As with any form of casino games, including poker, blackjack and roulette, the player is always looking for a strategy to increase their chances of winning. Many experiences Baccarat players feel that any mention of a strategy is purely based on myth and rightly so. We will look over some of the more common proclaimed strategies in an attempt to come to a concrete conclusion on the Baccarat strategy myth.
The Scorecard
Almost every casino will hand out a scorecard to every player at the table. Players can be spotted keeping track of the outcome of each hand in an attempt to spot patterns in order to take advantage of a streak. The casinos encourage this behavior simply because they know it has no bearing on the outcome of the game. Following a supposed pattern in Baccarat is as fruitless as it is with Roulette. Each hand plays independent of the last but this does not stop betters from believing they have found a betting edge by following trends. It is in your best interest to abstain from this habit as it has no outcome on the cards being dealt and will not provide you with any sort of edge.
Card Counting
While often referred to as a stable of successful Blackjack play, card counting is another card strategy that is meaningless in the game of Baccarat. Although it may appear as a worthy strategy for the Baccarat player, the fact that the issue of used cards being fed back into the “shoe” before all have been removed negates any count you may have made up to that point. Card counting for Baccarat is a race with no end, the cycle of cards makes it impossible to ever have a solid system in place.
What works?
The most common system used would be always betting on the banker. Although this is by far the most boring of any system it is the only one that can be mathematically proven to give you an edge.
The Final Word
After examining the many strategies proposed for the game of Baccarat is becomes quite clear that there is no failsafe method to improve your odds. Betting on the banker may make you a winner more often than not but it also strips the game down to a series of planned bets. It is best to enjoy the game for what it is and abandon any attempt and finding a strategy to help your odds at the Baccarat table.