Can you Count Cards on Baccarat?
You’re probably familiar with card counting, as it has developed a significant following throughout the gambling community, particularly as it relates to blackjack. What you may not be aware of, however, is the possibilities of card counting in baccarat. While the system used to keep the count may seem a bit complicated at first, the betting system that goes with it is relatively easy to use.
To start, it’s important that you know the basics about maximizing your odds at the baccarat tables. In order to do so, you’ll need to stick with one of two possible bets: banker or player. While the banker bet has a more favorable house advantage at about 1.06 percent, the player bet, which features a house advantage of approximately 1.24 percent, is also a formidable choice. Eliminating gut feelings and intuition, this would mean that the banker bet is always the right choice, right? Well, that’s where card counting comes into play.
The 0.18 percent difference between the banker and player bets actually fluctuates, depending on the cards left to be dealt. If, for example, your casino of choice uses a six-deck or eight-deck shoe to deal cards, you’ll be ready to begin your count at the start of a new shoe. So, how does the count work? If the dealer reveals an ace, a two or a three, you’ll add one to the count. If a four is dealt, you’ll add two to the count. Similarly, fives, sevens and eights will subtract one from your count, while sixes will subtract two. The remaining cards, which include nines, tens and face cards, don’t affect the count. If you’ve got that part down, the remaining portions of card counting in baccarat should be a breeze.
Using this system, players will be able to measure which of the two bets is more likely to pay off on an individual hand. If the count gets higher than 16, you’re going to want to switch over to the player bet. If it drops below 16, the banker bet is the way to go.
As with all gambling strategies, card counting in baccarat is far from a sure-thing. In order for the player bet to achieve overall profitability, you’ll need the count to surpass 235, which falls somewhere between highly unlikely and impossible. Likewise, you’ll need a count of less than -200 to maintain profitability on the banker bet. In other words, this system doesn’t guarantee you’ll win every hand. It simply helps you lower the house edge in order to give you the absolute best odds of winning on each and every hand.
If you’re ready to give this strategy a try, there’s no time like the present to begin your next gambling adventure. With some of the lowest house edges on the entire casino floor, baccarat is a great game for testing your luck while building your bankroll. Whether you land on the player or the banker, remember to have fun, and, with a little luck, you’ll be walking away a winner.
