Baccarat: The Game of Luck
Despite the fact that a winning hand is determined by a single digit and that it’s one of the few casino games where the Player bet pays 8-to-1 while the Banker bet pays 1-to-1, an expert gambler I know points out that “it’s among the five worst bets in a casino.” Still, this does not prevent countless baccarat aficionados from laying down big bets on this poorly valued long shot.
Why do high rollers flock to this card game that is essentially a coin flip? I asked Bill Zender, a former Nevada Gaming Control Agent and casino dealer who literally wrote the book on managing casino games (and is probably best known for his work as the co-host of the Casino Advisor podcast). He says that in addition to the cultural factors he described above, baccarat’s low house edge and speed of play make it an attractive choice for high rollers looking to push their chances.
In fact, baccarat is so popular that some casinos offer it only in their high-limit areas. In many cases, it’s also a feature in the VIP lounges at major casinos.
While the underlying rules are relatively simple, there are a few tricks to the game that can improve your chances of winning. It is important to set a limit for how much you’re willing to spend before you begin playing. This will help you stay in control of your spending and avoid going broke. If you’re new to the game, it is a good idea to start with small bets and gradually increase them as you gain confidence.
Another way to increase your odds of winning is by knowing how the cards are dealt. During an ordinary round of baccarat, six decks are shuffled together and players sit in a random order around the table. The dealer then deals two cards to each player’s betting area, the Player and Banker hands. Picture cards and tens are worth zero points, while jacks, queens, and kings count as one point each. Aces are worth a full point. A winning hand is the one that gets closer to nine than the opposite hand.
Although there are some lucky individuals who win a lot of money at baccarat, most people lose in the long run. Nevertheless, it is important to understand that baccarat is a negative expectation game, meaning that every person who plays will lose in the long run. If you want to be a successful baccarat player, you must realize this and treat it like any other night out. By setting a budget and sticking to it, you’ll have a better chance of winning at the tables.
