Best Baccarat Strategies & Systems Explained
To become a successful baccarat player, you need to understand the rules and the various Baccarat strategies. It’s no secret that baccarat is a game of chance rather than skill, but that does not mean you can’t implement specific strategies to give you a bit of an edge. No Baccarat strategy will guarantee a victory, but you can learn how to maximize your odds of winning and better manage your money while playing.
In this guide, we take you through all the top Baccarat strategies and playing styles while also giving you plenty of hints and tips along the way. By the end of this guide, you will be armed with the knowledge to help you bring success at the real money Baccarat tables.
How to Play Baccarat - A Brief Recap
We have written this Baccarat strategy guide assuming you already have a good understanding of the Baccarat rules and how to play the game. If you're still unclear about either, you can check out our in-depth how to play Baccarat and win guide.
Until then, this is a brief step-by-step rundown of how a single hand of baccarat is played out:
- Choose the size of your bets and where you want to place them. The options are the Player Bet, Banker Bet, and Tie Bet. You can also consider placing side bets, but these are not advised.
- Two cards are dealt to each of the Player and Banker positions and revealed.
- The hand values of each hand are totaled up, and the hand value closest to the maximum value of 9 wins.
- If a hand value is more than 9, 10 is subtracted to give a new value under 9.
- If the Player's hand has a value under 6, a third card is drawn. The Banker only draws a third card if the player's hand reaches a score of 6 or 7.
- The dealer reveals the winning hand or if the game ended in a tie.
- All baccarat bets are settled.
Baccarat Bets: Choosing the Right Bets for Your Baccarat Strategy
As previously mentioned, there are different Baccarat bets you can make. You can place Banker bets, Player bets, or Tie bets. The bet you decide to place will depend on the strategy you use and how you want to play the game. Straight away, you should discount the Tie bet, simply because the most popular baccarat strategies work best with even money bets. Although not quite 50/50 but around 45/55, the Player and Banker bets both have the best odds and similar RTPs and will come in far more often when compared to Tie bets.
- Banker Bet - The Safest Baccarat Bet
The Banker bet has the best odds of winning out of all three bets. It wins roughly 45.86% of the time and pays 0.95:1. Why lower than the Player bet? Because winning Banker bets are subject to a 5% commission. When betting on the Banker's hand, the house edge is 1.06%. As this bet wins more often than the others, we suggest prioritizing this bet as part of any Baccarat strategy.
Note: The reason the banker bet carries a slight advantage over the player bet is down to the order of play during a hand of Baccarat. The Player hand always acts first, which means it is possible the Player position can lose before the Banker even has to act.
- Player Bet - Never to be Underestimated
The Player bet, on the other hand, wins around 44.62% of the time. That is slightly less than the Banker bet. However, when betting on the Player's hand, unlike the Banker's hand, there is no commission due if it wins. That means you receive a payout of 1:1 when this bet wins compared to 0.95:1. As for the house edge of the Player bet, this is 1.24%.
Note: You may argue there is hardly any difference between the two bets in terms of odds. However, even the smallest of statistical advantages can have a big impact when playing games of chance.
- Tie Bet - Not Worth It for Effective Baccarat Strategy
The Tie bet in Baccarat comes in just 9.52% of the time. Essentially, that is once every ten hands and considering it pays 8:1, you would need to get lucky enough to win this bet at least twice in those ten hands to turn a profit. With a house edge of 14.36%, the Tie bet is one of the worst bets of all casino games. For that reason, avoid this bet when playing Baccarat. It is perhaps worth the odd bet if a Tie has not occurred for some time.
The Best Baccarat Strategies to Help You Win
Before we dive into the many different Baccarat betting systems, it is important to understand the different categories they fall under. You can use negative and positive progression systems and flat betting strategies.
- Progressive Betting System: Strategies that fall under this category are betting systems that involve adjusting your bet based on the previous outcome. You will have to increase or decrease your bet depending on whether the last bet was won or lost.
- Flat Betting Systems: These systems involve placing the same bet size each time throughout a session of playing Baccarat.
- Negative Progression Strategy: When using a negative progressive betting system, you're meant to increase your bets after a loss. Common strategies that fall under this negative systems category include the Martingale, Fibonacci and D'Alembert betting systems.
