Baccarat may have a reputation as a high-stakes game for the elite, but it's actually one of the easiest casino games to learn. It offers some of the best odds in the casino and requires very little strategy, making it a great choice for both beginners and experienced players.

The Objective and Basic Rules
Baccarat is a comparing card game played between two hands: the "Player" and the "Banker". Your goal is to correctly predict which of the two hands will get a point total nearer to 9. There are three possible bets: casino Player, casino Banker, or Tie.

Card Values in Baccarat

Cards 2-9: Are worth their face value. 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings (Face Cards): All have a value of 0. Aces: An Ace is valued at 1.

When the sum of the cards is 10 or more, the first digit is dropped. A 7 and casino an 8 would total 15, so the hand's value is 5. If the Player or Banker is dealt a total of 8 or 9 on the first two cards, casino it's called a "natural" and the round ends.

The Three Bets and Their Odds
After you make your wager, the rest of the game is on autopilot. The dealer handles everything according to strict "tableau" rules. Here’s a breakdown of the three bets and their house edge.

Bet Expected Loss What to Know

The Banker Bet Extremely Low (1.06%) Despite a 5% commission on wins, this is the smartest bet you can make. It has the lowest house edge of the three.

The Player Bet Around 1.24% This wager is almost as good as the Banker bet and is a perfectly acceptable choice.

Bet on a Tie ~14.36% The high payout of 8:1 or 9:1 is designed to attract players, but the odds are terrible. This is considered a sucker bet.

If you want to play with the best possible odds, your strategy should be to bet on the Banker every time. It might seem repetitive, but it is the mathematically soundest way to play the game. With its elegant pace and player-friendly odds, it's easy to see why baccarat remains so popular.