Online baccarat is one of the fastest-growing casino games on the Internet. It can be played by anyone, from card game fans to those who prefer online pokies. Baccarat provides the best odds of any online casino game that doesn’t require a bunch of study and memorization. A primary reason why playing online baccarat games is growing in popularity.

The object of the game is to guess which of two hands will win each game: the player hand or the banker’s hand. At the start of each hand, the player may make one of three bets.

They can bet on either the player or the banker hand to win. They may also bet on a tie outcome, which pays out at much better odds.

How to Play Online Baccarat

Baccarat is a casino table game that is easy to learn, which is one reason for its popularity. There are a few nuances, but your baccarat dealer will assist you if you play from a live casino, and the online casino’s software takes care of all the working out.

  • A typical baccarat game uses a six or eight-deck shoe containing shuffled cards.
  • Choose whether to bet on the banker, player or on tie.
  • Each player receive two face-up cards.
  • Depending on what cards are dealt will determine the next action.
  • The highest score wins, with nine being the highest possible score. Should the Banker and Player have the same value, the round is a tie and the tie bet pays out.

Rules of Online Baccarat

The object of baccarat online is to predict which of the two hands – the player or banker – will have a higher score, or if the hand will end in a tie. Before the cards are dealt, the player places a bet on Player, Banker or on the hands being a Tie.

After all, players have made their bets, the dealer will give two cards each to the banker and player hands. The hands are scored by adding up the value of each card in the hand. Tens and face cards are scored as 0, aces value is 1, and other cards value is their rank (for example, a six is worth 6).

The value of a hand cannot exceed 9; only the last digit in a score counts. This means that a hand of 14 is worth 4 points. The best possible hand is 9, while the lowest is 0.

Baccarat Player Rules

If either hand is an 8 or 9, then neither hand receives any more cards, and the hand is immediately over. This rule takes priority over all other rules.

If the player’s hand has a value of 5 or less, then the player will receive a third card. If the player has 6 or more, the player stands.

The player stands, then the dealer will follow: taking a card with 5 or less, and standing with 6 or more.

If the player hits, the banker will choose whether or not to take a third card depending on a combination of the banker’s score and the player’s third card (a holdover from an older version of baccarat, where only the player’s third card would be face up).

Baccarat Banker Rules

If the banker has a hand of 2 or less, the banker will always hit.

If the banker has a hand of 3, the banker will hit unless the player’s third card was an 8.

The banker has a hand of 4, the banker will hit if the player’s third card was between a 2 and a 7.

The banker has a hand of 5, the banker will hit if the player’s third card was between a 4 and a 7.

If the banker has a hand of 6, the banker will hit if the player’s third card was a 6 or 7.

If the banker has a hand of 7, the banker will always stand.

After any third cards have been dealt, the scores of the two hands are compared. The higher hand wins; if the two hands have the same score, the tie bet wins, while both banker and player bets push. Winning player bets are a payout play of even money.

online baccarat

Strategy for Online Baccarat

When playing baccarat online Australia, the basic strategy suggests you wager on the banker bet. The banker bet has a 1.06% house edge, while the player bet is 1.24%. The tie bet’s house edge ranges between 4.85% and 14.40%, so the banker bet is the best wagering proposition in the game. Betting on the banker for a payout play could be called the optimal betting system strategy when playing baccarat online.

Online Baccarat Odds

The baccarat house edge is one of the best for card games in a casino. And doesn’t require players learn a complicated strategy when playing baccarat online.

What is the House Edge in Baccarat?

Bet House Edge
Banker 1.06%
Player 1.24%
Tie 14.4%

Probabilities of Winning

Australian players might want to know the probability of a win for a payout play in baccarat online. While the numbers are relatively close, the banker wins at slightly more than a 1% pace than the player (punto) does. The banker wins more often because the player acts first. Because the player draws a third card before the dealer does, the player is going to draw a low combination slightly more than the banker does.

 

Banker Win– 45.84% Probability

Player Win– 44.62% Probability

Tie – 9.54% Probability

Tips & Tricks for Online Baccarat

You have come to the correct place if you are looking for tips & tricks for online baccarat because this little section has a handful of handy hints to help you win at baccarat online.

