Baccarat Advanced Betting Strategy
| Updated: Advanced Strategies to Incorporate into Your Baccarat Play
Playing baccarat does not require advanced skills; the main decision players need to make is which side to wager on. This makes the gameplay extremely simple and easy to master, allowing both beginners and experienced players to enjoy an equally entertaining casino experience. Even though baccarat is a game of luck, that does not mean there is no point in learning the odds and probabilities of the three bets in the game.
Like any other casino game, baccarat can be played using a strategy, and players who manage their bet sizes often enjoy longer gaming sessions. If you have already set up a budget and you know the best bet to place on each coup, you might want to learn how to incorporate strategic play into your baccarat sessions. While there is a basic strategy that allows players to use a scoreboard to keep track of results, there is an advanced variant that many players believe to be more effective. Below, we provide detailed information on advanced baccarat strategies as well as the odds that are essential to know.
The Odds in Baccarat
Anytime you flip a coin, you know that the chances of landing heads or tails are 50/50. A similar principle applies to baccarat; if we ignore the possibility of a tie, the “Banker” side has roughly a 51% chance of winning. This is a slight oversimplification, however, because the house edge must also be considered. This being said, baccarat has one of the lowest house edges and is considered an advantageous game. The house edge is 1.4% when betting on the Bank, which is definitely a low casino advantage.
If we have to be accurate with the winning odds in baccarat, we must make it clear that winning the “Player” bet is possible 44.62% of the time, while the winning probability of the “Bank” is 45.85%. This being said, players who place their wagers on “Bank” owe the house a commission of 5% whenever their bet is a winning one.
For those who are interested in the game, it is important to take a look at the true odds of baccarat. While many players are tempted to place their money on “Tie”, which offers a payout of 8 to 1, the true odds against this outcome are much higher. What is more, the house edge for this bet is 14%, which is why players are generally advised to avoid the “Tie” betting section. This being said, if you feel adventurous and want to take a higher risk, do feel free to test your luck.
The “Banker” side has better odds because the Player card is always drawn first, giving the Banker the opportunity to determine which card is needed to beat the Player’s hand. While winners who have bet on “Bank” owe a 5% commission, the house edge for this bet is 1.17%, which is still lower than the casino’s advantage of 1.36% on “Player” stakes.
Unlike other casino games, such as blackjack, in baccarat you cannot influence the outcome once the cards are dealt. However, by understanding the rules and odds of the game, you will be able to decide whether baccarat is the game for you and choose the best betting option.
Ways to Keep Score in Baccarat
Before we delve into the advanced strategies that some baccarat players like to use, we must talk about the right way to keep track of your score. When you join a baccarat table, you can ask for a card and a pen, which will help you keep track of the results.
The standard way to use the scorecard provided by the casino is to hold it upright so that you can utilize the “P” and “B” sections at the top of the card. Let us say that Player is the winning hand in the first game; you would then place a “1” in the “P” column. If the next win is again for Player, you will write down a “2” on the second row of the “P” column. The same goes for the “B” column, which indicates wins for Banker. Instead of numbers, some players use “X” and “O” to write down the scores. It does not matter which method you prefer, as long as you are able to keep track of the game’s flow.
The more common approach is to turn the scorecard horizontally so that the “P” and “B” sections form a single column on the left, which you will not use when recording results. When you are using the alternate method, you simply start in the first box of the first column by writing down either “P” for a Player win or “B” for a Banker win. If we assume that the first hand was a win for the Player, you put “P” on the first row of the first column. If the next hand is again won by the Player, you put “P” on the second row of the first column, just below the previous “P” box. When the flow changes and the Banker wins, you move to the next column and write down “B” on the first row. You move to the following column every time the winner of the hand changes.
Thanks to the alternate method, players can easily spot trends in the game by keeping track of singletons (wins that are not followed by another row of a win for the same side) and runs (two or more rows of wins for the same side).
Advanced Betting Strategy on Baccarat
If you are trying to calculate your moves while playing baccarat, remember that each coup still essentially represents a 50/50 chance to win or lose. If you plan to play 1,000 hands, you should expect to see about as many two-in-a-row results as you do longer runs. Out of 1,000 runs, you can also deduce that roughly 500 will have just two wins in a row and 500 will have three or more wins in a row.
If you decide to use a basic strategy, you are not concentrating on winning big but rather on minimizing your losses. The main goal of players who resort to playing baccarat with a strategy is to break even. Let us presume that you have opted for bets of 3 units instead of 1. Over several shoes this could generate substantial payouts if you hit a winning streak. However, if you keep the same stake while entering a losing streak, your losses will also be magnified. In the end, though, you might still break even, as the large wins offset the equally large losses.
If you do not like to go through a series of losing big units while trying to break even, you might want to resort to using an advanced baccarat strategy. This type of betting tactic is more suitable for high-rollers who can afford to double their bets without having to worry about losing all of their money if luck is not on their side.