- Positive Progression Systems: This type of strategy works in the opposite manner to the above in strategies such as the Parlay and the 1-3-2-6 Baccarat betting systems.
Remember, Baccarat is fundamentally a game of chance. While most Baccarat strategies might add some excitement to the game, there's no consistent and proven way to beat the house edge in the long run. If you're going to play, it's essential to do so responsibly and for entertainment rather than as a way to make money.
Betting with the Banker - The Easiest of Baccarat Strategies
When you plan baccarat, you are not limited to just the “Player.” You can also bet on the Banker. In fact, you should always bet on the Banker.
What makes this the best bet of the game has to do with the house edge. While the house edge of a Player’s bet is 1.24%, the house edge of a Banker’s bet is just 1.06%. The only other option is the Tie bet, which has very low odds, meaning you shouldn’t choose it.
So, this strategy is simple. Grab a baccarat table and put your money on the Banker. Wait until it’s the right time to cash out while remembering basic money management tips to avoid preventable losses.
Example Scenario:
Assume you're starting with €100, and your consistent bet is €10 on the Banker.
Bet Number Bet Amount Outcome Next Bet Amount Cumulative Profit/Loss 1 €10 Win €10 +€9.50 2 €10 Win €10 +€19 3 €10 Loss €10 +€8 4 €10 Win €10 +€17.50 5 €10 Win €10 +€27
Note: The initial budget was €100, with a consistent bet of €10.
Card Counting as a Baccarat Strategy
For card counting to work in baccarat, you must be playing at a table that uses either a 6-deck or an 8-deck shoe. You must also start counting when the shoe is fresh. In live baccarat found in online casinos, the shoe changes about every 30 minutes. This is when you’ll want to join the game.
When you join the game with a fresh shoe, begin your count at zero. Depending on the cards that appear after this point, you will either increase or decrease your count. If an Ace, 2, or 3 is dealt, add 1 to your count; if a 4 is dealt, add 2. If a 5, 7, or 8 is dealt, subtract 1 from your count. If a 6 is dealt, subtract 2. If a 9, 10, J, Q, or K is dealt, add 0 to your account.
It may take a couple of rounds, but you’ll start to notice whether or not it’s better to place a bet on the Banker or Player. If the count is lower than 16, bet on the Banker. Suppose your count is above 16, bet on the Player. Simply avoid the Tie.
Card Counting Values:
Card Value Counting Value Ace, 2, 3 +1 4 +2 5, 7, 8 -1 6 -2 9, 10, J, Q, K 0
Betting Strategy Based on Count:
Count Value Bet On Less than 16 Banker 16 and above Player
Example Scenario:
Round Number Card Dealt Count Value Cumulative Count Next Bet 1 A, 3, K, 7 +1, +1, 0, -1 1 Banker 2 4, 6, 9, 2 +2, -2, 0, +1 1 Banker 3 8, 5, 4, J -1, -1, +2, 0 0 Banker 4 3, A, 10, 8 +1, +1, 0, -1 1 Banker 5 2, 4, 6, 7 +1, +2, -2, -1 0 Banker 6 A, 5, 8, 2 +1, -1, -1, +1 0 Banker 7 4, 5, 7, 3 +2, -1, -1, +1 1 Banker 8 10, J, Q, 6 0, 0, 0, -2 -2 Player 9 4, 6, 9, A +2, -2, 0, +1 1 Banker
Baccarat Pattern Betting Strategy
In the game of baccarat, pattern tracking is the process of keeping track of the outcomes of previous rounds in an attempt to identify trends that you can use to predict what hand will win next. As statistics show that the Banker will win 45.843% of the time, the Player will win 44.615% of the time, and a Tie will occur 9.543% of the time, you can use these numbers to determine which hand is likely to win next.
In a land-based casino, you would have to keep track of these numbers in your head. However, online casinos make it easy to track patterns by recording wins on a display, referred to as the ‘Big Road.’
- Waiting for a Trend: In some cases, Baccarat players will not start betting until they see a trend or specific pattern of play. For example, a player may not want to place their next wager until they see the Player position win three times in a row. At that point, they will start betting on the banker hand.
- Opposite Betting: Another type of pattern betting is to always bet the opposite of the last hand. So, if the Banker's hand wins the last round, the player will bet on the Player's hand and vice versa.
