Card counting is useless in baccarat. You can count the cards, but since all bets are placed before cards are dealt, it is useless.
- Betting systems may be tried in baccarat. A well-known system is the Martingale System where you multiply a losing bet by two for the next bet. This is a dangerous system to try due to the betting limits set by the casino. In general, you are better off relying on your own hunches than on someone else's system.
- Baccarat is a game of fun and leisure. Relax with your friends and fellow gamblers and just have a good time. Baccarat being a game of chance, it really is just a game. Enjoy.