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Playing baccarat is fun and easy to do, mainly because there are just three main bets you can make: the Player, the Banker, and a Tie bet, and you don’t even get involved in the gameplay. However, the game of baccarat can offer so much more for interested players; there are so many side bets you can make and get more and more opportunities for excitement and winning. Today, we discuss the top baccarat side bets you can place as we tested several of these at several reputable online casinos. Please read on as we outline how these add much-needed variety to a game that may be somewhat bland for some.
- There are many side bets you can place in baccarat; these are supplementary wagers to make alongside the main Player, Banker, or Tie bets.
- You can bet on specific card combinations or specific outcomes and add an extra layer of excitement during the baccarat game.
- Side bets in baccarat come with higher house edge and lower odds, but they also come with appealing payouts.
- Avoid placing side bets regularly, as these can quickly drain your bankroll; instead, use them sparingly.
Side Bets in Baccarat
The side bets in baccarat were introduced as a way to make this game more appealing to a broader audience and add more flair to it. This is because many people avoid baccarat due to the lack of real interaction between the bettor and the gameplay.
The side bets are an exciting addition, and what’s interesting is that they are available in different online baccarat games. These are optional bets that you can place alongside the main baccarat bet. Most of the side bets also need to be placed before dealing with the cards, and most come with fixed odds and appealing payouts.
Best Side Bets in Baccarat to Play
You can find a long list of baccarat side bets that you can place. Some are more popular or more appealing than others, but all add an extra layer of excitement and provide more winning chances. Please note that these come with odds different from the main baccarat odds.
Perfect Pair
The Perfect Pair side bet in baccarat is one of the most famous ones, and here, you wager that either the Player or the Banker will receive a pair of two identical cards. If you are lucky, you get a 25 to 1 payout.
Banker Pair/Player Pair
Similar to the Perfect pair, this is a side bet in baccarat where you wager that the first two cards in the Banker’s hand or the Player’s hand will be a pair. The payout is 11 to 1.
Either Pair
The Either Pair side bet means you wager that either the Player or Banker will get paired cards. The payout for the Either Pair is 5 to 1.
Bellagio Match
A highly popular side bet in online baccarat, per the rules of this bet, you wager that the Banker or Player will get a hand with three cards of the same rank. This is a highly profitable side bet, and if you are lucky to win, you stand to get a payout of 75 to 1 for the Player and 68 to 1 for the Banker.
Royal Match
The Royal Match baccarat side bet is an interesting one that has probably originated in London casinos. Per the rules, here you wager that the Player or Banker will get a King and Queen for their first two cards. The payout is 75 to 1 for a suited K/Q pair and 30 to 1 for an unsuited K/Q pair.
Dragon Bonus
The Dragon Bonus side bet is an interesting one, as it is based on the difference between the Player’s and Banker’s hands. It lets you bet on whether your chosen hand will win by a chosen margin. The table below shows the payouts for the different Dragon Bonus margins:
| Dragon Bonus Margin | Payout |
|---|---|
| Natural Win | 1 to 1 |
| Natural Tie | Push |
| Win by 9 | 30 to 1 |
| Win by 8 | 10 to 1 |
| Win by 7 | 6 to 1 |
| Win by 6 | 4 to 1 |
| Win by 5 | 2 to 1 |
| Win by 4 | 1 to 1 |
| All other results | Loss |
Dragon 7/Fortune 7
Known as Dragon 7 or Fortune 7, this side bet in baccarat pays if the Banker side wins with a 3-card score of 7 points. The payout is a staggering 40 to 1.
Matching Dragon
The Matching Dragon is another possible side bet in baccarat. Per the rules of this bet, you wager that the combined Banker and Player hands will contain matching cards. The payout depends on the number of matching cards, and we’ve shown it in the table below:
| Number of Matching Cards | Payout |
|---|---|
| 6 | 100 to 1 |
| 5 | 60 to 1 |
| 4 | 30 to 1 |
| 3 | 15 to 1 |
| 2 | 2 to 1 |
| 1 | 1 to 1 |
| 0 | Loss |
All Red/All Black
The rules of the All Red/All Black side bet in baccarat mean that you can place your wager on whether the Banker or Player hand will get all-black or all-red cards. The suits don’t matter, but to win, all the cards in the hand must be the same color. The payout for All Red is 22 to 1, and the payout for All Black is 24 to 1.
