Baccarat is one of the easiest casino games to play, and it comes with one of the lowest house edges, making it a favorite for many players. While the basic rules are simple, understanding the odds, payouts, and betting strategies can help you make better decisions at the table.
This guide covers everything you need to know, including:
• How the game works and the rules to follow
• The house edge, payouts, and odds for different bets
• Side bets like Dragon Bonus and Panda 8—what they offer and the risks involved
• How different Baccarat variations affect your chances of winning
• The probabilities of winning or losing streaks
• A quick look at common betting strategies
Baccarat Rules & How to Play
Baccarat is played between two hands: Player and Banker. Your job is to bet on which hand will get closer to nine. You can choose to bet on:
• Player’s hand
• Banker’s hand
• A Tie between the two hands
Once bets are placed, each hand gets two cards. The one closest to nine wins. Unlike Blackjack, you don’t make any decisions after betting—everything follows preset rules. For a complete beginner’s guide, check out our detailed page on How to Play Baccarat.
Card Values and Hand Calculations
• Cards 2 through 9 keep their face value.
• Aces count as 1.
• Tens, Jacks, Queens, and Kings count as 0.
• If a hand totals more than 9, only the last digit counts (e.g., 7 + 5 = 12 → final value is 2).
Third Card Rule in Baccarat
Whether a hand gets a third card depends on specific rules.
Player’s Third Card Rule
• If the Player’s total is 0–5, they get a third card.
• If the Player’s total is 6 or 7, they stay.
• If either hand has 8 or 9, both stay (this is called a “natural” win).
Banker’s Third Card Rule
• If the Player stands, the Banker draws a card if their total is 0–5.
• If the Player takes a third card, the Banker’s draw depends on that card.
These fixed rules keep the game balanced and ensure a consistent house edge.
Baccarat House Edge & Odds
Different bets in Baccarat come with different probabilities and house edges.
• Banker bets win slightly more often than Player bets, making them the safest option over time.
• Tie bets offer high payouts but come with a huge house edge, making them a risky choice.
How the Number of Decks Affects Baccarat Odds
The house edge can shift depending on how many decks are used:
• Single-deck Baccarat: Slightly better odds for the Player.
• Eight-deck Baccarat (most common): Standard odds.
• Punto 2000 (No Commission Baccarat): Banker bet pays 1:2 when winning with a 6.
In Punto 2000, the Player bet was the better option due to the altered banker payout.
Baccarat Payouts & Bet Types
• A winning Banker bet pays 1:1 but takes a 5% commission, so a $10 bet wins $9.50.
• A winning Player bet pays 1:1, meaning a $10 bet wins $10.
• A Tie bet pays either 8:1 or 9:1, depending on the casino, meaning a $10 bet wins $80 or $90.
Baccarat Payout Table
The pay table for dragon bonus bets in Punto Banco and other baccarat games looks like the following:
| COMBINATION | PAYOUT |
| Natural tie | Results in a push |
| Natural win | Pays even money (1 to 1) |
| Win by 9 | Pays 30 to 1 |
| Win by 8 | Pays 10 to 1 |
| Win by 7 | Pays 6 to 1 |
| Win by 6 | Pays 4 to 1 |
| Win by 5 | Pays 2 to 1 |
| Win by 4 | Pays 1 to 1 |
Baccarat Side Bets
Side bets offer bigger payouts, but they also come with higher house edges.
Dragon Bonus Bet & Payout
• Pays 40:1 if the Banker wins with exactly 7 points in three cards.
• Odds of winning: Around 2.25%.
• House edge: 7.611%.
Predicting Dragon Bonus Outcomes
If you want to predict a dragon in baccarat, use the following tips:
- Keep an eye out for players who only place the dragon bonus bet late in the shoe and place table maximum wagers on the Player side.
- Look out for a group of players making the dragon bonus wager for a huge total sum.
- Watch players who bet more on the dragon bonus bet than on the main game.
- Consider expanding the depth of the cut card to 26 or more cards.
- Consider a different pay table on the player side that raises the house edge.
Panda 8 Bet & Payout
• Pays 25:1 if the Player wins with exactly 8 points in three cards.
• House edge: 10.19%.
While these bets can be fun, they come with much higher risks than standard Player and Banker bets.
Baccarat Winning & Losing Streaks
While streaks happen, each hand is still independent. However, some players use Baccarat Patterns to track trends and predict outcomes, even though the game remains random
• The probability of winning one Banker bet is 45.86%, while for Player bets, it’s 44.62%.
• The chance of winning two Banker bets in a row is 21.07%, and for Player bets, it’s 19.91%.
• The probability of winning three in a row is 9.67% for Banker and 8.86% for Player.
• Losing streaks follow the same probabilities.
• The odds of losing seven hands in a row is 50.41%.
• Past results don’t affect future hands—each round is independent.
Baccarat Variants and Odds Impact
Different versions of Baccarat have slightly different rules, which can change the house edge.
• Punto Banco follows standard Baccarat rules with a 1.06% house edge on the Banker bet.
• Chemin de Fer allows players to take turns as the Banker, so the house edge varies.
• Baccarat Banque is played with three decks instead of eight, and the rules can differ.
• EZ Baccarat removes the 5% commission on Banker bets but pays 1:2 on a Banker win with 6, lowering the house edge slightly to 1.02%.
Remember that payout adjustments affect the house edge if you play Punto 2000 or EZ Baccarat.
Baccarat Betting Strategies
While Baccarat is a game of luck, some players follow betting systems to manage their bankrolls. Unlike Blackjack, where players make strategic decisions, Baccarat follows preset rules, making it a simpler choice for beginners.
Martingale System
• Double your bet after a loss.
• Risk: Table limits can prevent full recovery.
Fibonacci System
• Bet amounts follow the Fibonacci sequence (1,1,2,3,5,8…).
• Risk: Requires a large bankroll.
Flat Betting & Risk Control
• Bet the same amount every round to minimize risk.
• Best for casual players who want steady gameplay.
These strategies don’t change the house edge, but they help structure how you bet.
Key Takeaways
• Banker bets have the lowest house edge.
• Avoid Tie bets—high payout, but a terrible house edge.
• Side bets are fun but come with big risks.
• Different variants change the odds slightly, so know what you’re playing. To maximize your bankroll, consider using casino bonuses, which can give you extra funds to play Baccarat with lower risk.
To get the best experience, bet wisely, manage your bankroll, and play at a trusted online casino. If you prefer using cryptocurrency, check out the best Bitcoin casinos for Baccarat that offer fast transactions and extra security.
| OUTCOME | PAYOUT | COMBINATIONS | PROBABILITY | RETURN |
| Winning Dragon Bet | 40-1 | 112,633,011,329,024 | 2.25% | 0.90135 |
| Losing Dragon Bet | -1 | 4,885,765,264,174,330 | 97.75% | -0.9775 |
| Total | 4,998,398,275,503,360 | 100% | -0.07611 |
