5 Myths About Baccarat

Are you ready to try baccarat, but maybe you’re a bit intimidated? We’re here to debunk some of the major myths that surround baccarat.

Baccarat is a game that carries a lot of mystique around it, probably because a lot of us associate it with James Bond betting thousands of francs on a single hand. This glamour might keep some inexperienced players from giving it a try and finding a new favorite game.

We’re here to debunk some of the major myths that surround baccarat. It’s important that you keep these in mind so you can actually enjoy the game and not get trapped in any misconceptions.

Myth #1: It’s Only for High Rollers

Sure, this was true when it was played by the French aristocracy in centuries past, but today baccarat can be played by anyone. You can find mini baccarat tables in just about any casino in the United States, and they’ll always offer a few tables with low table minimums.

Another thing that helps make the game more accessible is online baccarat. Players can make as large or as small of bets as they want, sometimes as low as $1.

Of course, some casinos still like to dress up the game. They’ll still have their high-roller tables set off from the rest of the casino, offering leather seats and a luxe experience for the people who can play high table minimums. But don’t let that image make you think that’s the only way you can experience baccarat.

Myth #2: It’s Hard To Learn

This misconception also probably stems from the supposed exclusivity of the game. Why else would the table be roped off, accessible only to the rich? It must be complicated to play, right?

First, you have to understand that baccarat is not a game of skill, but rather a game of chance. There are only three possible outcomes:

• The Banker wins
• The Player wins
• There’s a tie

That’s it. You don’t need years of study or experience to play the game. You simply choose which outcome you think will happen, bet on it, and see if you were right. (Of course, we recommend betting on the Banker to win because it has the lowest house edge.)

The most tricky thing to learn is how the hands are scored, but once you understand that, you’re pretty much set. If you live in New Jersey and want to learn how to play baccarat, try playing at a New Jersey online casino to get the gist of the game. This way you can bet low amounts while seeing how the game works without the pressure of playing in a brick-and-mortar casino.

Myth #3: You Should Follow Patterns

It’s very common to see punto banco players write down the results of each round, sometimes even on a record card provided by the casino. At other casinos, there’s a digital display that shows how the past rounds have gone. Some players will try to see patterns in the results and decide how to bet accordingly.

But finding patterns in baccarat is a fool’s errand, honestly. Baccarat’s outcome is always based on chance — in fact, a lot of people will compare it to a coin toss. And just like with tossing a coin, the previous result won’t ever have an impact on the next toss. They’re always results that are independent from one another.

A coin toss always has a 50/50 chance of coming up heads. Just because the Banker has won 10 times in a row doesn’t mean that the Player is “due” to win on the next round.

Some players joke that baccarat is really just a simple coin toss that’s dressed in a dinner jacket. So simply let luck be on your side instead of trying to manipulate the outcome.

Myth #4: Card Counting Is Profitable

Speaking of manipulating the outcome, some players insist that they are able to effectively count cards in baccarat. Card counting can give you a real advantage in blackjack, but that strategy doesn’t translate very well to baccarat.

Of course, that hasn’t stopped people from creating specific card-counting strategies for baccarat. But plenty of other, experienced players believe it’s just not worth the time or effort to learn such a strategy.

Baccarat card counting strategy is much more complex than card counting in blackjack, with you having to calculate +2 all the way down to -2 depending on the cards dealt in each round.

In blackjack, you can change your wager in the middle of a round if things are looking favorable, like splitting a hand or doubling down. You can’t do that in baccarat, so all you can do is simply determine by your count if it’s better to bet on the Banker or the Player.

Plus, even if you do manage to become a whiz at card counting in baccarat, you won’t be making that much more in winnings. Gambling author Peter Griffin wrote that counters can make only about $0.70 every hour, betting $1,000 per hand.

In the end, it’s a better move to focus on proper money management, which will impact your bottom line more than any gimmicks.

Myth #5: You Can’t Make Money Playing Baccarat

Maybe this myth came about because baccarat pays out even money (if you aren’t wagering on the Tie Bet, that is). Some people love riskier bets that have higher payouts because they make for such dramatic wins.

But because the house edge is so low on the Banker and Player bets, baccarat is generally a more profitable game than other casino games. Now, because of this low house edge, some brick-and-mortar casinos have some higher table minimums, like $25 per hand. The casino has to ensure that it makes money somehow, after all. If you have a smaller bankroll, this might feel like a barrier to eventual profitability.

But if you turn to a trusted online casino for baccarat instead, you don’t have to worry about higher table minimums and can instead play for longer. By being able to stretch out your bankroll, you have more opportunities for wins.

Find Out Why Baccarat Is So Popular

If you’ve never played baccarat before, we hope that this brief list will help you see that it’s accessible to everyone. Don’t let the glitz and glitter surrounding the game intimidate you.

Find yourself a good online casino to start honing your baccarat skills, and you might realize that baccarat can be a fun (and profitable!) game to try.