- Following the Shoe: Although another example of the gambler's fallacy, some players believe certain shoes favor certain outcomes. For example, if a player notices most bets in the shoe have been won by the Player, they will continue to bet on the Player's position until the shoe is replaced.
- Cutting and Changing Strategies: This involves regularly changing one's Baccarat betting strategy based on recent trends or patterns. If one approach seems not to be working with the current shoe, a player might switch to another in the hope of catching a winning streak.
Popular Baccarat Roadmaps and Charts
If you have played Baccarat before, you might have noticed grids full of dots, circles, and lines. These are what's called Baccarat roadmaps that players use to help spot trends in the recent hand history of the table they're playing at. There are different types of roads, with each offering a different type of analysis. Using these roads, many players adapt their Baccarat strategy when they notice certain trends.
There are a few different baccarat roadmaps used, but the most common are the following:
- Beat Plate Roadmap: Sometimes called the Bead Road, this Roadmap is considered the easiest of them all. This tracks the betting outcomes for Player, Tie, and Banker and gives players the opportunity to spot trends and adapt their Baccarat betting strategies accordingly.
- Big Road Roadmap: The most common roadmap is the Big Road. This uses columns and colors to track the results. Every time a consistent run of wins happens for one bet, the column is marked with a certain color. When the trend changes, a new column is started with another color. This is to help players analyze winning streaks in terms of how long they usually last.
- Big Eye Boy Roadmap: Also known as the Baccarat Big Eye Road, the Big Eye Boy roadmap is what is called a derived road. What that means is it uses the information gathered from the Big Road roadmap. The map does not begin until the second entry is put into the Big Road and is used to track patterns and randomness.
- Using Multiple Roadmaps: While most players stick to the roadmap of their choosing, others will use the information gained from multiple roadmaps to spot patterns happening simultaneously across two or more before making their bets.
The Baccarat Martingale System
The Martingale Strategy is one of the most popular baccarat strategies, gaining recognition for its use across a spectrum of online casino games, including Roulette, Craps, and even sports betting. This strategy hinges on the principle of doubling your bet subsequent to each loss, with the primary goal of recouping lost bets through a solitary win.
For example, you continue betting your normal bet as long as you win, but as soon as you lose, you double the next wager. If you lose again, you double it once more. You continue doubling until you eventually win, and then go back to your initial bet and start over. This ensures that you eventually win all the money back from the previous bets and end up one unit up in profit.
While the Martingale System holds the potential to yield short-term profits, it also carries the risk of incurring substantial losses over extended periods, predominantly due to the size of the bets you may have to place when on a losing streak. Doubling the bets if you have lost 5 or 6 times in a row could mean placing substantial bets as you proceed. Eventually, the bets required may exceed the table limit at the Baccarat game you're playing. That is if the bets have not grown too big for your bankroll.
Example Scenario:
Round Number Initial Bet (€) Outcome Next Bet (€) Loss (€) Win (€) Comment 1 10 Lose 20 10 0 Lost, so double the bet for the next round. 2 20 Lose 40 30 0 Lost again, double the bet again. 3 40 Win 10 0 10 Won, so go back to the initial bet and recoup all losses. 4 10 Win 10 0 20 Won again, so continue with the same bet. 5 10 Lose 20 10 10 Lost, so double the bet for the next round. 6 20 Win 10 0 30 Won, so go back to the initial bet and recoup all losses.
The Reverse Martingale Baccarat Betting Strategy
As the name suggests, the reverse Martingale system works in an opposite fashion to the Martingale. When using the reverse Martingale, you double your bet after a win rather than a loss and go back to your initial bet when an inevitable loss comes your way. While the original Martingale is designed to cover losses from a losing streak, this strategy is designed to maximize profits when a winning streak comes along.
Example Scenario:
Round Bet (€) Outcome Next Bet (€) Loss (€) Win (€) Comment 1 10 Lose 20 10 0 Lost, so double the bet for the next round. 2 20 Lose 40 30 0 Lost again, double the bet again. 3 40 Win 10 0 10 Won, so go back to the initial bet and recoup all losses. 4 10 Win 10 0 20 Won again, so continue with the same bet. 5 10 Lose 20 10 10 Lost, so double the bet for the next round. 6 20 Win 10 0 30 Won, so go back to the initial bet and recoup all losses.
