Bet on Player or Banker and watch the cards decide. The simplest game on the floor.
Baccarat is the simplest game in the casino, and one of the best for your money. You don't play a hand; you just bet on which of two hands wins: Player or Banker. There are no decisions to make once you've placed your chip, and the Banker bet carries a tiny 1.06% house edge.
Two hands are dealt, Player and Banker, and the goal is to be closest to a total of 9. Cards 2–9 are worth face value, 10s and face cards count as zero, and Aces count as one. Only the last digit of the total counts, so a 7 and an 8 (15) is worth 5. Whether a third card is drawn follows fixed rules the dealer handles automatically - you never decide.
There are only three bets, and the math clearly ranks them:
| Bet | Pays | House Edge | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banker | 0.95:1 (5% commission) | 1.06% | Best bet |
| Player | 1:1 | 1.24% | Good |
| Tie | 8:1 | 14.36% | Avoid |
Baccarat strategy is refreshingly short because there are no in-hand decisions:
The Banker bet has the lowest house edge at 1.06%, making it the best bet in baccarat. It wins slightly more than half the time, which is why casinos charge a 5% commission on Banker wins.
The Banker hand wins more often than the Player hand due to the drawing rules, so casinos take a 5% commission on Banker wins to preserve their edge. Even with the commission, Banker is still the best bet at a 1.06% house edge.
No. The Tie bet pays 8:1 but carries a 14.36% house edge, by far the worst bet in baccarat. Stick to Banker or Player.
No. Baccarat involves no decisions that affect the outcome. The drawing rules are fixed. Your only choice is which of the three bets to place, which makes it one of the simplest casino games to learn.