Baccarat is one of the most played table games in the casino, online and offline. Like every other casino game, baccarat is a game of skill and luck. By using a good baccarat betting strategy to play the game, you can increase your odds of winning.
Baccarat was featured in the James Bond movie franchise. It is one of the best casino games for beginners. It is a people’s choice because it has a low house edge. Because of its popularity, all casinos, online and offline, provide at least one baccarat game.
We have provided a detailed description of the best baccarat strategies to win online in 2024 and expert tips on how to be a successful player. Let’s take a look at them.
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Baccarat Bet Payouts
Before choosing a strategy, one thing to consider is the odds and payout of each of the three kinds of bet – Player Bet, Banker bet and Tie bet.
First, let’s take a look at the house’s edge. The house edge is the amount you stand to lose on average per unit bet in favor of the casino.
- The Player Bet has a house edge of 1.24%
- The Banker Bet has a lower edge of 1.06%.
- The Tie Bet has a house edge of 14.36%.
From the above, we can clearly see that the banker bet has a lower house edge and better baccarat odds compared to the others.
Now, let’s take a look at the payouts and odds of each of the three bets.
The Player Bet
The player bet has a 44.6% chance of winning. The payout is 1:1 which makes it even. Players do not need to pay a commission on their winning hand.
For example, if you bet $10 and win, since the payout is 1:1, your return will be $10.
The Banker Bet
The banker bet has a 45.8% chance of winning, making it the best baccarat odds. Players have to pay a 5% commission on a winning hand. The pay out is 0.95:1.
For example, if you bet $10 and win, your return will be $9.50.
The Tie Bet
The tie bet has a 9.52% chance of winning, making it less likely to occur than the other bets. It has the highest house edge and the highest payout of 8:1. For example, if you bet $10 and win, your return will be $80!
For simplification,
| Hand | Bet | Outcome | Payout | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | $10 | Win | 1.1 | $10 |
| Banker | $10 | Win | 0.95:1 | $9.50 |
| Tie | $10 | Win | 8:1 | $80 |
Baccarat Winning Strategies
Baccarat may seem like a difficult game at first glance but it is pretty easy to master the game. The rules of baccarat are easy to understand, and with a few hours of practice every day, you’ll find yourself a master at the game. Once you have learned how to play Baccarat, the next step is understanding the different strategies.
Since Baccarat has been around for hundreds of years, many betting strategies have been developed to help players play a smart game. It should be noted that there’s no strategy that affects the actual house edge of the game.
In this section, we’ll be discussing the best and legal winning strategies used in baccarat. These strategies are easy to learn and understand and can even be used by beginners in the game.
The Martingale Strategy
The Martingale Strategy is a progressive betting strategy developed in 18th-century France. It was invented by a French Mathematician, Paul Pierre Levy. It was popularized by a casino owner, John Martingale.
It is one of the most popular baccarat betting strategies that require a huge bankroll. The theory of the strategy states that all markets will eventually revert to the long-term mean.
In this system, it is assumed that if you bet long enough, you’ll get as close to the Return to Player (RT) as possible. This means that at some point, you’re bound to win even if you have been losing.
In Martingale strategy, you’re expected to keep doubling your wager every time you lose until you eventually win.
For example,
- If your bet is $10 and you lose, double your next bet to $20.
- If you lose again, bet $40.
- Keep doubling your bets with every loss until you eventually win. When you win, return to the initial bet of $10 and go again.
Your winnings should cover all the losses you had.
If you’re still a little confused about how it works, take a look at the illustration below:
- You bet $10 and lose, bankroll at -$10.
- You bet $20 and lose, bankroll at -$20.
- You bet $40 and win, bankroll at +$10 ($40-$30 previous losses)
- You bet $10 and lose, bankroll at 0.
- You bet $20 and win, bankroll at +$20
- You bet $10 and win, bankroll at +$30
With the illustration above, you lost three and won three. At the end of the game, your profit was $30! The idea of this strategy is that you will eventually win big gains and recover your losses.
