Online Baccarat

Introduction to Playing Baccarat

Baccarat is an exciting card game you can easily find in many online casinos. In this game, you are not playing against the dealer. The goal is to guess which one between the player and the banker has a hand as close to 9 as possible.

There are many philosophies around the origins of this game, but one thing that cannot be contested is that Baccarat has spread across various regions of the world. Its biggest market is in Asia, in places like Thailand.

There are many versions of Baccarat featured in online casinos. These are all strategic and reward players for thinking. This game is a refreshing change from the monotonous nature of other casino games like slots.

To help you get a handle on Baccarat, we have prepared this online guide to give you all you need to know to at least get a solid start.

How to Play Baccarat

Baccarat is straightforward, though it may seem intimidating at first.

To get the best start in Baccarat, there are two elements of this game with which you need to familiarize. These are the game rules and card values. We will look at each of these in the sections that follow.

Baccarat Rules

There are only three outcomes for any round, or coup as it's known, in Baccarat. The game will end in favor of the player, or the banker, or in a tie. You can bet on any side. The aim in Baccarat is to get as close to 9 as possible.

Below we have included draw rules tables for both the player and the banker. Draw rules dictate which action a player should take based on the value of your hand.

Baccarat Drawing Rules

The Player Hand

Sum of first 2 Cards	Action
0,1,2,3,4,5	Another Card Dealt
6,7	Stand
8,9	Stand

The Banker Hand

Sum of first 2 Cards	3rd Card Dealt When Players 3rd Card is	No Card Dealt When Player’s 3rd Card is
3	0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9	8
4	2,3,4,5,6,7	0,1,8,9
5	4,5,6,7	0,1,2,3,8,9
6	6,7	0,1,2,3,4,5,8,9
7		Never
8,9		Never

Understanding Card Values in Baccarat

Knowledge of card values in Baccarat is indispensable, that's why we look at it here. Aces through to 9s are valued at the corresponding pip count. This means they can be taken at face value. So, an ace is 1, 4 is four, and 8 is eight. 10s and all face cards are valued as zero. The suit does not count in Baccarat, values are still the same.

To get your total, you add the values of the two cards in each hand. If the final count is over 10, the rules dictate you should remove 1 and what's left is your card count. For example, when you get a 9 and 8 in your first hand, even though this is 17, it counts as 7.

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Why Players Like Baccarat

If you ask Thai players, you will hear many reasons most of them flock to Baccarat. This game is popular for two primary reasons, the first is the favorable house edge and the second is the potential for lucrative rewards.

Baccarat features favorable house edges of 1.06% for the banker’s hand and 1.24% for the player's hand. You'll be hard-pressed to find any casino game which features the same advantage.

This game also has the potential of paying out big. Guessing the outcome of the game correctly in favor of the player or banker will earn you double your wager in Baccarat. The most rewarding bet, however, is the tie. This will get you a massive 8 to 1 cash out when predicted correctly.

Baccarat Bonuses

Online Baccarat bonuses are a great way to get started in this game. The fast-paced nature of the gameplay and somewhat unique rules make it an intimidating prospect for most novices. So, to get you playing as quickly as possible, online gambling platforms always offer Baccarat bonuses.

The best online casinos offer new players no deposit bonuses to use on games like Baccarat. This is an amazing opportunity as it affords you the chance to play for real money without paying any deposit. The no deposit bonus is a common offer in many casinos, and it usually comes with some restrictions.

Thai Baccarat players can also benefit from the free play bonus. This offer resembles the no deposit bonus in many ways. But it is usually offered for Baccarat specifically, and the money that you get from the casino to play with is more substantial.

Another popular option that players can use to enjoy Baccarat is the deposit match bonus. To get this one, you first need to make a deposit. The casino will then match your deposit with a percentage bonus up to a predetermined amount.

Casino bonuses usually come with restrictions. It is imperative that you read the fine print and familiarize yourself with the bonus-specific terms and conditions. This is where you find information on the required wagering and also the expiry dates for your bonus.

Traditional Variations of Baccarat

Baccarat is not a new game, in fact, it is one of the oldest card games in existence. Naturally, it has evolved over time. But there are variations of Baccarat which have stood the test of time and are still being enjoyed today. These three are the most played versions of this game.

Mini Baccarat

In this version of Baccarat, you are playing and guessing on who has the better hand, the player or the banker. Mini Baccarat is played using eight decks, with four cards being drawn from the shoe at the beginning of each round.

As expected, mini Baccarat resembles the dominant form of the game. However, when playing mini Baccarat, the dealer is in charge of dealing the cards. There is no time when players may touch the deck.