The James Bond Baccarat Strategy
As Baccarat is the favorite game of the world's most famous fictional international spy, it is no surprise one of the most popular Baccarat betting strategies is named after him. The James Bond strategy involves splitting your bet across all three main bets. For example, let's say you wanted to bet €200 per round. You would place:
- A first bet of 70% (€140) on the Banker hand.
- A second bet of 25% (€50) on the Player hand.
- A third bet of 5% (€10) on the Tie.
The idea is to cover all potential outcomes so that a profit of around half the bet is made when the Banker bet wins, and only about half of the bet is lost if one of the other outcomes occurs. Essentially, you're making small gains whenever the most common bet wins and smaller losses when the others hit.
Bet Type Percentage of Total Bet Amount (if Total Bet is €200) Banker 70% €140 Player 25% €50 Tie 5% €10
Expected outcome:
Scenario Profit or Loss Reasoning Banker Wins Profit of €70 Banker bet wins 1:0.95, therefore, (140 * 0.95 = 133) + (50 * -1) + (10 * -1) = 133 - 50 - 10 = €73 Player Wins Loss of €90 Player bet wins 1:1, therefore, (50 * 1 = 50) + (140 * -1) + (10 * -1) = 50 - 140 - 10 = -€100 Tie Wins Loss of €130 Tie bet wins 1:8, therefore, (10 * 8 = 80) + (140 * -1) + (50 * -1) = 80 - 140 - 50 = -€110
Note: The above expected outcomes are based on the typical 5% commission taken on winning Banker bets, hence the 0.95 multiplier when Banker wins. The outcomes also assume that all bets are lost if they do not win, which is generally the case in Baccarat.
The Fibonacci Baccarat Strategy
The Fibonacci is another strategy that was primarily designed for use in the Roulette casino game and has since been modified to work on Baccarat. The banker bet is once again the desired bet for this strategy, and when using the Fibonacci, you have to follow a betting sequence after a loss. That sequence is:
- 1-1-2-3-5-5-8-13-21-34-55-89-144-233-377-610-987
After a win, you go back two steps in the sequence.
You can either write that sequence down or use a simple method to understand the next bet each time. That method is to place a bet that is the previous two bets added together. For instance, the fourth bet is 3, which is 2+1 (the previous two bets).
The Fibonacci strategy aims to help players recover losses more quickly by increasing bets after a losing streak and decreasing them after a win.
Fibonacci Sequence:
Bet Number Fibonacci Number Example Bet Amount (if starting bet is €10) 1 1 €10 2 1 €10 3 2 €20 4 3 €30 5 5 €50 6 5 €50 7 8 €80 8 13 €130 9 21 €210 10 34 €340 ... ... ...
Rule of Progression:
Outcome Next Step How to Calculate the Next Bet Loss Move one step forward in the Fibonacci sequence Use next Fibonacci number Win Move two steps backward in the Fibonacci sequence Go back two Fibonacci numbers
Example:
Bet Number Fibonacci Number Bet Amount Outcome Next Bet Amount 1 1 €10 Loss €10 2 1 €10 Loss €20 3 2 €20 Loss €30 4 3 €30 Win €10 5 1 €10 Loss €10 6 1 €10 Win Back to minimum (e.g., €10)
Note: After a win, if you can't move two steps backward because you're at the start of the sequence, revert back to the minimum bet.
The Labouchere Strategy
Another progressive betting strategy, the Labouchere strategy, is more complex than most. To start, you first have to come up with a string of numbers in a sequence. Technically, you can use any sequence, but the best baccarat players put a lot of mathematical thought into this aspect. For the purpose of this guide, we will use the 1-2-3 sequence as an example. A typical sequence would be much longer.
The potential profit for that sequence is €6, which is also the total number of the stakes in that sequence. Every bet you make is meant to be the sum of the first and last numbers in the sequence added together. So, in this example, that bet would be €4.
If that wager wins, you cross off the first and last numbers in the sequence. Should it lose, you add the number you staked, (4), to the end of that sequence and then bet 4+1 (as these are now the first and last numbers), which is €5 for the next bet.