We’d advise that you start small, say 2% of your total bankroll, so you can leave enough money to cover your losses. If you bet with a higher percentage of your bankroll, multiple losses in a row can increase the bet to an unaffordable rate for you.
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The Fibonacci Strategy
The Fibonacci betting system is a progressive betting strategy. It is based on the Fibonacci sequence, a mathematical series developed by adding the two previous numbers in a sequence. The sequence looks like this:
(0,) 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, etc.
The first number in the sequence is 1. The sequence is developed by adding the two previous numbers; 1+1=2, 2+3=5, 5+8=13.
The Fibonacci betting strategy then works by using this Fibonacci sequence to determine the amount to bet. Like the Martingale strategy, it requires a huge bankroll.
Since this betting strategy involves mathematics, you would have to think fast to execute it perfectly. But you don’t have to be a math expert to use the strategy properly.
To simply explain the Fibonacci strategy:
- Place a bet
- Whenever you lose, increase the bet by following the Fibonacci sequence.
- When you win, start from the beginning.
For example,
- If you start with $10, and you lose, then you bet another $10. If you lose again, you bet $20. If you lose, you bet $30.
- If you lose, you bet $50. If you lose again, you bet $80. If you win, then you go back to the initial bet of $10.
- If you’re on a winning streak, keep on betting $10 one after the other. If you happen to lose again, use the Fibonacci sequence to determine your next bet.
- Let’s say you hit a winning streak right at the start of the game, keep betting $10 until you eventually lose. We highly recommend that you take a wise approach to the game so you don’t keep betting blindly.
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The Paroli System
The Paroli betting system is a positive progressive betting system. The word Paroli is derived from the Latin word, par, meaning “one that is equal”.
It is the opposite of the Martingale strategy. Hence, it is sometimes called Reverse Martingale. The betting system dates back to 16th century Italy.
The Paroli system works in three steps:
Fix a Base Stake
As mentioned earlier, start with 2% of your bankroll. Let’s say your budget is $500, so 2% of $500 is $10. Start your bet with $10.
Double Up After Winning
When you win, double up your next bet to $20. If you win again, bet $40. If you win again, bet $80. If you have three consecutive wins, I’d advise that you stop there and go back down to your base stake.
Go Back to Base After Losing
When you lose a bet, go back to your base stake of $10. The idea of the Paroli betting system is that you never increase your stake after a loss.
To reduce the risk of giving back your winnings, stop at three consecutive wins, take your profit, and go back to your base stake.
- You bet $10 and lose, bankroll at -$10.
- You bet $10 and win, bankroll at 0.
- You bet $20 and win, bankroll at $20.
- You bet $40 and lose, bankroll at -$20.
- You bet $10 and lose, bankroll at -$30.
- You bet $10 and win, bankroll at -$20.
- You bet $20 and win, bankroll at 0.
- You bet $40 and win, bankroll at $40.
- You bet $10 and win, bankroll at $50.
From the illustration above, you have a profit of $50.
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The Labouchere System
The Labouchere betting system is a negative progression system. This betting system was developed by Henry Labouchere, an English aristocrat and roulette player. It is commonly known as the Labouchere system, but it has several names, including:
- The Split Martingale
- The Cancellation System
- The American Progression
It is one of the most complex betting systems. We advise that new players stay away from this betting system because it is quite hard to master.
To begin, write a sequence on a piece of paper. Choose whatever sequence you prefer. If you choose a long sequence with high numbers, you’ll make large profits.
However, if you choose a shorter sequence with smaller numbers, you potentially make smaller profits, and it comes with a lower level of risks.
For simplicity, we’ll use 1-2-3 as an example. These numbers will represent your betting units; $1, $2, $3.
- You begin by adding the first and last numbers in the sequence; $1+$3=$4. So, your first stake will be $4.
- If you win, bet $4 again. If you lose, add $4 to the end of the sequence; $1, $2, $3, $4.
