Baccarat Side Bets: Take a Break from Player & Banker Bets
- Greg Wilson
- Last Updated on March 13, 2024
- No Comments
- Playing Baccarat
Key takeaways:
Side bets in baccarat offer players additional wagering opportunities beyond the traditional player, banker, or tie bets, allowing them to bet on specific outcomes or combinations and enhancing the overall excitement of the game.
Baccarat features a diverse range of side bets, each with its own unique rules and potential payouts. From Dragon Bonus to Pair Bets and Big/Small Bets, understanding the mechanics and odds of these side bets is essential for making informed betting decisions.
Odds, Payouts, and House Edge: It’s crucial to grasp the odds, payouts, and house edge associated with baccarat side bets. While some bets offer higher potential returns, they also come with higher risk and a greater advantage to the casino.
Strategies for Winning Baccarat Side Bets: Effective bankroll management is paramount when playing baccarat side bets, helping players protect their funds, sustain gameplay, and reduce impulsive decisions. Analyzing side bet patterns and trends can also provide valuable insights, while combining side bets with the main baccarat game requires careful consideration of risk-reward ratios and strategic priorities.
Table of Contents
Understanding Baccarat Side Bets
What Are Side Bets in Baccarat?
Side bets offer an additional layer of excitement and opportunity for players to enhance their gameplay. These bets are optional wagers placed alongside the main baccarat game, allowing players to bet on specific outcomes or combinations that go beyond the traditional player, banker, or tie bets.
Key Points:
- Side bets are supplementary wagers made alongside the main baccarat game.
- They provide players with the chance to bet on specific outcomes or combinations.
- Side bets can be an enticing way to increase the thrill and potential winnings in baccarat.
Popular Baccarat Side Bets Explained
Baccarat offers a variety of side bets, each with its own unique rules and potential for big wins. Let’s explore some of the most popular side bets in baccarat:
Dragon Bonus
The Dragon Bonus side bet is based on the point difference between the player and the banker hand. It allows players to wager on whether the hand they bet on will win by a significant margin.
Here’s what you need to know about Dragon Bonus payouts:
- Natural win (two-card 8 or 9) pays 1:1
- Natural tie (two-card 8/8 or 9/9) is a push
- Win by 9 pays 30:1
- Win by 8 pays 10:1
- Win by 7 pays 6:1
- Win by 6 pays 4:1
- Win by 5 pays 2:1
- Win by 4 pays 1:1
- All other results are a loss
You need to know that the Dragon Bonus bet raises the house edge to 2.65% for the player bet and to 9.37% for the banker bet.
Pair Bets
Pair Bets are wagers placed on the possibility of the first two cards dealt to either the player or the banker forming a pair. There are two types of pair bets:
- Either pair: you win if either the Player or the Banker has a pair (eg: 8 of hearts and 8 of clubs, the suit doesn’t matter). The payout is 5:1.
- Perfect pair: you win this bet if either the Player or the Banker has a suited pair (eg: a pair of 8 of clubs) and you get a nice payout of 25:1
Big/Small Bets
Big/Small Bets allow players to wager on the total number of cards dealt in a hand, predicting whether it will be a large or small number.
If 5 or 6 cards are dealt the Big bet pays 2:1 and has a house edge of 4.35%.
If 4 cards are dealt, the Small bet pays 3:2 and has a house edge of 5.27%.
Rabbit Play
In Las Vegas, you can a pair of side bets known as Rabbit Play:
- suited 3-of-a-kind pays 500:1
- unsuited 3-of-a-kind pays 50:1
- suited pair (only the first 2 cards) pays 15:1
- unsuited pair (only the first 2 cards) pays 7:1
The “Player” bet has a house edge of 8.07%, while the “Banker” bet has a house edge of 9.31%.
Egalite Bets
These side bets are placed on specific ties, such as both hands totaling 8 points. Egalites can have different payouts based on each tie or be grouped together. The payouts for specific tie Egalites are as follows:
- 9 pays 80:1
- 8 pays 80:1
- 7 pays 45:1
- 6 pays 45:1
- 5 pays 110:1
- 4 pays 120:1
- 3 pays 200:1
- 2 pays 225:1
- 1 pays 215:1
- 0 pays 150:1
Panda 8
A side bet available in EZ Baccarat, where you can win 25:1 if the Player’s 3-card hand equals a winning total of 8. However, be cautious as this bet has a house edge of 10.19%.
All Red/Black
If all the cards drawn are of the same color, either all red or all black, you will win this side bet. It pays 22:1 for all red cards and 24:1 for all black cards. You can usually find this bet at live casinos.
First Two Banker/Player Cards Same Suit
This straightforward wager involves betting on the first two cards dealt to either the Player or Banker being of the same suit. The payout for a suited Player hand is 28.7:1 with a house edge of 4.20%, and for a suited Banker hand, it’s 28.6:1 with a house edge of 3.95%. Some live online games offer this side bet.
Total Points Odd/Even
At live dealer casinos, you have the option to bet on whether the sum of both the Player and Banker hands will result in an odd or even total. The payout for an odd total is 0.92:1, and for an even total, it’s 0.91:1.
