In modern online casinos in Australia, card games in the form of slots or sessions against the dealer are very popular. Amidst the large number of card disciplines available, Baccarat stands out separately. This game is popular all over the world. It has very simple rules, easy gameplay, and most importantly, minimal advantage of the casino to the player. This opens up avenues for the application of various strategies.
Baccarat Rules
Before looking at strategies, it is worth remembering the basic rules of this fascinating game. Baccarat uses 6 to 8 standard decks of 52 cards. There is a croupier (banker) and a player, who compete with each other in the set of more winning combination of cards. Bets can be placed on the player, the banker, the draw, the player’s and the banker’s pair combination. The goal is to get a combination that totals a number closer to 9.
After the bet is placed and the round starts, two cards are dealt to the player and two to the banker. Points in the set are counted according to the following scheme:
- Cards 2 to 9 are counted at face value;
- Tens and Faces (J, Q, K) count for zero, e.g. 6 + Q = 6;
- Aces count as one, e.g. 5 + A = 6.
If the sum of points exceeds 9 when two cards are dealt, 10 is removed from the total. For example, you have collected a combination of 7-5, which totals 12. Removing 10 gives you 2.
If the sum of the player’s cards is less than 5, a third card is added. So if the set is 3-J, the total sum is 3. Then one more card is taken. If it is more than 5, the set stops. If the total is 5, the player can choose whether to take a card or not. There can be no more than three cards in the set.
The banker receives a third card if the total count is less than 3. If the score is greater than or equal to 6, the set stops. The winner is the one with a total closer to 9. A draw is possible.
How Baccarat Winnings are Paid Out
The payout rules are simple. 1 to 1 on a win, 8 to 1 or 9 to 1 on a draw. There are also a few aspects. Here’s a handy cheat sheet with full terms and conditions:
| Rate type | Disbursement | Advantage of the casino |
| On the player | 1 к 1 | ~1,24% |
| A banker’s victory | 1 к 1 | ~1,06% |
| Tie. | 8 to 1 or 9 to 1 | ~14.36% or ~4.85% (depends on the payout in a given casino or baccarat variation) |
| The player has a pair | 11 к 1 | It varies, depending on the rules |
| A couple at the banker’s | 11 к 1 | It varies, depending on the rules |
Having learnt all the rules by heart and always referring to the table, apply the right strategies to win. Let’s take a closer look at them.
The Best Strategies for Playing Baccarat
Let’s go through the list of the most popular simple strategies among Australian baccarat players. They show good results when used wisely (it should be understood that we are not talking about a win-win game or a guarantee of profit, because everything is based on luck). Here are the strategies proven by experienced players:
- Martingale system – double your bet each time you lose, for example, after a $5 bet and a loss, you should bet $10, and on another loss – $20, etc., until you get a win, then start again;
- Reverse Martingale – double your bet each time you win and when you lose, go back to the original bet, e.g. after winning a bet of $5, bet $10, when you win another bet – $20, and when you lose, start again at $5;
- Fibonacci system – you need to bet based on the mathematical sequence 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, multiplying the bet in this sequence when losing and going back two steps when winning (for clarity, it is convenient to put $1 and follow the numbers further, but you can and more, if your gaming budget allows);
- The 1-3-2-6 system is a sequence of bets with odds 1-3-2-6, where the amount grows with winnings, for example $10-win-$30-win-$20-win-$60, and when you lose, the series starts over (in case of the fourth win in a row, the system is also restarted).
These are the most basic strategies that are very easy to memorise and apply. In the game of baccarat, the player has little control over anything. Therefore, the strategies come down to managing the bets. But you should always remember that a long series of losses is possible, so you can not count on a mandatory win when doubling on the Martingale system or similar systems.
Now let’s increase the complexity. The following strategy requires a detailed description.
Labouchere System
The Labouchere or Split-Martingale system looks like this.
- A numerical sequence is constructed, such as 1,2,3, (for convenience, the example will calculate 1 = $1);
- The first bet is calculated by adding the first and last numbers of the sequence, in this case, it is 4 (let it be $4);
- On a win, the $4 bet is repeated, and on a loss, the amount of the bet is placed at the end of the sequence so that it takes the form 1,2,3,4;
- The next bet after losing will be calculated according to the scheme of point 2 (first and last number of the sequence, 1 + 4), i.e. the bet will be $5;
- Now when you win, the first and last number is crossed out of the sequence, and when you lose, the step from the previous paragraph is repeated.
Thus, this strategy has progression at its core, just like Martingale, but by constantly increasing and subtracting odds, a finer balance is built up.
This is a rather complicated strategy and it is not recommended for beginners. Use it when you become a confident baccarat player.
Tips for Beginners from Experienced Baccarat Players
To play baccarat successfully, it is not only important to choose a strategy and stick to it, but also to follow a few important rules used by experienced Australian players. Here are tips to help improve your game:
- Study the rules of the game in every detail – what is the payout on a draw, what is the margin of a particular casino on banker’s pairs, player’s pairs, etc. (at the first stages, keep a payout cheat sheet handy);
- Bet on the banker more often – betting on a banker win has a casino advantage of around 1.06%, but there is also a commission of around 5% on the winnings, which at first glance makes it the least attractive (especially compared to the payout odds on a draw), but in dry mathematical comparisons it is the most favourable;
- Play in short sessions – most strategies are built on progression, doubling, chasing losses, but be sure to remember that there are long losing streaks, so set a limit on the amount of bets and the number of rounds in one session;
- Practice with free play – legal online casinos in Australia today have a demo mode as part of their functionality, so players can have sessions in baccarat and other disciplines without cash bets;
- Play with fewer decks – playing with fewer decks reduces the casino’s advantage on the Banker bet;
- Set a gaming budget – determine for yourself a fixed amount that you are ready to lose for one gaming session and strictly adhere to it;
- Try to go out on a win – the casino has an inherent advantage in the rules of the game anyway, so time is working against you;
- Familiarise yourself with the commissions on payouts – most often, the casino deducts 5% from the Bankroll payout, but different platforms may have differences in this and other aspects, so you should carefully study the said rules;
- Take advantage of online casino bonuses Australia – Baccarat is great for wagering welcome bonuses and other promotions with a wager;
- Play for fun – remember that baccarat is a game where almost everything depends on luck, so it should not be treated as a source of income, but as a way of entertainment.
Following these simple rules, you will avoid many of the typical mistakes of beginners and save your money. So baccarat will bring only positive gambling emotions and will become another exciting gambling trend. Play and win.
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Conclusion
The popularity of the card game Baccarat among Australian players is due to its simple rules, film casino aesthetics, and dynamic gameplay. It has a relatively small advantage bias in favour of the casino when compared to slots and many other games. It is also convenient to test various progressive, reverse-progressive and more complex strategies on it. Register at online casinos Australia, claim your big welcome bonuses and play. Good luck!
