Baccarat Strategy – Learn to Play Baccarat Online

Baccarat is one of the most popular table games at Bitcoin Casinos. Online baccarat games come in many variations but the most popular versions are Punto Banco and Dragon Bonus. If you ever wanted to learn how to play baccarat online then read on and follow our guide.

We also review each Bitcoin casino site, to check which Baccarat games they offer.

Top Baccarat Sites

How to Play Baccarat Online

Similar to Blackjack, Baccarat is a card game played between a player and a dealer, also known as the “banker”. Your objective is to bet on either the “player” or “banker” winning the hand. Of course there is a third betting option, which is a “tie”.

Bets are placed before cards are dealt. Each player and the banker are dealt two cards, face up. Point values for each hand are calculated so that the dealer knows whether to give you another card or not. To have a better understanding of how the game works, we’ll relate to the hand dealt in the image above, where the player is holding 10,3 and the banker has 3,8.

Calculating Points

Each card holds a certain points value. Baccarat games do not involve joker cards. These are the point values for each card:

• 10, J, Q, K = 0
• 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 = face value
• Ace = 1

Whenever your cards form a double digit score, only the single digit score is counted. So, if we look at our example above, then the player’s current score is 3 and the banker has 1.

• Player’s hand: 10 + 3 = 13 = 3 Points
• Banker’s hand: 3 + 8 = 1 Point

Nine, is the highest points total you can get. If you have a points total of eight or nine then you have a “Natural”.

Drawing Cards

Based on your points total from the first two cards, the dealer knows whether to give you another card:

• 0-5 Points – Player receives another card
• 6-7 Points – Player stands
• 8-9 Points – “Natural”

Banker’s hands follow slightly different rules to the players’ hands. A banker will only take another card in he following conditions:

• 1-2 Points – Always takes another card
• 3 Points – Takes another card on player’s 0-7 and 9
• 4 Points -Takes another card on player’s 2-7
• 5 Points -Takes another card on player’s 4-7
• 6 Points -Takes another card on player’s 6-7
• 7 Points -Banker always stands
• 8 or 9 Points (“Natural”) – Always stands

If we go back to our hand above then the player, showing a value of 3, will be dealt another card. The banker currently holds a value of 1. First we deal with the player’s hand. Afterwards we handle the banker’s hand.

Baccarat Results

As soon as both hands have been dealt with, the final scores are added up. Whoever has the highest points total wins the hand. Once the winner is determined the bets are paid out according to the following odds:

• Tie – both hands are equal – 8:1 or 9:1
• Player wins = 1:1
• Banker wins = 19:20*

* Online casinos take commission for placing “Banker” bets, therefore the payout is not even money.

If your bet wins then you get paid out and if your bet loses then you lose your bet and a new hand begins. Baccarat is a very simple game to play. You don’t need to remember all the calculations because, either the casino software or live human dealer will do it for you.

Baccarat Variations

If you love playing baccarat, then you’ll love some of the different versions to the game, because they come with some additional betting options. In fact, some bets can yield some great payouts.

Dragon Bonus

Dragon Bonus or Dragon Tiger/Panda is a regular baccarat game, popular in Macau, with bonus side bets. Players can bet on either the Dragon (player) or the Tiger/Panda (banker) like in the classic game. Additionally, players can bet on the winning margin of points. If the hand is won by 9 points then the payout is 30:1.

• Hand is won by a maragin of 9 points – 30:1
• Banker wins with a 3-card 7 – 40:1
• Player wins with a 3-card 8 – 25:1

Pairs

Players can also make bets on getting a pair in their first two cards. If your two cards form a pair then the bet pays out at 5:1. If you receive two identical cards then you form a perfect pair.  Perfect pairs have a payout of 25:1.

Additional Baccarat Bets

Online Casinos offer a wide variety of betting options. Whether you’re playing random number generator games or with live dealers, you always have a few options to choose from. Baccarat is known as a rich gambler’s game. Therefore, casinos have added many betting options to the classic game.

You can bet on many outcomes:

• Will all your cards be red or black?
• Are yours or the banker’s cards suited?
• Will the final combined points total of player and banker be odd or even?
• Will the final combined points total be over or under 9.5?

As soon as there are more betting options involved, the game becomes way more interesting. Your classic bets on player or banker become just a formality. Real big money, lies with side bets. Some side bets payout at 100:1, whereas on the lower side they payout at 3:2.

Baccarat Playing Tips

Now that we’ve learned the basics of playing online baccarat, it’s time to give it a try. Before you start playing with real money here are some tips:

• On our home page you can find a list of all our top casino sites. Pick a casino and go play their free baccarat games.
• You should always bet on the banker. A lot of side bets are related to the banker’s cards. Therefore, make your bets work together to multiply your winnings. 
• Do not play with bonuses because you risk having your winnings confiscated by the casinos.
• Play responsibly and within your limits.

If you enjoy playing Baccarat with live dealers, then check out our Live Casino section. Learn about other casino games with our different game guides.