Baccarat Strategy & Tips
Baccarat is one of the oldest and most popular casino games worldwide. With only six land-based casinos in the whole country, Kiwis have historically had to travel long distances to play baccarat or make do with inferior online video versions. Fortunately, we have an exceptional selection of live baccarat online at Guts.
These titles, from the likes of Evolution Gaming and Pragmatic Play, bring the classic casino experience to your computer screen. Guts NZ players can enjoy real-life dealers, several baccarat types, and regular casino promotions. Don’t say we don’t spoil you!
Hosting a brilliant selection of games is just one part of our philosophy. We’re huge casino fans at heart, so we’re also experts in baccarat strategy. Keep reading for a quick recap on how to play baccarat alongside several tips to optimise your gambling. Afterward, use your newfound knowledge at our fantastic New Zealand online casino platform.
Baccarat: How to Play
Before we explore some expert baccarat strategy principles, let’s take a minute to ensure you know how to play. Baccarat rules are relatively simple compared to other more complex games, so they shouldn’t take too long to get your head around.
Baccarat is played between a player and the dealer, similar to blackjack. At its root, the game centres on accurately predicting whether the Player or Banker hands will be the closest to nine.
Here is a quick rundown of the baccarat rules:
- Place a bet on the Banker or Player.
- Two cards are dealt to each side.
- Add the numbers to calculate the initial hand values. Deduct 10 from the total if either one exceeds 9.
- A Natural Win occurs if either hand is an 8 or a 9.
- If not, more cards may need to be dealt.
The Player and Banker hands differ slightly regarding additional cards. The Player must receive an extra card if their original hand is 5 or below.
The baccarat rules are slightly more complex for the Banker hand. Whether it needs an extra card is dependent on the Player hand. Check our dedicated baccarat how to play guide for more information.
After you have played through and had any extra cards dealt, the hand closest to nine wins. The payout is 1:1 for the Player hand and 0.95:1 for the Banker. Remember, you can bet on both.
The Importance of House Edge in Baccarat
Reducing the house edge is a pivotal part of how to win baccarat games. You’ll need to swing the odds of winning in your favour to have the best chance of success. This means reducing the house edge, which can be done using several tactics.
Baccarat strategy is utterly dependent on this concept. Fortunately, you can use several proven approaches to enhance your chances of winning.
How to Win: Baccarat Tips & Tricks
We’re casino specialists at Guts New Zealand, so Kiwis can listen to us for the best baccarat strategy tips and tricks. You can find a few of the top ones below:
Back the Banker
The Banker hand is statistically more likely to win. If you analyse the probabilities, its odds are almost 2% higher than the Player hand. Although the Banker bet only pays 0.95:1 (with 5% commission going to the house), it’s more likely to pay off in the long run. Of course, switching up your bets is still a good idea from time to time, but the Banker hand is a solid default.
Use a Betting System (But Be Careful)
Betting systems are popular among players struggling to decide how much to wager. Tactics like the Martingale (where you double your stake after each losing bet) are great ways to attach some order to your baccarat betting. Using the Martingale tactic can very quickly recover losses, but it can also be dangerous. Take it too far, and you’ll end up with no bankroll whatsoever, so be careful.
Take Care of Your Bankroll
Following our mention of the Martingale strategy, it’s important to consistently keep an eye on your overall bankroll to avoid going too far in the red. Baccarat is a fast-paced game with several betting rounds an hour, so it’s even more important to treat your bankroll with respect here. Set your budget before playing one of our Guts NZ live baccarat online options to safeguard your finances.
Ignore Tie Bets
As most baccarat enthusiasts will tell you, tie bets are relatively worthless. For a start, the house edge is around 14.4%, which is significantly worse than other baccarat bets. The payout is larger at 8:1 or 9:1, but statistical modelling by leading gambling mathematicians has proven they are better off avoided.
Beware of the Gambler’s Fallacy
Baccarat is definitely more susceptible to the gambler’s fallacy than other games. You must always cut out this way of thinking. Just because the Player or Banker hand has won several times in a row, it doesn’t make it more likely going forward. Never let perceived trends during a baccarat game influence your betting. This is a vital part of baccarat strategy.
Use Baccarat Strategy at Guts!
Now that you know about some key baccarat strategy tips, there’s only one thing left to do: play baccarat casino online with us here at Guts! We have several options available, so you’ll never get bored.
Check Our Blog For More Guides & Tricks
Baccarat isn’t the only thing we specialise in at Guts NZ. Kiwis can also get casino and poker guides and tips on other games via our blog. For example, you can enhance your poker playing with our poker strategy article!