Initial Sequence Example:
Sequence Number Value 1 1 2 2 3 3
Rule of Progression:
Outcome Next Step How to Calculate the Next Bet Loss Add the previous bet amount to the end of the sequence Sum of the first and last numbers Win Remove the first and last numbers from the sequence Sum of the new first and last numbers
Example Scenario:
Sequence Bet Amount Outcome Next Sequence Next Bet Amount 1-2-3 €4 Loss 1-2-3-4 €5 (1+4) 1-2-3-4 €5 Win 2-3 €5 (2+3) 2-3 €5 Loss 2-3-5 €7 (2+5) 2-3-5 €7 Win 3 End of Sequence (or reset to initial sequence)
Note: If you win and only one number is left in the sequence, the sequence is over. You can then either stop playing or start a new sequence. The potential profit of any given sequence is the sum of all the original numbers in the sequence. In this example, the potential profit would be €6 (1+2+3).
The 1-3-2-4 Strategy
The 1-3-2-4 baccarat strategy is a positive betting system based on the fact that either the Player or Banker has a roughly 50% chance of winning. With fairly even odds, either one could win.
To use this strategy in baccarat, you will follow a simple progression. In the first round, bet 1 unit. In the second round, bet 3; in the third, 2; and in the fourth, 4. However, you will only progress to the next number in the sequence if you win a hand. You will need to start from the beginning if you lose.
Each number in the sequence represents the number of units to wager in that particular round. For example, if each unit is equal to $/£/€1 and you win all four rounds, you would end with a profit of $/£/€10.
Betting Sequence:
Round Number Units to Bet 1 1 2 3 3 2 4 4
Rule of Progression:
Outcome Next Step How to Calculate the Next Bet Loss Reset to the beginning of the sequence 1 Unit Win Move to the next number in the sequence Units as per sequence
Example Scenario:
Round Number Units to Bet Bet Amount Outcome Profit/Loss Cumulative Profit/Loss 1 1 €1 Win +€1 +€1 2 3 €3 Loss -€3 -€2 1 1 €1 Win +€1 -€1 2 3 €3 Win +€3 +€2 3 2 €2 Win +€2 +€4 4 4 €4 Win +€4 +€8
- Note: If you win all four rounds in the sequence, you would have a cumulative profit of 1+3+2+4 = 10 units (in this example, €10). After completing the 4-round sequence or losing at any point, you start again from the beginning of the sequence.
The D'Alembert Betting System
Far from being one of the most advanced betting systems you can use on Baccarat games, the D'Alembert Baccarat betting strategy is still among the most popular. Again, the size of the bet you place depends on the result of the Banker's hand. First, you decide your standard bet, and after every losing bet, you increase your bet by one unit while you increase the bet after every winning wager.
So, as an example, let's say you wager €10 for every bet and have won three in a row. You now place a wager of €40, and it wins again, so requires you to increase it to €50 for the next bet. You lose that one, so go back to €40. You will only return to your original bet after a series of losses.
Rule of Progression:
Outcome Next Step How to Calculate the Next Bet Loss Increase bet by 1 unit Current Bet + 1 Unit Win Increase bet by 1 unit Current Bet + 1 Unit Series of Losses Return to the original bet Original Bet (e.g., €10)
Example Scenario:
Bet Number Bet Amount Outcome Next Bet Amount Cumulative Profit/Loss 1 €10 Win €20 +€10 2 €20 Win €30 +€30 3 €30 Win €40 +€60 4 €40 Win €50 +€100 5 €50 Loss €40 +€50 6 €40 Loss €30 +€10 7 €30 Loss €20 -€20 8 €20 Loss €10 -€40 9 €10 Win €20 -€30
- Note: In this example, the initial bet was €10, and the bet amount was increased by €10 after each win. After a series of losses, the bet returns to the original amount of €10.
The Paroli Baccarat Betting Strategy
Whether you play online Baccarat or sit at the baccarat tables at a land-based casino, the Paroli is another good Baccarat betting strategy to use. A positive progressive system, the Paroli is designed to maximize profits from winning streaks while also minimizing losses from losing streaks. It is very similar to the reverse Martingale, as you double your wager every win. However, it is less aggressive as before you start, you decide on a win limit. Once you have won your predetermined number of hands, you go back to your original wager. You also return to that wager after every loss.
