Best Baccarat Strategy: How to Win at Baccarat
Are you wondering whether there is a baccarat betting strategy to maximize your chances of winning at the tables online? Our guide to baccarat strategy will put you firmly in the picture!
Although some table games like blackjack have strategies or systems that can be deployed to minimize the game’s house edge, it’s important for us to level with you from the get-go – there’s no online baccarat strategy you can use which will increase your chances of winning.
Although there are several baccarat betting strategies to choose from, these relate more to how much you bet and when.
If you’re wondering which baccarat betting strategy to adopt, this guide will cover all the key systems used by regular baccarat players at online casinos and offline.
Find the Best Strategy to Play Baccarat
Within our baccarat strategy guide, you’ll discover:
And lots more besides!
What you shouldn’t expect from this guide…
- A one-way ticket to guaranteed baccarat wins
- A cluster of tips to help you win at the online baccarat tables
- A recommendation of the best baccarat betting strategy – that’s for you to decide!
Why is a Baccarat Betting Strategy Important?
Crafting an effective baccarat betting strategy is vital if you’re looking to maximize your betting bankroll and negotiate the sheer unpredictability of this popular card game.
A solid online baccarat strategy is one that helps you to manage your bankroll. Ultimately, this is all you can do since the outcome of baccarat hands is heavily determined by luck rather than skill.
There is one element of skill involved in baccarat – knowing the right bets to place that have the best chance of winning, as well as the fairest payoffs relative to their probability of occurring. Later on in this guide, we’ll explain which bets are most appealing from a pure value perspective.
Choose Your Baccarat Strategy
Let’s run through the five most popular systems for betting on baccarat, both online and at land-based casinos. Tap the links below to browse through each strategy:
- The Baccarat Martingale Strategy (Beginner)
- Back the Banker Strategy (Beginner)
- The Baccarat Paroli Strategy (Intermediate)
- The Baccarat Fibonacci Strategy (Advanced)
- The Baccarat Labouchere Strategy (Advanced)
The Baccarat Martingale Strategy
The Martingale system is a betting strategy that’s, shall we say, been around the block! Some swear by it, while others approach it with caution.
Here’s the crux of the Martingale strategy: this system is all about chasing losses. There. We said it. Let’s say you start with a modest $10 bet which wins. Great – you’re in the green. But if you lose, that’s when the Martingale system kicks in.
The strategy requires you to double the size of your bet after every losing hand, until you eventually land a win. The theory behind it is that when you do win a hand, you’ll recoup your losses and even pocket one unit of profit on top.
In baccarat, there are three types of bets you can place – on the Player, the Banker or the Tie. That’s why the Martingale system can be tempting. If you’re on a losing streak, it’s easy to think, “hey, a win’s gotta be around the corner, right?”
Now, before you dive headfirst into the Martingale pool for your baccarat betting, there’s a catch – it’s not foolproof. Although it can work in theory, you really need a limitless bankroll for it to work; as well as a table with zero betting limits to ride out any lengthy losing streaks.
Here’s the thing – baccarat is a game of chance, so there’s no guarantee of winning patterns. Winning or losing streaks can be wholly unpredictable, and that’s where the Martingale’s Achilles’ heel lies. It assumes you have an infinite pile of chips and that the cards will eventually swing in your favor.
In some ways, Martingale is a “he who dares, wins” approach, but it’s not for the faint of heart!
Read more about the Martingale Strategy
Find out more about this famous betting strategy, which can be used across a number of casino table games.
Back the Banker Strategy
We’re going to let you into a little secret first: the Banker bet is the best option to take at the online baccarat tables.
That’s because it has a slightly higher probability of winning than the Player’s hand. As a result, the payout for the Banker is reduced to 0.95:1, compared with the even-money (1:1) returns on offer when successfully betting on the Player’s hand.
One baccarat strategy you could deploy centers on backing the Banker’s hand with every bet you place. When we say every bet, we really mean it. We’re talking religiously backing the Banker no matter what kind of winning or losing streak you encounter.
The percentage chance of the Banker’s hand winning is 45.86% compared with the 44.62% chance of the Player’s hand winning. There’s also the chance of the Tie bet winning (9.52%) to factor in too. We’d never recommend backing the Tie as you’re only paid out at odds of 8:1 for something that’s likely to happen less than one-in-ten times.
The strength of the Back the Banker baccarat strategy is its simplicity and clarity. You’ll know exactly what to do with every hand you play.
