Tips for Winning Baccarat

Baccarat is a popular card game because it is comprised a few straightforward rules. In order to be truly successful at the game, however, one must master these basic guidelines. What follows are some tips for how to improve your baccarat game, guidelines that cover everything from drawing the right number of cards to maneuvering the banker's house edge.

The Third Card

Players can draw up to three cards in baccarat, and drawing that third card greatly improves the chance of winning, since the highest hand (eight or nine) wins. Unfortunately, some players never get this far. It is essential for players to remember that they must have a hand of five or less to get that third card. Keep track of patterns in the cards you receive or those that are played in early rounds, since this will help determine whether to bet on the banker, on yourself, or on the possibility of a tie.

The Banker

As most baccarat aficionados are aware, the banker must also play by the same rules; but the banker has a house edge of over 1% at all times, and sometimes higher. For this reason, many people believe that the best strategy is to always bet on the banker, since the odds are that the banker will usually win. Keep track of a banker's winning streak, however, and try to bet against a streak occasionally, since this can result in a big win.

In large part, baccarat is a game of luck. Yet by playing close attention to odds, to the cards played, and to the results of each hand, players can increase their probability of coming out on top.