Baccarat: banker, player and tie
From every possible deal of an eight-deck shoe, the banker hand wins 45.86% of coups, the player hand 44.62%, and 9.52% are ties. After the 5% commission, the banker bet costs 1.06% of each stake, the player bet 1.24% and the tie bet at 8 to 1 14.36%.
| Result of a coup | 8 decks | 6 decks |
|---|---|---|
| Banker wins | 45.860% | 45.865% |
| Player wins | 44.625% | 44.628% |
| Tie | 9.516% | 9.507% |
| Bet | House edge, 8 decks | House edge, 6 decks |
|---|---|---|
| Banker (pays 19 to 20 after 5% commission) | 1.06% | 1.06% |
| Player (pays 1 to 1) | 1.24% | 1.24% |
| Tie paying 8 to 1 | 14.36% | 14.44% |
| Tie paying 9 to 1 | 4.84% | 4.93% |
Why the banker wins more often
The third-card rules let the banker hand draw or stand after seeing whether the player drew and what the player's third card was. That information is worth about a percentage point, which is why the casino takes a commission on winning banker bets.
The tie bet
A tie comes up in 9.52% of coups. Paid at 8 to 1, the tie bet costs 14.36% of each stake, more than ten times the banker bet; even at 9 to 1 it costs 4.84%.
Questions
Which baccarat bet is best?
The banker bet, at 1.06% after commission, then the player bet. The tie bet is one of the most expensive bets in the casino.
Does the number of decks matter?
Very little: the table shows eight and six decks side by side.
Updated: