In Baccarat there are three bets to choose from: player, banker, and tie. The player bet pays even money, the banker bet pays even money less a 5% commission (or 19 to 20), and the tie bet pays 8 to 1 (or 9 for 1). After bets are made two cards are dealt each to the player and banker hands. The terminology is rather confusing because the player can bet on either hand. The casino might as well call them hands A and B.

The total points of each hand is taken, scoring the same way as in blackjack, except the tens digit, if any, is dropped. For example, with a hand of 6 and 7, the value is 3, not 13, because you use only the right-hand digit. Thus the highest hand is 9 points. If either side has an 8 or 9 after 2 cards no further cards are dealt. Otherwise preset rules, which are rather complicated, are used to determine whether the player or banker draws a third card. Don't worry about memorizing these rules because it's not up to you; if a hit is required, the dealer will make it automatically.

The drawing rules slightly favor the banker to win, but the 5% commission you pay on winning bets ensures that there's still a house edge. The house edge in a six-deck game is 1.06% on the banker, 1.24% on the player, and 14.44% on the tie. Thus the banker is still the best bet, period.

Like the land casinos, Bodog Casino and Golden Palace casino use six decks in baccarat, so the odds are exactly the same as what you would get in a land casino.

If you want to minimize your losses then stick to the banker bet every time. If you want to follow some kind of system of bet variation go right ahead, but realize that in the long run you will lose 1.06% of money bet on the banker whether you use a betting system or not.

In the land casinos many players record the result of every hand in the shoe, trying in vain to find a pattern. Don't pay any attention to them. The past does not matter and predicting future trends is impossible.

If you are looking for a fast-paced game that is easy to play and has a low house edge, Baccarat may be just what you're looking for.