Baccarat Rules and Payouts Explained

Baccarat is a simple game where players bet on the Player hand, the Banker hand or a tie. When either the Player or Banker hands total 8 or 9 points the round is over and all bets are paid.

Traditionally, new eight-deck sets of cards have to be manually inspected for backs and faces before they can be introduced into play. Pre-shuffled cards speed this process up considerably.

Game rules

Baccarat is a card game with a clear set of rules. The dealer puts down an initial stake and players take turns placing bets until the total for their half of the table equals the banker’s stake. Then the banker deals two cards to himself and to each of the players. If either the Player’s or the Banker’s hand totals 8 or 9, this is called a “natural” and bets are paid out accordingly.

The objective is to correctly guess which hand will win (Banker, Player, or Tie). The value of a hand is the sum of its cards, with only the rightmost digit being taken into account. For example, a pair of nines is worth nine points, while a two and a seven are worth six. A game of baccarat can last up to 14 hands, depending on the version played. The banker and player can draw a third card in some situations. The dealer also takes a 5% commission on winning bets on the Banker’s hand.

Bets

There are a number of side bets available on baccarat, which pay out depending on the outcome of the Banker or Player hand. The payouts for these bets are higher than those on a Banker or Player win.

The ’Big and Small Tiger’ and ’Tiger Tie’ bets are popular side wagers. These bets are based on the number of cards in the Banker and Player hands. The ’Kill the Ox/Tiger’ and ’Contrast Bonus’ side bets are other ways to win a baccarat payout.

A common strategy is to use a positive progression system, which increases your bet size after each win and reduces it after a loss. However, this strategy can drain your bankroll quickly. Another way to avoid losing money is to play for a short period of time. This strategy doesn’t guarantee any big wins but it keeps your bankroll lasting longer than a system that requires more wins than losses. You can also use a Fibonacci strategy, which requires you to play for extended periods to see returns.

Payouts

When you win a baccarat hand, the payouts vary depending on your wager and the outcome of the hand. Winning Player and Banker bets qualify for a 1:1 payout, but winning tie bets must pay a 5% commission, which reduces the payout odds to 8:1.

Edge sorting is a common strategy in baccarat that can help you increase your profits. This strategy involves calculating the probability of the banker or player winning, then increasing your bet size after each loss and decreasing it after each win. This strategy is similar to reverse Martingale, but it is less aggressive and allows you to avoid long losing streaks.

Baccarat side bets also offer a range of exciting options. These wagers include the Banker Pair and Small Tiger, which can both offer a significant payout. However, they have low probabilities of hitting, so it’s important to set a lose limit and stick to it. Ideally, you should only play for as long as you can win your limit.

Variations

Whether it’s nutty rule variations that change strategic approaches or alluring side bets with jacked-up payouts, online baccarat has been experiencing something of a renaissance among restless casino fans. It’s easy to see why, with a host of new ways to play this elegant game of chance and luck.

For example, EZ Baccarat pays even money on both the banker and player bets, but does not pay a commission if the banker wins with a 7. This variation was once patented, but it’s now free to use in many casinos.

Other baccarat variants include Duo Bao, which is played around Asia, and features several poker-inspired side bets for specific Ties. These bets are based on the total value of the initial two cards and pay out according to the rules set by the casino. This variation can be a profitable choice for card counters, but it’s not as lucrative as the standard version of the game.