For those of you who don’t know, Baccarat (the “t” is silent) is a game for the high rolling, high buy in, sophisticated set – or at least it used to be.

To play Baccarat, the dealer deals two cards to two different “players”, the banker and the player. The game is won when you bet who’s (banker or player) hand will come the closest to 9. In Baccarat, cards have different values than in poker. Each of the cards 1-9 are face value, but face cards (Jack, Queen, King) have no value. If the banker is dealt a 5 and a 6, the total is 11, but any value over 9 has 10 subtracted from it so the banker, in reality, has a 1. The cards are dealt until someone reaches 9.

If either the banker or player is dealt an 8 or 9, that hand automatically wins. Winnings are even bet. When you want to win at Baccarat, there is one tip that will help you walk away with money every time. The GREATEST Baccarat strategy tip EVER is to be smart with your money!

Bet low, make sure to keep track of that 5% commission on the banker’s bet, and take the house bet.

Take the bet with the lowest risk. Sure, betting on a tie has the biggest payout, but it also has the biggest house advantage of more than 15%. When you bet low and take fewer risks, the chances of you walking away with some cash is higher.

When you bet on the banker and win, you have to pay a 5% commission to the house. Since this commission isn’t due until you leave the table, you need to keep track of how much you owe. If you owe $400 in commissions to the casino but you lose and are left with only $100, you will find yourself writing a check to the house. Make sure that you at least have enough to pay the commission.

When you bet with the house, you are betting with a “player” that is cautious and very good at making smart money decisions. The best Baccarat strategy is to think like the house; what would the house do, how much would the house bet, when would the house walk away?

Baccarat is a fun game that doesn’t take much skill, but you’ll need to find a casino that offers Baccarat at the lower buy in tables or you’ll find yourself shut out or spending more than you intended just to sit down.