  • Don’t bet on tie. The number one tip for online baccarat is, without a doubt, to never bet on Tie. Do not do it, ever! Baccarat has one of the lowest house edges but that is not the case with the Tie bet. Typically, the Tie bet has a 14.4% house advantage, which is awful and should never be an option. Even if the Tie pays out 9-to-1 instead of 8-to-1, it still carries a house edge of almost 5% and should be avoided like the plague
  • Bet on Banker. Instead, always bet on the Banker. The Banker bet house edge is a mere 1.06%. Sure, it only pays out 95% of your wager, but it is as safe a bet you can make at an online casino. For comparison, the Player bet has a 1.24% house edge, which is still favourable, but not as good as the Banker. Some online baccarat players like to capitalise on winning streaks, so will continually bet on the Banker until it loses. They then switch to betting on the Player. Be aware that each hand is independent of the others, so streaks may only last a couple of hands, but can last dozens.
  • Stay away from mini-baccarat. Lastly, be weary of the increasingly popular mini-baccarat offered in many online casinos; it is sometimes called Super 6. Here, the banker bet pays even money instead of 95%, but only 50% if the banker wins with a 6. These rule changes increase the house edge to 1.46% and make it possible to play up to 150-200 hands per hour, meaning you can go on huge winning streaks but it is as equally simple to embark on a bankroll-damaging losing streak.

Real Money Vs. Free Baccarat

Being able to play baccarat for free is one significant advantage of playing baccarat online over heading to a live casino and playing it there. Are there any positives regarding playing free baccarat? You can bet your bottom dollar that there are.

First, playing baccarat for free with play money allows you to get a feel for the game. You get to see how each round of baccarat progresses safe in the knowledge that you will not lose any of your hard-earned cash should you make a mistake.

Also, free baccarat games are perfect for blowing off some steam and enjoying the game. You can fire up a free-to-play baccarat table online, and play to your heart’s content, simply enjoying the excitement baccarat brings to the table. Of course, playing free baccarat means you cannot win any money or earn points towards the online casino’s VIP program, but sometimes it is good to play a game without any financial implications attached to it.

Having the chance to win cash is the biggest advantage real money baccarat has over free games. Baccarat is a naturally exciting game, but the excitement levels reach fever pitch when there is money on the line. As games are completed quickly online, you can often go on winning streaks that see your bankroll levels soar. There is no better feeling than taking on the house at baccarat and winning! Why not give it a go today?

Real Money Baccarat Pros Free Baccarat Pros
Chance to win real money Get a feel for the game without spending money
Play online instead of a land-based casino Enjoy the game for free
Collect complimentary points Minimal risk

Online Baccarat Casino Variations

Similar to casino games like blackjack, roulette, pokies, and poker several variations of baccarat have surfaced over the years. These games surface due to increased interest in baccarat and each variation has additional rules that allow players to tweak their strategy and makes the game more interesting.

online baccarat

Punto Banco

Punto Banco is the most common variations seen at real money online casinos and is most similar to classic baccarat. The banker dealers one card to the player and one to the bank and once the hands are dealt. The values are assessed and whether a third card is given or not.

The banker always has the advantage as they are the last to act and why their house edge is so low. They know what the final score of the players hand and can make their play accordingly.

Chemin de fer

The main difference in Chemin de fer is players do not compete against the house. They compete against each other. The role of banker changes after every round similar to poker. Generally, this version of baccarat is played with six decks.

What sets Chemin de Fer apart from the other variations is the flexibility it offers when it comes to drawing a third card. The decision to draw the third card rests with the player.

European Baccarat

What separates European Baccarat from traditional baccarat is the player has the options of drawing or standing when their hand is a 5. The banker has the option to draw or claim a third card.

The banker’s hand is bankrolled by the casino. So, if the bankers account is at $100, and one of the players bets $70 and another $30, no other player can wager on the round. If the first player covers the entire bet of the banker no one else will be able to join that round.

Baccarat Banque

In Baccarat Banque the goal remains the same getting as close to 9 as possible. However, in this variation, there are three hands dealt. One hand for the dealer and two hands for the players. The players are allowed to wager on one or both of the players’ hands, but not on the banker’s hand.

The drawing rules are more casual than other variations of baccarat. Generally, the online casino will follow the standard baccarat rules but that isn’t always the case.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Baccarat

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