Baccarat side bets: Smart betting for beginners

You cannot blame baccarat for being one of the most favoured casino games since it has easy and fast-paced gameplay. Here, you have a simple goal, and that is to choose which hand will land a high value close to or equal to 9. On top of that, baccarat provides rewards that will make you play again and again. 

If you want to enjoy the maximum baccarat experience, refresh your playing skills by reading the baccarat rules as well as its bet types below!

Rules of baccarat

The first thing you need to know about baccarat is the three different types of bets present on the table. You have the normal and side bets that can increase your chances of winning if played correctly.

Normal bets

1. Banker bet

Place your chips on the banker bet if you believe that this will get a hand value close to 9. It has a payout of 1:1 and a house edge of 1.06%.

2. Player bet

The player bet is no different than the banker bet, except for the fact that the player’s hand will have a higher value than the banker’s. It pays 1:1 and has a house edge of 1.24%.

3. Tie bet

There are times when both hands have the same value, and this is where the tie bet comes in. However, it occurs rarely, which explains its high house edge value of 14.36%. The best part about this bet is you get a payout of 8:1 when you win!

Side bets

Baccarat side bets are an addition to the normal house bets in the game. These offer twice the excitement because you are wagering for something out of the ordinary. Given its odd nature, side bets have a larger pay compared to normal bets. To learn more about how they work, here are some examples of baccarat side bets:

1. Perfect pair

A perfect pair is when a banker or player hand receive cards wherein both are in the same rank. It has a payout of 5:1 if the suits are different and 25:1 if both cards are of the same suit.

2. All red/black

This side bet is all about the player’s hand receiving two red or black cards. Two red cards will give you a payout of 22:1, while two blacks will pay you 24:1.

3. Combined value

You can place a side bet on the combined values of both the banker and player hands. In this bet, you need to decide whether the combined value will result in a sum over or under 9.5. If the sum is over 9.5, you get a payout of 1.66:1, while a sum under 9.5 will give you 2.23:1.

4. Double 8

Win the Double 8 side bet when both the player and banker’s hands have a value of eight. This will reward you with a high payout of 15:1!

5. Egalite bets

Egalite bets happen during tied rounds, and its payouts depend on the values of the banker and player hands. Below is a table for your reference:

Tied value	Payout
9	80:1
8	80:1
7	45:1
6	45:1
5	110:1
4	120:1
3	200:1
2	225:1
1	215:1
0	150:1

6. Royal match

A royal match happens when the player or banker’s hand gets King and Queen cards for their opening hands. If these two royal cards are from the same suit, you will receive a payout of 75:1, otherwise, you will get a payout of 30:1.

7. Same suit opening

The same suit opening side bet refers to the starting hand of either banker or player from the same suit. If the banker receives this type of opening hand, you will receive a payout of 2.86:1. On the other hand, the player hand will give you a payout of 2.87:1.

8. Suited three-card 8

A suited three-card 8 side bet happens when your hand has a total sum of 8 all the while the cards are from the same suit. If any of the hands get this combination, you will win 25:1. Meanwhile, if both hands get a suited three-card 8, your payout will be 200:1.

Tips on winning in baccarat

Winning is always the goal whenever you play any game at the casino, and you would do anything just to make it happen. If you want to increase your chances of winning in baccarat, here are some tips you should follow:

1. Always bet on the banker’s hand

The most effective way to win in baccarat is to always bet on the banker’s hand. This is because it is always completed last, which means its value depends on the player’s hand. Aside from that, the player’s hand has a 44.62% chance of winning, while the banker has 45.87%! The only drawback is that the casino asks you for a banker commission, which is 5% of your bet.

2. Avoid the gambler’s fallacy

It is normal for gamblers to think that each event is causal and related to one another. However, this so-called gambler’s fallacy is not true since all casino games are based on luck. 

3. Learn the house edge of each bet

The house edge for every casino game matters because it shows you its advantage over its players. In baccarat, every bet has a house edge, and knowing this will help you decide which to bet on. With this kind of knowledge, it lessens the chances of betting impulsively since you now know your odds of losing.

Test out the baccarat side bets at Bitcasino!

The best way to try and experience the magic of baccarat side bets is to play at Bitcasino! Here, there are a lot of baccarat variations that are waiting to be played. Each one of them offers attractive RTP values that will entice you to play and enjoy for a long time.