Total Points Over/Under 9.5
This side bet involves predicting whether the total points of the final Player and Banker hands will be over or under 9.5. If both hands total more than 9.5 points, the payout is 66:1, and if the total is under 9.5 points, it pays 1.23%. This bet is akin to sports over/under bets and is commonly found at online casinos.
Unlucky 8
A side bet where you predict that either the Player or Banker hand will be a losing one with a total of 8 points. The payout for this bet is 8:1.
Lucky 8
The counterpart to the Unlucky 8, this bet predicts that either the Player or Banker hand will win with a total of 8 points. It pays 4:1, but keep in mind that it carries a house edge of 13.65% for the Player and 16.60% for the Banker.
Suited 3-card 8
You can win 25:1 if either the Banker or the Player holds a 3-card hand with all cards of the same suit and a total of 8 (eg: A, 3, 4 all of clubs).
Double Suited 3-card 8
This wager predicts that both the Banker and Player will have 3-card hands with all cards of the same suit and a total of 8. The payout for this bet is an enticing 200:1.
Double 8
With this side bet, you’re betting that both the Banker and Player hands will have a total of 8 points. If successful, it pays 15:1.
Quik
You are betting on the total number of points of the Player and Banker. If the number is:
- 0 you get 50:1
- 18 you get 25:1
- 1, 2, 3, 15, 16, 17 you get 1:1
- 4 to 14 you lose
Odds and Payouts of Baccarat Side Bets
Understanding the odds and payouts associated with baccarat side bets is crucial for making informed betting decisions. Let’s explore the odds and payout structures:
- Odds: The odds of winning vary depending on the specific side bet. Some bets have higher odds than others, while some carry a higher risk.
- Payouts: Each side bet has its own payout structure, which can differ significantly from the main baccarat game. It’s important to understand the potential returns before placing a side bet.
- House Edge: Side bets generally have a higher house edge compared to the main baccarat bets. This means that, in the long run, the casino has a slight advantage over the players. Understanding the house edge can help players manage their expectations and make informed decisions.
Strategies for Winning Baccarat Side Bets
Importance of Bankroll Management
Effective bankroll management is a fundamental aspect of successful gambling, including when playing baccarat side bets. Here’s why it matters and how you can ensure proper management:
Importance of Bankroll Management:
- Protects your funds: Proper bankroll management helps you avoid excessive losses and protects your gambling budget.
- Sustains your gameplay: By setting a budget, you can prolong your gaming session and increase your chances of hitting a winning streak.
- Reduces impulsive decisions: When you have a predetermined bankroll, you’re less likely to make impulsive bets based on emotions or chasing losses.
Tips for Bankroll Management:
- Set a budget: Determine how much you can comfortably afford to lose and set it as your bankroll for playing baccarat side bets.
- Divide your bankroll: Split your bankroll into smaller betting units to avoid risking too much on a single wager.
- Establish betting limits: Decide on the maximum bet size for each side bet to ensure consistency in your betting strategy.
- Stick to your limits: Discipline is key. Avoid the temptation to exceed your established betting limits, even in the heat of the moment.
Analyzing Side Bet Patterns and Trends
Analyzing side bet patterns and trends can provide valuable insights and help you make more informed betting decisions. Consider the following strategies:
Identifying Patterns and Trends:
- Record and analyze results: Keep track of the side bets you make and the outcomes to identify any recurring patterns or trends.
- Study historical data: Examine historical results and statistics provided by the casino or through online resources to identify patterns.
- Look for biases: Determine if there are any biases or anomalies in the side bet outcomes that you can exploit to your advantage.
Practical Tips for Analyzing Side Bet Patterns:
- Focus on specific side bets: Choose one or two side bets to analyze thoroughly rather than attempting to analyze all of them simultaneously.
- Look for streaks: Identify streaks of wins or losses in specific side bets and consider adjusting your betting strategy accordingly.
- Use statistical analysis: Apply statistical tools or software to analyze the data and identify significant trends or patterns.
Combination Strategies with Main Baccarat Game
Incorporating side bets into your overall baccarat gameplay can add excitement and potentially increase your chances of winning. Here are some strategies for finding the right balance:
Combining Side Bets and Main Baccarat Game:
- Understand the odds: Compare the odds and potential payouts of the side bets to those of the main baccarat bets.
- Assess risk-reward ratio: Consider the risk-reward ratio of each side bet and determine how it aligns with your gambling goals and risk tolerance.
- Set priorities: Decide when to prioritize side bets and when to focus on the main baccarat bet based on your strategy and intuition.
Guidance for Placing Side Bets:
- Start with smaller bets: Begin with smaller wagers on side bets until you gain confidence and familiarity with the specific bet types.
- Adjust based on gameplay: Adapt your side bet strategy based on the flow of the main baccarat game. Consider increasing or decreasing side bet wagers depending on the circumstances.
- Be flexible: Remain open to adjusting your approach as you gather more experience and learn what works best for you.
