Strategy guide
Baccarat decoded.
Simple yet elegant: learn the banker bet advantage and odds.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Best for
- Low house edge seekers
- Key tips
- 5

House edge1.06%
- 01
How baccarat works
Two hands are dealt: Player and Banker. Cards are totaled: face cards and 10s count as 0, aces as 1. If the total exceeds 9, drop the first digit (15 becomes 5). Closest to 9 wins.
- 02
The three bets
Banker bet has a 1.06% house edge (with 5% commission). Player bet has a 1.24% house edge. Tie bet has a massive 14.36% house edge, never bet the tie.
- 03
Optimal strategy
Baccarat strategy is simple: always bet Banker. The 5% commission still makes it the best bet. No card counting or pattern tracking changes the odds.
- 04
Mini-baccarat vs traditional
Mini-baccarat is faster with lower minimums. Traditional baccarat involves players handling cards. The odds are identical, choose based on atmosphere and budget preference.