Differences Between Advanced and Basic Baccarat Betting Strategies
If you want to use a basic betting strategy when playing baccarat, you need to act whenever there is a two-in-a-row win. The simplest way to explain this tactic is to place your money on something that is highly unlikely to happen. After two consecutive Player or Bank wins, you stake a single unit on the opposite outcome, betting that the run will not continue with a third win for the same side. Counter to your gut instinct to stop after three consecutive losses, you now increase your stake and keep betting that two in a row will not become three.
You may lose again, but you need to repeat the aforementioned steps. If your bad luck has followed you four times in a row, you should wait for the next shoe.
With the basic strategy, you do not have to play every single hand. You can wait until there is a two in a row and then start applying the betting strategy. By giving yourself some time off, you can have a better grip on the game’s flow. Compared to other tactics that require quick betting decisions on every hand, you will make around 15 bets per shoe because you only wager when there are two consecutive P or two consecutive B results.
If you decide to use the basic betting strategy on baccarat, you can enjoy a decent payout. Due to the well-known 50/50 chance, you actually have the opportunity to break even on baccarat while making use of this type of strategy. In fact, if you use the basic betting system, you can expect to win about 55% of the time, experience losses in roughly 45% of the cases, and the remainder accounts for ties.
Players should keep in mind that the advanced betting strategy, however, requires quite a bankroll. Since players must increase their stakes, it may be a tad troublesome for non-high-rollers to utilize the advanced betting strategy. While players may start their advanced betting just as they do with the basic strategy, they need to significantly increase their stakes if they want to hopefully enjoy better payouts.
Variations of the Advanced Strategy
If you are hoping to rack up bigger wins by using an advanced betting strategy, you should know that there are multiple ways to apply advanced betting while playing baccarat. Each variation presents a different level of risk and can deliver wonderful payouts if you are lucky and disciplined enough to know when to stop.
The first way to utilize the advanced betting system is to start just as you would with the basic strategy. This means betting that two in a row will not become three in a row. The difference is that after the second time you lose the four-bet series, you stake twelve units on two in a row not becoming three in a row. If you win, you should stop playing. However, if you lose again, you should wager twenty-four units, once more betting that two in a row will not become three in a row. The objective of this betting strategy is to continue doubling your bet until you break even and then quit the game.
The reason many players find this type of advanced betting useful is the break-even point. Even if you have lost several rounds, by using this betting system, you have the chance to secure wins larger than your losses and enjoy a positive net amount at the end of your baccarat game.
While you play this game, you may hear the term “riding the pony”. Simply put, this means betting on trends that are very unlikely to happen. Although this is very risky, it can be quite rewarding for lucky players. If you play baccarat for some time, you will notice that there are often players who have placed their chips either on “Player” or “Bank” and do not change their choice throughout the game. Although it is rare, runs can continue for seven, eight, or even more rounds. This would absolutely devastate a player who resorts to the first type of advanced strategy and bets on two in a row not making three in a row.
The important thing to remember is that the chance of losing in baccarat is always close to 50/50, at least when we do not take the Tie option into account. This is why it is quite risky to keep betting on runs that will continue past eight coups. Due to this fact, another advanced betting strategy is to bet against eight in a row becoming nine in a row. If you lose, you should repeat your bet by doubling it and adding another unit. You should not bet against those runs, however, if they have begun after the middle of the shoe. If you resort to this strategy, you should be mentally and financially prepared to lose at least 8 hands in a row.
If you want to try to “ride the pony”, you are advised to take all of your winnings after nine in a row and bet just a certain amount of your funds on ten in a row. You can continue with this system of betting on runs until you lose the bet. Yet again, you should not use this betting option if the run is happening after the middle point of the shoe.
The Importance of Money Management
One very important aspect of every player’s gambling experience is money management. By handling your bankroll wisely, you can maximize your wins and keep it from disappearing in a split second.
As previously mentioned, advanced betting baccarat strategies are mainly suitable for high-rollers, as they will be able to afford to lose bigger sums in order to rack up better payouts in the long run. Not to mention that sometimes they may not reach the point where they break even and could lose quite a lot of money.
You can start the game by choosing a relatively high stake. It does not matter whether you play with $5 chips, step up to $25 per hand, or even bet $100 on each hand you play. As long as you manage your bankroll properly and have the funds to support your strategy, you can feel comfortable while playing baccarat.
Tips to Help You Win at Baccarat
There are a few tips you should follow if you truly want to enjoy a lucrative baccarat experience. The first step to incorporate into your gameplay is to keep track of the scores. Even if you are not making bets, write down the winner of every hand, as this will help you choose the right strategy and the best time to engage in a betting session.
You are also advised to stick to using the basic betting strategy until the flow of the game has changed to a ratio of at least 4:1 of Row Twos to Row Threes. Using the advanced strategy of betting a single unit on Row Twos not making Row Threes three times in a row and continuing to increase your stake despite losing is also a sound system. Once you have lost the series of four bets, you should double your wagers until you end up as a winner. The only thing to remember is to ignore this betting system if you are close to the end of the shoe.
One of the most important pieces of advice that any advanced player will give you is to know when to stop. No one can tell you exactly when the right moment to walk away from the table is, but it is important to remember that even if you are on a winning streak, the possibility of losing or winning is almost always near 50/50. This is why you are advised to quit playing once you have broken even or when your bankroll cannot handle more risky bets.