The Baccarat game is very simple, as it gives three possible betting options. Those three bets are considered the main bets in baccarat and are what players usually stick to.
In addition to the main bets, players have the option to also place some baccarat side bets, which offer an extra level of excitement for bettors. Side bets, at the same time, have a massive payout, but the house edge is huge as well, as they are not very likely to happen.
Understanding both main Baccarat bets and side bets is essential for any player who is looking to both enjoy the game, but also be successful in it.
Types of Baccarat Bets
As already mentioned, there are three main types of bets in the game of baccarat; betting on the player’s hand to win, betting on the banker’s hand to win, or for a tie.
Each of the three main bets provides different payouts and house edges. The probability of each bet happening is different, so bettors should be well-informed about it.
Betting on Player
If the player placed a bet on the player, it basically means he placed a bet for his hand to be better than the banker’s hand. So, if the player’s hand value is closer to 9, the player’s hand will be the one who is winning.
The player’s bet is the second-best choice for baccarat, as it’s the opposite of the banker’s bet, which is the most preferred one.
Betting on the Banker
Betting on the Banker is always the best option, as the house edge is just 1.06% regardless of the number of decks played. The Banker’s bet is the most preferred bet in baccarat as the order of playing, in which the banker is always the last to take action, this hand is most likely to win.
It’s always a good idea for a player to include the banker’s bet in his strategy, but the 5% commission has to be taken into account.
Betting on a Tie
Betting on a tie has its advantages and disadvantages. The biggest problem with tie betting is that this option is very unlikely to happen, as both the banker’s and player’s hands have to be equally valued, for example, if both players get an equal score of 6.
But, due to the fact that Tie rarely happens, it has very good payouts that can be used for some players to benefit from.
Baccarat Side Bets Explained
Side Bets are some additional wagers that players can place during the game of Baccarat. There are simply dozens of side bets, but for the purposes of today’s guide, only the most popular and widespread ones will be in focus.
It is important for any player to know that side bets are considered very risky, so most players avoid placing them when playing online baccarat games.
Pair Bet
The pair bet is predicting if the two cards dealt will make a pair. The payout for a pair bet is 11:1, but the house edge comes at about 11%, depending on the online casino. A Pair Bet can be placed in either the banker’s hand, the player’s hand, or both.
All Black/ Red
The all black or red side bet is a wager on whether the hand will contain only black or red cards.
The all-black bet offers a 24:1 payout with a house edge of 6.53%, whereas the all-red bet has a slightly lower payout of 22:1, but the house edge is 14%.
Big/ Small
There are other side bets that can be seen in many online casinos, like Big and Small. The big and small bets are to bet on the total number of cards in play. This bet is strongly dependent on how the player’s hand is played. If, in the end, there are 4 cards on the table, the small bet wins, but if there are 5 or 6 cards, the big bet wins.
Bellagio Match
The Bellagio match is a side bet on whether the hand will get three of a kind. The Bellagio match has a payout of 68:1 for the banker’s hand, and 75:1 for the player’s hand. The house edge varies from 5.27% to 8.57%.
Dragon Bonus
It is about either hand winning with a natural hand with an exact point margin. The higher margin, the bigger payout:
- 9 points - 30:1
- 8 points = 10:1
- 7 points = 6:1
- 6 points = 4:1
- 5 points = 2:1
- 4 points = 1:1
- 3 points or fewer = Loss.
The house edge for the dragon bonus is usually about 2.65% for the player’s hand, but it goes up to 9.37% for the banker’s hand.
Lucky Bonus
Lucky baccarat bonus bets are among the most exciting side options that the game offers. This is a wager for the banker's hand to win while being worth 6 points. The game has a great payout of 18:1, with a house edge of just 2.34%.
Matching Dragon
The Matching dragon is a wager about how many cards of a specific rank the banker and the player will be dealt. The matching dragon side bet has a house edge of $16.99 = %. Here are the payouts for the matching dragon side bets in baccarat:
- 6 cards = 100:1 payout
- 5 cards = 60:1
- 4 cards = 40:1
- 3 cards = 20:1
- 2 cards = 3:1
- 1 card = 1:1
- No cards of a specific rank = Loss
Bets to Avoid
Side Bets alongside Tie Bet are not likely to happen often. So, for every player who is tempted to create a strategy, in which his chances of winning are as high as possible, side bets and tie bets have to be excluded.
Overall, betting on a tie and side bets in Baccarat is something that any player should avoid, in order to keep his chances of being profitable in the long term.
When to place side bets in Baccarat?
The baccarat side bets can work against the player in most cases, as they have a huge house edge, and the high payouts usually don’t cover the losses. But, if the player has a good side bets betting strategy, they can really bring some fascinating profits in the long term. Unfortunately, that requires a huge budget and a lot of patience.
Are Side Bets Worth it?
Even beginners are aware of the fact that most online casinos offer baccarat tables with side bets available, and these bets have to be avoided. The statistical odds of any side bet happening are so low that in the long term, it’s nearly impossible to come into profit.
Conclusion
Baccarat is a game that offers a range of different bets for players to choose from. The straightforward way to approach the game is by sticking to the main banker, player, and Tie bets. On the other hand, if the player is seeking more excitement, there are some baccarat side bets in addition to the main ones.
Side bets have higher payouts but are a lot riskier. So, it’s recommended to stick to the main three. The benefit of knowing both baccarat bets and baccarat side bets will give the player a clear vision of what odds he has to win and increase them.
Casino types