Rule of Progression:
Outcome Next Step How to Calculate the Next Bet Win Double the bet, or reset to the original bet if win limit reached 2 * Current Bet or Original Bet Loss Reset to the original bet Original Bet
Win Limit Setting: Before you start, you set a "Win Limit", which is the number of consecutive wins you aim to achieve before resetting your bet to the original amount.
Example Scenario:
Bet Number Bet Amount Outcome Next Bet Amount Cumulative Profit/Loss Notes 1 €10 Win €20 +€10 1st win 2 €20 Win €40 +€30 2nd win 3 €40 Win €10 +€70 3rd win, win limit reached 4 €10 Loss €10 +€60 Reset to original bet 5 €10 Win €20 +€70 1st win 6 €20 Loss €10 +€50 Reset to original bet
Note: In this example, the initial bet is €10, and it's doubled with every win. Once the win limit of 3 consecutive wins is reached, the bet is reset to the original amount of €10. After a loss, the bet is also reset to the original amount.
Oscar's Grind Baccarat Strategy
The final system that might prove a Baccarat-winning strategy for you, is the Oscar's Grind system. This is similar to the above Paroli apart from one aspect. You double your bets after a win and have a predetermined win limit at which point you return to your first bet size. The difference is when you lose. Instead of resetting back to your initial bet, you maintain the same bet until you win again.
Rule of Progression:
Outcome Next Step How to Calculate the Next Bet Win Double the bet, or reset to the original bet if win limit reached 2 * Current Bet or Original Bet Loss Maintain the same bet Current Bet
Win Limit Setting: Before you start, you can set a "Win Limit", which is the number of consecutive wins you aim to achieve before resetting your bet to the original amount.
Example Scenario:
Bet Number Bet Amount Outcome Next Bet Amount Cumulative Profit/Loss Notes 1 €10 Win €20 +€10 1st win 2 €20 Win €40 +€30 2nd win 3 €40 Loss €40 -€10 Maintain the same bet 4 €40 Loss €40 -€50 Maintain the same bet 5 €40 Win €10 -€10 3rd win, win limit reached 6 €10 Loss €10 -€20 Maintain the same bet
Note: In this example, the initial bet was €10 and it's doubled with every win until the win limit is reached. When a loss occurs, you maintain the same bet until you win again rather than resetting to the original amount immediately.
Strategy Baccarat Tips to Win Baccarat
So you already know that you should stick with the Banker hand bet and never make the “Tie” bet. We also reviewed some other great strategies in Baccarat that help put the odds in your favor. Here are a few more tips you can implement to give you the best chance of victory.
- Test out a variety of Baccarat strategies: There are many great baccarat strategies you can use, but rather than picking one and sticking with it, experiment with as many as you can. You never know which will work for you best until you have given them all a try.
- Stick to winning banker bets: Whichever strategy you use when playing a baccarat game, make sure you use it on the Banker bet. It gives you low house edge bets of 1.06% and comes in more often than both the Player and Tie bets.
- Practice makes perfect: Like any skill, mastering a strategy requires time, practice, and confidence. Invest ample time in learning and applying strategies. Experiment with a range of approaches, and start with lower stakes to familiarize yourself with diverse play styles.
- Steer clear of mini-baccarat. In standard Baccarat, you can expect to play about 40 decisions per hour. In mini-baccarat, you can play up to 150 to 200 decisions. This is far too fast and can result in major money loss.
- Practice good money management. Set a cut-off goal before you even start, and if you lose that amount of money, stop playing.
- Don’t break a run. If you are betting on the Banker and the Banker wins consistently, don’t suddenly switch and start betting on the Player. Stick it out until the end.
- No matter what strategies or Baccarat tips you choose to use while playing Baccarat, it is important to remember that the outcome of each hand is entirely independent of your decisions. However, familiarizing yourself with Baccarat odds and following a system can help you keep better track of your bets and may increase your odds of winning.
Play Baccarat Games Online Today
Found what you think may become a winning baccarat strategy for you? Then, the next step is to find an online casino offering Baccarat games you can use to test it out. Fortunately, you can play baccarat online at most casinos whether that is via RNG baccarat games or live casino baccarat titles. Check out our online casino reviews here at PlayCasino to determine which platforms have the most popular Baccarat variations.