The banker has a definite edge in mini Baccarat. Therefore, the casino collects a commission of 5% every time the banker has a winning hand. This commission is not required if you bet on the player.

Punto Banco

Punto Banco is literally translated as 'player bank.' If you have ever tried your hand in online Baccarat, chances are you have played Punto Banco. It is one of the most common versions of this game, and you'll find it listed simply as Baccarat.

This Baccarat variant is played using six to eight shuffled decks. The casino is always the dealer and gives both the player and the banker two cards per hand. The total of these cards is calculated, and a determination is made on whether a third card is necessary. This is done according to the game's drawing rules.

Chemin De Fer

In French, the title of this game is translated to railway. This variant is played using six decks. The first action of the game is for a player to be designated as the banker. The banker wages the desired amount and invites players at the table to match his wager. This can be done by one player or a combination of all the wagers by players at the table, including side bets to match the balance.

The banker plays the game against the player with the highest wager until a winner is established. At this point, the role of banker rotates counterclockwise and the game progresses.

Live Online Baccarat Variations

Baccarat has come a long way from its roots in the 19th century. The game has evolved and is now attracting much attention from many online punters. Some of the most popular variants of online Baccarat are listed below.

Cow Cow Baccarat

As in traditional forms of Baccarat, you have three options to bet on in Cow Cow. These are the banker, player, and the tie bet. This variant of Baccarat has the potential to give either massive rewards or disastrous losses. Cow cow Baccarat rules dictate that before you bet, you need to have a balance that is 9 times your wager or more. Payouts and losses are not fixed in this game, these depend on the winning and result.

No Commission Baccarat

No commission Baccarat resembles traditional versions of Baccarat. The main difference is that, as the name implies, there is no commission when the banker wins. The payouts are also significantly different, with players walking away with as much as 20 to 1 sometimes.

Control Squeeze Baccarat

On the first inspection, control squeeze Baccarat looks like the main variant of the game, but there are definite differences. This version of Baccarat gives you the option to squeeze. This means players are allowed to reveal the cards and see what the hand looks like. It's worth noting, however, that you can only do this at specific times in the round. This added element of the game heightens the suspense, which is always good in online gambling.

Speed Baccarat

A round in traditional Baccarat typically takes about 48 seconds. Now, this is still pretty fast, even by online casino gaming standards. However, a quicker variant of the game is available. It only takes about 28 seconds to finish a round in speed Baccarat. As you can imagine, this increased pace of gameplay serves to heighten the overall experience, giving players more to look forward to.

Pattern Spotting in Baccarat

Players in Baccarat are always looking for an edge, that one thing that will enable them to get one over the casino. A common tool used by a good number of casino players is pattern spotting. He is how it works.

The job of the determined pattern spotter is to identify patterns, trends, or streaks in the results. When these patterns have been found, they will form the basis on which wagers are made.

Whether this is the holy grail of Baccarat success is a matter of discussion. But like all other methods applied in casino games, it is always wise to take them with a pinch of salt. At the very least, you need to test this out in the demo games before you commit your hard-earned cash.

Most Popular Baccarat Strategies

If you have made it this far in this review, you are well on your way to playing Baccarat properly. But knowing the variants and card values is not enough. Even though success is not guaranteed, it is still gambling, after all, having a solid strategy is a good way to manage your funds and even potentially increase your bankroll.

Betting with the Banker

This might very well be the easiest strategy you will find in an online casino game. The logic behind it stems from looking at the games house edge, which is a favorable 1.06%. These are attractive odds no matter how you look at it and betting on the banker also pays out 1 to 1. Why else with the casino charge a 5% commission on banker wins?

The Martingale

The martingale system proposes adjusting your bet as the game progresses. It is not unique to Baccarat, but the same system is also used in other table games like roulette and blackjack. The basic premise in the martingale is that at one point you will land a win. So, every time you lose, this method suggests that you double your bet on the same option.

The Fibonacci

The Fibonacci sequence is a natural number series that determines the following number by adding the last two entries. So, in this method, the size of your bet is determined by the multiple you apply according to the Fibonacci series.

This sequence has been applied in many sectors from design to Forex trading. It assumes that eventually, a win will always come.

The Best Baccarat Casino Sites

It is good to know all you can about a casino game before you play. It gives you a sense of confidence and also improves your odds of winning. But all this goes to not if you end up in the wrong casino. There are many casino sites online which are good at talking the talk and ending there. That's why our casino experts have reviewed dozens of sites. Check out our comprehensive reviews and you will definitely find the best place for you to play online Baccarat in Thailand.