Baccarat Side Bets and Jackpots

Baccarat is an incredibly popular casino game to play. It is easy to learn and is one of the three traditional casino games – alongside Blackjack and Roulette. In this article, we study the basic Baccarat side bets that you can place online. Continue reading to learn more about the rules of the game and how these side bets work.

An Introduction to Baccarat

Baccarat is often viewed as one of the most elegant and exciting of casino card games. It has been played for hundreds of years and for a long time was the reserve of the aristocracy and the gambling elite. However, today everyone is welcome to enjoy this thrilling game and casinos offer tables suitable for all sizes of budget.

There are many reasons for Baccarat’s popularity. Chief among them is that it is very easy to learn and it does not require any complicated strategies. However, each hand is full of great tension, and of course the chance of big winnings, making it hugely enjoyable. There are actually three distinct forms of Baccarat, but at all online casinos and the vast majority of land-casinos, the version offered is Punto Banco, and this is what this guide will focus on.

We will cover everything that you need to know starting with an explanation of the basic rules and then moving on to the side bets and potential jackpots you can discover for Baccarat. In some cases, Baccarat games can include progressive jackpot prizes, making them some of the most popular jackpot games online.

The Basic Rules of Baccarat

As mentioned, one of the great things about Baccarat is that it is very easy to learn. You can go from complete beginner to fully understanding the rules in just a few minutes.

Baccarat is usually played with six or eight decks of cards shuffled together into a shoe (the device that holds the cards). The dealer deals cards to two positions, Player and Banker. All you have to do is bet on which of these positions you think will have a value closer to 9 once all the cards have been dealt.

This makes Baccarat betting incredibly simple, as you can only bet on Banker, Player or a Tie. At the start of a round, you place your bets and then the rest of the action is left to the dealer. Each position is dealt two cards, the first to the Player, the second to the Banker, the third to the Player and the fourth to the Banker. The exact way the cards are dealt and revealed does vary from game to game and this will be explored later in this guide.

The only thing you really need to be aware of is how the value of a hand is calculated. The number cards 2 through 10 are worth their face values, Jacks, Queens and Kings are worth 10 and Aces are worth 1. The cards are added together and if the total is larger than 10, then 10 is subtracted from the total. For instance, a hand of 18 is worth 8.

Third Card Rules

After each position has received two cards, there are some scenarios when a third is dealt:

• If the Player or the Banker position has a total of 8 or 9 then they always stand.
• If the Player position has a total of 6 or 7 then it stands.
• If the Player position stands and the Banker position has a total of 5 or less then the Banker position draws a card.
• If the Player has a total of 5 or less then the player draws a third card.

If the Player position receives a third card, then the Banker position will also do so in the following situations:

• If the Banker has a total of 0, 1 or 2.
• If the Banker has a total of 3 then they will draw if the Player’s third card was 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, or 0 (0 being a 10 or a picture card).
• If the Banker has a total of 4 they will draw if the Player’s third card was 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7.
• If the Banker has a total of 5 they will draw if the Player’s third card was 4, 5, 6 or 7.
• If the Banker has a total of 6 they will draw if the Player’s third card was 6 or 7.
• If the Banker has a total of 7 they will always stand.

Once all the cards have been dealt, the position with the total closest to 9 wins. The payout for a winning bet varies slightly depending on the version of the game that you are playing, and this will be discussed in the next section.

Baccarat Side Bets

When used sensibly, side bets can be a great way to have even more fun when playing Baccarat, and give yourself the chance of winning more. There is a surprisingly large number of Baccarat side bets around, and this is especially true when playing at land casinos. In fact, some land casinos even invent their own Baccarat side bets. That said, here is a look at some of the more common side bets:

Either Pair

This bet wins if the first two cards deal to either the Banker or Player position form a pair.

Player/Banker Pair

This is a side bet on a specific position being dealt a pair.

Perfect Pair

This is a bet on one of the two positions being dealt a pair of identical cards.

Big

This is a bet on the total number of cards dealt between the two positions being 5 or 6.

Small

This is a bet on the total number of cards dealt between the two positions being 4.

Egalite Bets

These are bets on there being a tie with a specific value, e.g. both hands being worth 7. Very often, these side bets offer some of the biggest payouts.

Super 6

This is a bet on the Banker hand winning with a total of six.

Royal Match

This is a bet on the Player or Banker being dealt a King and a Queen as their first two cards. This side bet is popular as it has a low house edge of 2.13% and it can payout as much as 75:1.

Dragon 7

This is a bet on the Banker winning with a three-card hand that is worth 7.

Dragon Bonus

This is a bet on the Player on Banker position winning with a natural (a hand worth 8 or 9) by a certain point margin. To win the bet, the position bet on must win by the chosen point total. The payouts vary depending on the margin bet upon, for instance 9 points may pay 30:1 while 5 points may pay 2:1.

Matching Dragon

This is a bet on how many cards of a specific value (e.g. 5) will be dealt across the Banker and Player positions. The more cards bet on, the higher the payouts available. For instance, if you bet on six instances of the card value to be dealt (the most possible), it may pay 100:1 while a bet on just one instance would pay 1:1.

Panda 8

This is a bet on the Player position winning with a three-card hand that is worth 8.

All Black/All Red

This is a bet on whether the Player position will contain all black cards or all red cards. Normally there is a higher payout for the All Black bet.

Bellagio Match

This is a bet on the Banker or Player being dealt three of a kind.

Total Points Odd/Even

This is a bet on the sum of the Banker and Player points being an odd or even number.

Lucky 8

This is a bet on the Player or Banker position winning with a total of 8.

Unlucky 8

This is a bet on the Player or Banker position losing with a total of 8.

Baccarat Jackpots

Baccarat jackpots offer an additional chance to win big in this classic card game, typically by betting on the rare occurrence of a specific event, such as a specific hand or sequence. While the standard game of Baccarat offers relatively good odds for players, these jackpot side bets often come with a higher house edge but promise significant payouts for those lucky enough to hit them.

The Pros and Cons of Baccarat Side bets

The pros of Baccarat side bets are fairly self-explanatory. They add a bit more excitement to each round and give players the chance to win more. Furthermore, most of them have a better house edge than the standard Tie bet (which has a huge house edge of 14.36%)

However, every time that you place a side bet, you are increasing the basic house edge. When played with the correct strategy, Baccarat has a house edge of just 1.06%. As soon as you start placing side bets, the house edge gets bigger. Furthermore, the bets themselves are hard to win.

This doesn’t mean that you should never place side bets. It just means that they must be properly budgeted for and treated with caution.

The Bottom Line

Now that you have a better idea about Baccarat side bets, it may be time to put that knowledge to good use. At our latest jackpot ratings, you will find several games that are linked to the most popular jackpots online. Additionally, many casinos that offer table and card games will have a selection of Baccarat titles to play. Search for games that have Baccarat side bets and start claiming more from these attractive propositions.

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