There’s a 45.86% chance you’ll win and a 54.14% chance you’ll lose – it’s close to a coin flip, but not quite!
The Baccarat Paroli Strategy
The Paroli system is another betting strategy worth your consideration at the online baccarat tables. The Paroli strategy is more like the optimistic cousin of the Martingale system – and some baccarat players swear by its positive vibes.
Using the Paroli system is all about maximizing the wave of winning streaks. You’ll start with a base bet and if it wins, you let it ride. Let’s say you wager $10 on the Banker and it wins; you’ll then wager $19.50 on the next hand. In essence, you’re parlaying your winnings into potentially bigger sums with back-to-back wins.
Think of the Paroli system as an old-school “let it ride” philosophy!
Now, before you start daydreaming about a wave of endless wins, it’s important to remember that – like the Martingale system – you have no control over when those streaks will happen in baccarat. They can be as unpredictable as the weather. The Paroli strategy assumes that winning streaks will continue, but the cards don’t always play ball!
What’s the upside to this system then? Well, it’s a less aggressive betting strategy than Martingale. For starters, you’re not chasing your losses.
All that you’re doing is attempting to ride the highs. Once you hit a losing hand, you return to placing your base bet, instead of doubling down in desperation.
The important thing with the Paroli system is to set limits. The Paroli strategy can make you feel invincible during winning streaks, but it’s essential to know when the time’s right to walk away. Winning runs don’t last forever, and a sudden downturn can leave you wishing you’d cashed out when the going was good.
Before you start a baccarat session using the Paroli strategy, set win and loss limits for the session – once they’re met, it’s time to call it a day.
The Baccarat Fibonacci Strategy
Have you ever heard of the Fibonacci numerical sequence? Named after the Italian mathematician, the sequence is calculated by adding together the two preceding numbers to get the next number in the sequence.
It goes a little something like this: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144 and so on.
The Fibonacci betting strategy was first deployed as a roulette betting system on even-money outside bets. It can also be tweaked to work at the online baccarat tables too.
The Fibonacci baccarat system requires you to place bet sizes based on the Fibonacci sequence. You’ll start with one unit – let’s say $1 – and if you lose, you’ll move your bet size to the next number in the sequence to determine your next bet value. For every winning bet, you’ll take a step back in the sequence.
It’s a much less aggressive betting strategy than the Martingale system. You do not have to double down with every loss, and the Fibonacci sequence helps to create a sense of rhythm and organization to your baccarat bets.
But – and there’s always a but when it comes to how to win at baccarat – the Fibonacci system is by no means a guarantee of winning sessions at the online baccarat tables. Just like the Martingale and Paroli systems, it’s more a tool to manage your bets, rather than a crystal ball predicting the next hand.
As with all other baccarat strategies, it’s important to set limits with the Fibonacci baccarat system. Know when to call it a day. The addition of the Fibonacci sequence helps add a numerical twist to your strategy, but remember you have no control over the cards dealt.
The Baccarat Labouchere Strategy
Last but by no means least, let’s talk about the Labouchere betting system. This strategy is rather like creating your own betting playlist for a night at the online baccarat tables. There’s a personalized element to Labouchere that can make the game of baccarat feel a little more strategic.
You’re essentially the master of your own Labouchere system. Write down a sequence of numbers. The sequence can be anything you like. The sum of these numbers becomes your profit target.
For argument’s sake, let’s say your sequence is 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 – your profit target would be 30 units (2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 10 = 30).
How does the betting sequence work in practice at the online baccarat tables? Begin by taking the first and last numbers in your sequence. The sum of these amounts to the size of your initial wager. In the example above, your first bet would be 12 units.
If you win, you cross off both numbers from the sequence, leaving 4, 6, and 8. If you lose, you add the amount you just wagered to the end of your sequence, creating 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12.
Think of it like a game within a game. You’re managing your own betting sequence, deciding how much to wager based on a hand-crafted baccarat strategy of your own!
The beauty of Labouchere is that it lets you set your own pace. You decide the rhythm of crossing off numbers and reaching that sweet profit target. Of course, there’s never any guaranteed ticket to winning sessions in baccarat. Like all baccarat strategies, Labouchere has its own twists and turns too.
Labouchere is best played by high-rollers and those with deep pockets, rather like the Martingale approach. Those with smaller bankrolls will usually find this unrealistic as there’s a high risk of ruin and variance.