- Your next bet will be $5, which is the sum of $1+$4=$5. If you win, cross off the end numbers and continue the process.
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The D’Alembert System
The D’Alembert system is a positive progressive system dating back to 18th century France. It was developed by French mathematician, physicist, and philosopher, Jean-Baptiste le Rond D’Alembert.
First, establish your base unit. Let’s say you have a bankroll of $500 and you decide to make your base unit 2% of your bankroll which is $10. In that case, your betting unit is 10 and your initial bet is $10.
The D’Alembert system requires you to increase your wager by one base unit following a loss and decrease your wager by one base unit when you win. The D’Alembert system works well if the number of wins matches or surpasses the number of losses.
Take a look at this illustration below:
- You bet $10 and lose, bankroll at -$10.
- You bet $20 and lose, bankroll at -$20.
- You bet $30 and win, bankroll at $0.
- You bet $20 and win, bankroll at $20.
- You bet $10 and win, bankroll at $30.
- You bet $10 and lose, bankroll at $20.
- You bet $20 and lose, bankroll at $0.
- You bet $30 and win, bankroll at $30.
- You bet $20 and win, bankroll at $50.
- You bet $10 and lose, bankroll at $40.
The D’Alembert system is similar to the Martingale system because they both involve increasing your stake after a loss and decreasing it after a win. The difference is that the D’Alembert system only requires you to increase the stake by one base unit with each loss.
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Oscar’s Grind Betting Strategy
The first record of Oscar’s Grind strategy was in The Casino Gambler’s Guide, written by Allan Wilson in 1965. The author interviewed a gambler called Oscar about his betting strategy, hence the name. Oscar’s Grind betting strategy is also called Holyes Press.
It is a more recent betting strategy compared to the other betting strategies. The goal of the Oscar’s Grind strategy is to finish each cycle with a single unit of profit.
To begin,
- Choose a betting unit, say $10.
- If you lose, do not increase the bet. If you win, increase the bet unit by 1 which is $20.
- After you’ve reached a profit, start the process from the beginning.
With the Oscar’s Grind betting system, you would have to play for a long time to make a reasonable profit, hence the Grind in the name.
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Bet with the Banker Every Time
If you’re a beginner to the baccarat game, or you’re just opting for something easier, we recommend that you use this strategy.
The banker’s hand has the best odds of winning in baccarat, although it has a 5% commission on winning hands.
Betting with the banker might be the least exciting strategy compared to the others, but it’s much easier to execute. That’s why we recommend it for players who are still learning the ropes.
It is an easy online betting strategy that ensures that you’re successful at the end of the game. Even if you use any of the above betting strategies, you’re likely to bet on the banker.
How to Choose the Best Baccarat Betting Strategy
Before you choose a baccarat betting strategy, there are certain factors you should consider.
- Playing Style
Before choosing a strategy, you should assess what type of player you are and your personality in general. If you don’t like to take high risks, you should stick to low-risk strategies.
Keep in mind that low-risk strategies give you small profits at the end of the game. If you decide to play safe, then you should lower your expectations.
If you’re not a very patient person, you might not like the Oscar’s Grind strategy. Putting all these into consideration, you can go ahead and choose the strategy that fits you and your playing style.
- Experience
It doesn’t make sense for a beginner to use more complex betting strategies. You should choose a betting strategy based on your level of experience.
If you’re a new player, it is best to stick to a basic betting strategy like betting with the banker. Once you have gotten better at the game, you can then implement advanced strategies. There’s no guarantee that you will win with a more complex strategy.
- Setting
Most gamblers fail to consider the setting of the casino before selecting a betting strategy. Keep in mind that an online casino is way different from a brick-and-mortar casino.
We highly recommend that you check out the online casino setting and its rules before choosing a betting strategy.
- Style of Baccarat
Most online casinos provide different variants of baccarat, such as Punto Banco,
Chemin de Fer, EZ Baccarat, etc. Each of these variants has different rules, betting options, and betting limits.