Big/Small Bets
The Big and Small side bets in baccarat are two almost identical bet options where you bet on the total number of dealt cards. The Small bet is when the total number of cards equals 4, and the Big bet is when the total number of cards is 5 or 6. The payout differs among the different software providers, and it can go from 1.35 to 1 and 1.5 to 1 for the small bet, while the big bet pays 0.48 to 1 and 0.52 to 1.
3-Card Six
The 3-Card Six, or 3-Card 6, is often available in No-Commission baccarat. Per the rules of this bet, you wager that the Player and the Banker will get three cards, equaling to six points. If one of the hands gets the outcome, then the payout is 8 to 1, and if both hands bet the same 3-Card six outcomes, the payout is 100 to 1.
Suited 3-Card 8
Similar to the 3-Card 6, the Suited 3-Card 8 side bet rules stipulate that the Banker or Player will get a score of 8 points with 3 suited cards. If you are lucky to win this side bet, then you can expect a 25 to 1 payout. There is also a Double Suited 3-Card 8 where both the Banker and Player get the same score of 8 points with three cards each, and the payout here is 200 to 1.
4-5-6
The 4-5-6 side bet in baccarat has originated in the land-based Atlantic City casinos. Here, you wager on the total number of final Player and Banker cards. The payouts depend on the final number of cards, which you can see in the table below:
| Total Cards | Payout |
|---|---|
| 4 | 3 to 2 |
| 5 | 2 to 1 |
| 6 | 2 to 1 |
Total Points Odd/Even
The Total Points Odd/Even side bet in baccarat is a combination bet where you wager that the total hand will be an odd or an even number. The payout is 0.92 to 1 for an odd score and 0.91 to 1 for an even score.
Total Points Over/Under 9.5
Similar to the over/under sports bets, the Total Points Over/Under 9.5 in baccarat means that you wager that the combined total points of the Player and Banker hands are over 9.5 or are under 9.5. If you bet on Over, then the combined hands need to be over 10 points, and if you bet Under, the score must be 9 or less. The payout for the Under bet is 1.23 to 1, and the Over bet pays 0.66 to 1.
First Two Banker/Player Cards Same Suit
The First Two Banker/Player Cards Same Suit is a combined bet where you bet on both sides. Per the rules of this side bet, you wager that the first two cards dealt to the Player or Banker will be in the same suit. The payout is 2.87 to 1 for the Player hand and 2.86 to 1 for the Banker hand.
Double 8
The Double 8 is another combined side bet in baccarat where you wager that both the Player and Banker hands will score 8 points in their hands. The payout is 15 to 1.
Lucky 8
The Lucky 8 baccarat side bet means that you wager that either the Banker or Player hand will win the round by exactly 8 points. The payout for the Lucky 8 side bet is 4 to 1.
Panda 8
The Panda 8 is a simple bet where you wager that the Player hand will win the round with 9 points and three cards. The Payout is 25 to 1.
Egalite Bets
The word Egalite means equality, and this side bet in baccarat is linked to specific ties. You can bet that the hand will end in a particular tie, like 7 to 7 or another score. The Egalite bets come with different payouts for each tie, and we list these in the table below:
| Hand Tie | Payout |
|---|---|
| 9 | 80 to 1 |
| 8 | 80 to 1 |
| 7 | 45 to 1 |
| 6 | 45 to 1 |
| 5 | 110 to 1 |
| 4 | 120 to 1 |
| 3 | 200 to 1 |
| 2 | 225 to 1 |
| 1 | 215 to 1 |
| 0 | 150 to 1 |
Odds and Payouts for Baccarat Side Bets
The odds and payouts for the standard bets in baccarat are pretty simple, and the house edge is relatively low for the Banker and Player bets. However, these become somewhat confusing when it comes to the side bets.