Find the Best Baccarat Strategy to Win: Some Key Pointers
Admittedly, it’s impossible to find ways to guarantee wins at the online baccarat tables, but let’s remind you of some of the things you can do to maximize your baccarat bankroll and your gaming experience:
- Play short, sharp sessions – the longer you play, the more likely the game’s house edge is likely to catch up with you.
- Define your budget per session – set an amount you’re prepared to lose or win per session. Once this figure is met – either way – leave the table!
- Remember you’ll pay commission on Banker bets – 5% commission is deducted by the house, although some tables may vary the size of their commission rates.
- Look for baccarat games with as few decks in-play as possible – this reduces the house edge on the Banker’s hand and the game’s general variance.
Pick the Right Baccarat Game to Utilize Your Strategy
There are several variants of online baccarat available for you to test your betting strategies. Below, we’ll explain five of the most popular baccarat variations:
3-Card Baccarat
This variant is played with three face cards rather than two per hand. There’s no tie bet here either – if hand values are equal, the player with the highest number of face cards wins.
Punto Banco
Punto Banco is played in the same way as traditional baccarat, except there are six conventional decks of 52 playing cards used.
Chemin de Fer
Mostly offered in France, Chemin de Fer also includes the option of acting as the Bank yourself, accepting bets against the other human players at the table.
Baccarat Banque
This is a three-deck version of baccarat, which also allows you to play the role of Bank.
Mini Baccarat
Based on traditional baccarat, this is a reduced version with only up to seven seats and the lowest betting limits – ideal for novices and low-rollers.
Use Casino Bonuses to Test Your Favorite Baccarat Strategy Risk-Free
Now that you’re aware of the most popular betting strategies for baccarat, as well as the variants of the game you’ll often find online, it’s time to head to the tables and discover which one you like best.
First thing’s first, make sure whichever online casino you sign up with to play baccarat online that you take advantage of their welcome bonuses. To help you find the most competitive sign-up offers, we’ve put together a list of the best baccarat bonuses on the market below.
All of these sites are fully licensed and regulated, delivering immersive baccarat experiences on any device, regardless of screen size:
Baccarat Strategy FAQs
How do you play baccarat online?
Baccarat is a simple card game you can play at an online or live dealer casino. Pick the table you wish to play, take a seat and drag your betting chips into the correct betting circle in front of your seat. Decide whether you’re betting on the Player, the Banker or the Tie. Two cards are dealt to the Player and the Banker. The hand with the value closest to nine wins. Alternatively, if both hand values are the same, the Tie bet wins.
How do you win at baccarat?
To win a hand of baccarat, all you need to do is correctly predict which hand will have the hand value closest to nine – the Player’s hand or the Banker’s hand. There really is nothing else to it. There’s very little else which can influence your prediction – even hand histories don’t really help here. Just guess and hope you win more than you lose!
What is the best baccarat strategy?
Ultimately, none of the baccarat strategies we’ve discussed are better than the rest. None of them minimise the game’s house edge more than the other, for example. Ultimately, choosing your baccarat strategy is a matter of preference. It’s more about how you like to bet and how aggressive you’re prepared to be during your baccarat sessions online.
What is the worst bet in baccarat?
The worst bet in baccarat is comfortably the tie bet. In fact, any winning baccarat strategy should involve avoiding the tie bet at all costs. The house edge of a tie bet is an eye-watering 14.36%. This means for every $100 you wager, you’re statistically likely to lose $14.36 over the long term. We don’t like those odds, especially when there’s only a 9.52% chance of you both having the same value!
What is the baccarat Martingale strategy?
The Martingale strategy is well-suited to even-money table games like baccarat. Essentially, all you need to do is double the size of your bet after every losing hand. The idea being that, when you win, this offsets the value of the previous hand(s) you’ve lost – plus one unit of profit. Be mindful that you’ll often need deep pockets to handle the potential for lengthy runs of consecutive losing hands.
What is the house edge of baccarat?
It ultimately depends on which bets you place at the baccarat table. The best baccarat strategy to minimize the house edge is to bet on the banker. This carries a house edge of 1.06%, compared with the 1.24% house edge on player bets. The house edge jumps to an almighty 14.36% if you choose to take the tie bet. Although the payout is bigger than on banker and player bets, the likelihood of this occurring is much smaller than its payout should be!