Take your time to study the various types of baccarat to get a thorough understanding of them. Your betting strategy should align with the type of online baccarat you pick to play.
- The Size of Your Bankroll
Always consider your bankroll before you select a betting strategy. Most betting strategies require a massive bankroll to implement them. You cannot implement the Martingale strategy with a small bankroll.
If you have a considerable bankroll, you can play for longer sessions, which can earn your loyalty program points. On the other hand, if you take high risks with your bankroll, you’re likely to run out of money rapidly.
If you plan to play for a shorter period, or you would rather not take high risks, select a strategy that doesn’t require a considerable bankroll.
Expert Tips to Play Baccarat
Whether you’re a beginner or not, there are a few tips you should know that will help you become a better gambler. In this section, we have outlined a few tips to help you have more successful casino trips.
- Practice for Free
As they say, practice makes perfect. The more time you spend practicing free baccarat games, the better you become. Most online casinos offer demo modes of baccarat games. We highly recommend that new players take advantage of the free versions.
You can practice different betting strategies on the demo modes. You won’t become an expert overnight but you can learn a thing or two that can prove useful in the real game.
- Open a Separate Account for Gambling
It’s safer and wiser to have a gambling account different from your personal account. Do not use money set aside for rent, utilities, and other things or you’re at a risk of going broke.
Once you’ve separated your gambling funds from your personal funds, stick to that separation. Never take out money from your personal account to fund your gambling.
- Set and Follow Strict Limits
Before you begin an online baccarat game, set and follow strict win and loss limits. Set the amount of money you want to win. When you reach that target, call it a day!
Set the amount of money you’re willing to lose for that day. Once you have reached that limit, end the game! Following a strict loss limit will help you manage your bankroll and dissuade you from betting on more games and losing more money.
- Use Casino Bonuses
Online casinos offer several bonuses and promotions to both new and existing players. Take advantage of these bonuses and increase your bankroll. Pay attention to their terms and conditions.
Credit: JackpotCity Casino
- Avoid All-In Bets
Most players tend to go for all-in bets when they experience a winning or losing streak. All-in bets are very risky and there’s no guarantee that you’ll be successful. We recommend that players limit the number of high-risk bets they take.
- Use the Right Baccarat Strategy
Read the rules of the game before picking a strategy. The best strategy for Baccarat is to use the right strategy that’s best suited for the setting. Also, choose a betting strategy that you’re most comfortable with.
- Have Fun and Take a Loss in Stride
Losses are bound to happen, even with the appropriate strategy. Don’t get so worked up or upset when you lose.
You’re not only there to win money, but also to enjoy yourself while at it. Have fun with the game and take a loss in stride.
- Avoid the Tie Bet
We’d advise you to avoid the tie bet, even though it has irresistible odds. The tie bet has a high house edge of 14.36%.
Final Thoughts – What Strategy Works the Best?
The best strategy to use depends on your preference and bankroll. There’s no way to determine the best betting strategy.
However, the easiest one to use is betting on the banker’s side because it has the lowest house edge. You can use this strategy alongside another strategy, such as the Martingale strategy or Fibonacci strategy. Remember to always consider the factors mentioned above.
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FAQ
What is the Best Strategy for Baccarat?
There’s no best strategy for baccarat. It all depends on the setting, the size of your bankroll, and your level of experience.
Can You Play Free Baccarat Online?
Yes. You can play free baccarat in some online casinos. Practice with their demo versions before betting with real money.
Is it Legal to Play Online Baccarat?
Yes, it is legal to play online baccarat. The best online baccarat sites are licensed and approved by gambling authorities.
Which Variation of Baccarat is the Best?
This is subjective and depends on which variant you enjoy the most. There’s no way to determine the best variant of baccarat.
Are Baccarat Betting Systems Legal to Use in Casinos?
Card counting is not accepted in most casinos. All betting systems mentioned above are legal to use in online casinos as long as you obey their rules.
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