Introduction

Baccarat is a timeless, classic game that is played by many in casinos even in recent years. Originally derived from the Italian word of ‘zero’, the game uses tens, Queens, Kings, and Jacks to have a value of zero. It is also known as Punto (player) Banco (bank) and played from a gambling ‘shoe’ filled with 4-8 decks of playing cards. 

It is considered to be the simplest and beginner-friendly game, thus making it suitable for many new online gamblers who don’t know where to begin. Read on to find out exactly how online baccarat works and learn some tips and tricks to improve your chances of winning.

What Exactly Is Baccarat?

Baccarat originated in Italy in the 1400s and has since been popularised in nations across the world. The game became more renowned when it was introduced in the popular James Bond movies. Due to its straightforward nature and simple rules, baccarat is arguably one of the more popular games in casinos and online gambling sites today. The game usually consists of three dealers and approximately 12 to 14 players.

How Does Online Baccarat Work?

Baccarat is essentially a game that is dependent on luck –– no fancy skills or strategizing are needed. Having said that, you should still familiarise yourself with some basic background knowledge of how the game works before you jump right in. Here are five things that you should know about online baccarat. We know that the baccarat is pretty good at wild casino, but don’t go just yet!

Placing Your Bet

This is the first and only decision that you have to make. You will have to place your bet on one of the three spots –- the “banker” spot, “player” spot, or the “tie” spot. Placing your bet on the winning spot will reward you with payouts.

The Deal

After placing your bets, the dealer will hand out two cards each to both the player and the banker, faced up. The side that has the closest total value to nine wins. Any player who gets an eight or nine with the first two cards is considered as a ‘natural’ winner, and they can place their cards on the table facedown. If the sum of the two cards exceeds ten, simply take the second digit as the final value. For example, if the player gets an eight and nine, the final value of consideration will be seven. If both the banker and the player have the same final value, it will be considered as a tie. 

You’ll only win your wager if you’ve reached these two outcomes -– either you, as the player, has a closer value to nine or both player and dealer have the same final value.

The Player

If you are dealt with a zero to five, you’re entitled to one more card, and this would be your final sum. If you get a six to seven, you stand; if you get an eight or nine, you’re a winner.

Outcomes

Baccarat is popularly known for being advantageous to the player –– the house has a 1.24% edge, whilst the banker has an advantage of 1.06%. If both players have a tie, the house has a whopping 14.4% edge. Plus, although each win for the banker and player both have a 1-1 payout, an additional 5% commission is paid to the house. 

What To Know Before You Play Online Baccarat

While the game is based largely on luck, there are still some things that you should do to improve your chances of winning.

Understanding Rules

Players should have a good understanding of gambling rules. Although most online sites are already programmed to make major game-playing decisions, knowing the rules and payouts will help players to make better-informed wagering decisions.

Set Time And Betting Limits

Because baccarat is a face-paced game, it’s easy to lose yourself in the heat of action, which can cause excessive wagering and play for too long in one sitting. Before you begin your match, set a time and betting limit. Once you’ve lost your bankroll or hit the maximum time limit, take a break. 

It’s also good practice to set a winnings ceiling as well. Once you’ve hit your target amount, stop playing and rest. If you find yourself unable to stop or comply with your limits, you might want to be wary of potential gambling addiction. 

Play Smart

Playing smart means making decisions that have the highest probability of maximizing your winnings. This includes playing on the banker’s side and not placing your bets on the “tie” spots. 

It is statistically proven that there is a 1.09% rate of winning when one plays on the banker’s side. And while the 8-1 or 9-1 payout rates for the “tie” spots are highly enticing, the analysis shows that betting on them will put you on a losing streak. 

Other things that you can do include avoiding wagering all your money on one bet, placing small bets at the start, and analyzing the winning patterns of the game. You can also take advantage of any offers and bonuses offered by the casino. 

Watch Out for the Streaks

You might notice that a certain side keeps winning at some point. The system is programmed to allow situations like this to occur. Should you ever find yourself in this occurrence, your best bet is to bet on the side with the winning streak or just leave the game momentarily till the streak ends.

Gain Experience

There are tons of free online baccarat games available today. Spend some time practicing for free before you enter the games that require a wager, and get the hang of the flow of the game and test out any strategies that you might want to try. 

However, do remember that these free baccarat games are predominantly made up of new players as well. The real deal probably proceeds at a faster pace with higher bets. If you want something more challenging, try to opt for mini-baccarat games –– these are a good simulation of the actual game but with lesser players and lower table limits. 

Conclusion

If you’re new to online gambling, baccarat is the perfect game to start with. The rules are simple, the game is short, and you’re sure to have a thrilling experience. Before you run off to your favorite online baccarat website, do take note of the key pointers mentioned in this article. Have fun, and gamble responsibly!