Placing Bets: Player, Banker or Tie
When you place a bet in Baccarat, you’re wagering the hand will end up in a win for the Player, the Banker, or end in a Tie. Yes, it’s really that simple: Placing a bet for the Player, Banker, or Tie is the only decision you’ll make during the game (well, if you’re James Bond, the “Shaken or Stirred” thing comes into play!)
But really, unlike other games (like Blackjack or Poker) where you can influence the outcome of the game by decisions, Baccarat is a game of pure chance. Whichever hand gets closest to 9 wins! Yes, there’s no handle to pull, but in reality, Baccarat is little more than a well dressed slot machine in terms of gaming skill required (although a fun one).
There are several variations of Baccarat, and many venues make their own, so these descriptions may change slightly from casino to casino or even from different online sites. However most are similar in respect to betting. On the Baccarat table, there’s a semi circle cut into seven sections. “Players” is spelled out on the bottom row, all seven letters to “Bankers” in the middle, and the word “Tie” at the top. Your seat number is listed under and over the letters so you’ll know where to put your chip when placing bets. Tie is all the way at the top. Place a bet for a Tie (or the Player or Banker) by slapping a chip (or chips) in the appropriate place. Congrats! Now you know where to put your chips when placing bets in Baccarat.
Knowing how to place bets is good, but which one should you choose? Betting on the Player’s hand and Bank’s hand are good bets. The house edge is small for both.
Place a bet on the Player’s Hand by placing a chip in the Players area between your numbers. If the cards dealt to the Player’s area beat the Bankers, then anyone who bet for a Player’s win just got even money. The house edge is a low 1.29%. Put your chips in the Banker’s area and if the Banker wins you get even money but you’re (usually) expected to pay a 5% commission (called a “vigorish”) for each win. To prevent slowdowns, the staff will keep track of your commissions owed. Make sure you have enough money to pay for the commission when you leave!
For people who like to make long shots (or play horrible bets), you can place bets to Tie. If the hands end up in equal values, the croupier or dealer will declare the game a Tie. Winners get an amazing 8 to 1 payout without having to pay the commission fee. However the house edge is a whopping 15.75! So stay away from this wager - it’s a bad bet.
There you have it – the three Baccarat bets you can make. May your next foray at the table be a good one!
