Baccarat is an elegant casino game adored by novice and experienced players alike for its simple rules and low house edge. However, with any casino game, proper betting strategies are key to managing your bankroll and minimizing losses. The good news is baccarat offers some straightforward, low-risk betting systems ideal for beginners learning the game.
In this beginner’s guide, you’ll discover baccarat betting strategies to:
- Help you play more confidently as a baccarat novice
- Effectively manage your bankroll
- Reduce risk of significant losses
- Improve your chances of winning over time
We’ll cover the basics of baccarat gameplay and rules first. Then we’ll get into several beginner betting strategies you can test drive your next time playing baccarat.
Overview of Baccarat Gameplay and Rules
The rules to play baccarat are quite simple compared to other casino table games. It’s just a game of chance between two hands – the player and the banker.
The gameplay proceeds as follows:
- 6-8 decks of cards are used
- 2 hands are dealt – a 2-card “player” hand and a 2-card “banker” hand
- Card values dictate if a 3rd card is drawn for each hand
- The hand value closest to 9 wins
You don’t need to memorize all the baccarat rules as a beginner. Just know the hand closest to a value of 9 wins.
Now, let’s get into some low-risk betting strategies and bankroll management tips you can use right away as a baccarat novice at 666 Casino UK.
1-3-2-4 Baccarat Betting System
The 1-3-2-4 system is a simple and popular betting strategy tailored for baccarat beginners. Here’s how it works:
- Bet 1 unit on your first hand
- Bet 3 units on your second hand
- If you win, go back to step 1.
- If you lose, move to step 2 and bet 2 units
- If you lose again, move to step 3 and bet 4 units.
- Repeat steps 2-5
In this system, you raise your bet incrementally after a loss to recoup losses. And reset after a win. It’s easy to manage and less risky than martingale style betting systems that double bets endlessly. Give the 1-3-2-4 system a try at your next baccarat session. It helps take emotion out of decisions and manage bankroll.
Employ Proper Bankroll Management
Bankroll management is key to minimizing risk in any casino game, especially for beginners. It can dictate what betting system you use and help curb losses from tilting (chasing losses with bigger bets).
Here are some tips:
- Set a gambling budget per session/month and stick to it
- Only play with 1-5% of your total bankroll per session
- Divide bankroll into 100 units. Base unit size so 100 units lasts your session.
- Have strict stop loss limits e.g. -10 units, -20 units
- Take a break if you lose 1-2 stop loss limits to reset mentally
Conservative bankroll management is not the most exciting, but it’s prudent as a new baccarat player. It helps curb huge losses and extends your play.
Once you better understand baccarat variance and your risk tolerance through experience, you can calibrate your betting strategy and bankroll rules accordingly.
Know the House Edge and Odds
While baccarat has better odds for players than many casino games, the house still carries an edge:
- Player bet: 1.24% house edge
- Banker bet: 1.06% house edge
- Tie bet: over 14% house edge
So avoid tie bets – they rarely hit despite big 8:1+ payouts. Most experts stick with player or banker bets long-term. While the house edge is slightly better on banker, some casinos take a 5% commission on wins, making the player bet just as advantageous in the long run. Either way, the house edge is low enough in baccarat where you can slowly turn a profit via luck and discipline.
Play Baccarat Online First
Trying to understand any new casino game in a crowded, fast-paced brick-and-mortar casino pit can be intimidating for beginners.
Instead, look to play real-money baccarat online first. Benefits include:
- Play from anywhere at your own pace
- Numerous free play options to practice before betting real money
- Rules/odds explanations on screen as you play
- Minimum bets as little as $1 instead of $25+ at many land casinos
Just make sure to play at a reputable online casino. Look for proper licensing, SSL encryption, third-party auditing (e.g. eCOGRA) listed directly on the site. Once you better grasp baccarat rules and strategy, transition to playing live dealer baccarat for the Vegas-style experience from home.
Start Small and Play Free Baccarat First
As with any new casino game, get your feet wet risk-free with free play baccarat. Reputable online casinos offer free baccarat games identical to the real money versions.
The benefits of playing free baccarat include:
- Learn proper gameplay under real casino conditions without financial risk
- Get more comfortable with rules, betting options and interface
- Determine if you even enjoy baccarat before spending real cash
And when betting real money as a beginner, stick to small bets like $1 until you better estimate variance and improve. The conservative bankroll management rules discussed earlier apply here too.
Baccarat can seem intimidating as a new player. But various low-risk betting strategies exist to minimize exposure as you learn the game. Stick to our tips here and play free first and you’ll be off to a confident start. Over time via practice and discipline, you can increase bets and ultimately have a reasonable shot at beating the house long-term at baccarat.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
