Baccarat Rules and Strategies for Beginners

Despite its glamorous reputation, baccarat is actually one of the simplest games in the casino.

Your only real decision is deciding which side to bet on before the cards are dealt.

How Baccarat Scoring Works

The objective of the game is to bet on the hand that will score closest to nine.

Aces are always valued at one point, and the maximum possible score is exactly nine.

• You can bet on the Banker, Player, or Tie
• Winning Banker bets usually pay a 5% commission
• The hand closest to nine wins the round

Comparing the Main Betting Options

Mathematically, the Banker bet is the safest wager you can make on the casino floor.

Even with the commission factored in, the Banker bet boasts an incredibly low house edge of 1.06%.

Why You Should Avoid the Tie Bet

The Tie bet offers a tempting payout of 8 to 1, but it comes with a massive catch.

Although the high payout is alluring, the probability of a tie occurring is mathematically very low.

Option	Casino Advantage	Recommendation
Player Hand	Low	Good Bet
Tie Option	14.36%	Never Bet

Enjoy the elegance of the game without worrying about making a costly strategic mistake.