How to Play Online Casino Baccarat: Rules, Betting Systems, and Tips

Baccarat is a card game that, when people hear about it, tends to bring to mind a high-class atmosphere and large sums of bets. At the same time, the game is very easy to pick up. All players need is a little bit of practice and hands-on experience. Whether the player is a newbie looking to dip their toes into this classic card game or an advanced player searching for strategies to up their game, this guide will guide players from the basics, to more complex strategies.

The Objective

The objective of baccarat is simple: when betting on baccarat, players must choose between two hands, predicting which hand they think will win (or bet on a draw) by having the value closest to nine. In baccarat rules, players have to remember the names of these hands: ‘Banker’ and ‘Player’.

The Dealing Process

Each hand receives two cards each.
A ‘natural’ occurs when either the banker or player has a total value of eight or nine, which makes the one with the higher number automatically win. This is called a ‘natural’.
Otherwise, depending on certain rules, a third card can possibly be drawn.

Scoring

As mentioned, the cards are valued as follows:
- 2-9: Face value
- 10s and face cards: Zero
- Aces: One

Only the second number of hand values that go above 10 will be taken into account. For example, a hand of 5 and 6 adds up to 11, which is taken as a value of 1.

The Third Card Rule

Here are the rules that dictate when players can draw a third card:

Player: If the value a player is holding ranges anywhere from zero to five,the rules allow them to take a third card. If their hand value adds up to 6 or 7, they have to choose the Stand option. ‘Stand’ in gambling terms means making the choice not to take another card.
Banker: There are certain stricter rules that the banker has to follow, and these are more complicated than the ones players are subject to. But usually, they can draw when their hands are between 0 to 2, while 7 requires them to stand.

Beginner Strategies

1. Pick Banker

If a player is a beginner, it’s advisable that they play safe. Playing safe means choosing the lower risk option, which is betting only on Banker. The house edge (or advantage) in Banker bets only reaches 1.06% or so. On the other hand, for Player bets, they have a house edge that can be around 1.24%.

Bear in mind that casinos make players pay a 5% commission on Banker bets (to offset the higher house edge). But even then, they are STILL the better option.

2. Avoid the Tie Bet

Tie bets pay really well. A lot of risk-takers choose them because of this. They can pay up to 8:1 or sometimes even 9:1, but there’s a catch behind that. The odds of players getting a tie aren’t high, and there is also a much higher house edge at 14%!

3. Set a Budget and Stick to It

When gambling, it’s important to play responsibly, and baccarat is no exception. Players should plan out their budget well, and set limits to ensure they don’t overspend. Baccarat can be fast-paced, so it’s easy to get carried away, but maintaining control is key to having a good experience.

Advanced Baccarat Strategy

After a player gets used to baccarat basic strategies, they can move on to trying out other, more complex strategies, like specific betting systems. Here are two systems players can try out.

1. The Martingale System

Ask any seasoned gambler, and they’ll know what the Martingale system is. Roulette games are the origin of this system, but expert players have tweaked things a little to adapt it for baccarat as well. What a player should be doing under this system, is chasing losses, and increasing their wager after each loss. Essentially, once a player eventually wins (assuming they don’t run out of funds first), they’ll bet enough to recoup the losses, and even earn some extra profit.

While this works theoretically, it requires a large bankroll and can be risky if you hit a long losing streak.

Here’s how the Martingale system works:

Bet $10 and lose.
Bet $20 and lose.
Bet $40 and lose.
Bet $80 and win, which erases your losses and gives you back some money.

However, players should beware that casinos have table limits, so a long losing streak could prevent them from recovering their losses.

2. The Paroli System

In the less risky Paroli system, players execute the opposite strategy from the Martingale. When a player wins, double the bet. When they lose, reset it.

Here’s an example:

Bet $10 and win.
Bet $20 and win.
Bet $40 and win.
After three consecutive wins, you lose and go back to your original $10 bet.

The Paroli system aims to capitalize on winning streaks while minimizing risk during losing streaks.

There are also numerous other betting systems you can use, like the D’alembert and Fibonacci, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, what’s most important is to know your limits and not bet what you cannot afford to lose.

Managing Your Bankroll

One of the most critical aspects of playing baccarat well is managing bankrolls. Without solid bankroll management, even the best strategy can lead to significant losses.

Tips for Bankroll Management:

Place restrictions on wagers: Before players begin placing bets, it’s important that they determine how much they can afford to lose, and set limits and restrictions accordingly.
Place restrictions on the number of wins: Winning is fun, of course, but it’s still important for players to control themselves. Players should set a win goal and walk away once they hit it.
Bankroll splitting: Instead of making large wagers, it might help players to manage their funds better if their budget is segmented into smaller portions per session, possibly 1-2% of their bankroll at maximum. This way, they don’t spend too much, too fast.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced players can fall into common traps when playing baccarat. These are some mistakes that should be avoided by players wherever possible:

Chasing losses: It’s tempting to keep increasing bets after a losing streak, but this often leads to disaster.
Betting on a tie: Again, remember what was mentioned earlier in the article. It may be tempting to try this, but very risky.
Ignoring table limits: If players are using a betting system like Martingale, they should keep an eye on the table betting limits, to avoid exceeding them and being unable to recover losses.

There’s no doubt that baccarat is really fun and straightforward. But that doesn’t mean players can’t still utilize strategies to deepen their understanding and skill level in this game. These tips can help them enjoy their time spent playing baccarat better, while also helping them to cut losses. At physical casinos, online casinos, or even via live dealer games, baccarat is an exciting game, if players are careful to follow the right tips and strategies.