Most of the extra bets that we’ve listed above come with a considerable house edge. In other words, in the long run, the advantage is in favor of the casino, so the longer you play, the more you are likely to lose. There is no way to apply a baccarat strategy when it comes to side bets in baccarat, as all of these depend on chance. The table below shows you the most common side bets you can find at reputable online casinos, as well as the expected payout and house edge, so you can judge whether these are worth the risk.
| Side Bet | Description | Typical Payout | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player Pair | The first two Player cards are a pair | 11:1 | 10.36% |
| Banker Pair | The first two Banker cards are a pair | 11:1 | 10.36% |
| Perfect Pair | The first two cards of either hand are identical in rank and suit | 25:1 (one hand), 200:1 (both hands) | 13.03% (variable) |
| Either Pair | Either hand gets a pair | 5:1 | 14.54% |
| Big | 5 or 6 Total cards dealt | 0.54:1 | 4.35% |
| Small | 4 Total cards dealt | 1.5:1 | 5.27% |
| Dragon Bonus | Pays based on the point difference between the winning and losing hand | 30:1 (win by 9) | 2.70% (Player), 9.37% (Banker) |
Are Side Bets in Baccarat Worth It?
The side bets in baccarat are an excellent way to add more excitement to the game, whereas otherwise, the bettors have little involvement in the gameplay. We advise you to carefully consider placing any of the possible side bets, as you need to apply a bankroll management system and not spend all your available budget on a few bets. There is no guarantee that you can win any side bet, but if you are lucky to win, you can expect a dramatically higher payout than the regular Player or Banker bets.
FAQs
Should I Play Side Bets in Baccarat?
It comes to personal preference, as the baccarat side bets come with appealing payouts but come with lower odds and higher house edge.
Are the Side Bets in Baccarat Worth It?
The side bets in baccarat depend on chance, and there is no way to predict the outcome. When it comes to whether these are worth it or not, you should consider your available budget and try to assess your winning chances.
How Can I Place a Side Bet in Baccarat?
To place a side bet in baccarat, check the baccarat table layout and find the side bet area. In land-based casinos, the baccarat tables will have areas printed with the names of available side bets, such as Perfect Pair, Either Pair, Big/Small, Dragon Bonus, etc. In online casinos, there is usually an area on the side of the screen where you can see the available side bets and choose the one you wish to place.
What Are the Best Side Bets in Baccarat?
We can’t select a single best side bet in baccarat, but we’ll mention the Player Pair/Banker Pair, Perfect Pair, or the Dragon Bonus side bet, as these come with favorable odds, appealing payouts, and lower house edge.
What Is the Safest Bet in Baccarat?
The safest bet in baccarat is the Banker bet, as this one comes with the lowest house edge and good winning odds. In terms of the safest side bet, we can’t choose one, as each of these depends solely on luck.
Is There Skill Involved in Playing Baccarat?
There is little to no skill involved when playing baccarat. It is because baccarat is a game of chance, and the outcome of the regular and side bets is due to luck.
How to Choose a Good Side Bet in Baccarat?
When you select a good side bet to play in baccarat, you should consider the house edge and the risk/reward outcome. We recommend looking for side bets that come with a lower house edge, which means more favorable terms in the long run, like, for example, the Dragon Bonus or the Big Bet. Avoid placing bets with a house edge that goes over 10%, but you can still place the occasional side bet for fun.
Why Do Casinos Cap the Side Bet Amounts in Baccarat?
Some casinos cap the side bet amounts in baccarat because of the high possible payouts. If you win a regular baccarat bet like the Player or Banker bet, the payout is 1 to 1, which is not a significant loss for the casino. However, if you win a side bet with a large payout, like the Egalite bet with a 2 to 2 tie, the payout is 225 to 1, which is a massive loss for the house.
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