Baccarat Myths and Superstitions

Baccarat is perceived as one of the casinos most stylish and sophisticated games, often considered to be the preserve of the rich and famous. It is a game that inspires awe but nevertheless is really easy to play as there are only 3 bets that can be placed, either on the player, banker or a tie.

Online Casinos have made Baccarat more accessible to players across the globe that have not previously been presented with the opportunity to play it and as such it has increased in popularity over the years. Along with this popularity have come a number of myths and superstitions about the game. Many of these are interesting and amusing but no matter what the so called "believers" tell you, they have no influence on the game or your chances of winning, here we look at a few of the most popular Baccarat myths to ensure you know your fact from fiction when it comes to the game of Baccarat.

Baccarat Patterns

Many players and sellers of "Baccarat Pattern" type systems will have you believe that following patterns will increase your chances of winning. This is completely false because Baccarat is a game of luck and the chances of having a winning hand in a single round is the same in all rounds, there are no set "patterns" that you can pick up on and exploit. The only way to win more in Baccarat is to play the Banker because this role earns more on wins due to the house edge, but it does require that you have a larger bankroll.

Card Counting Works in Baccarat

Card Counting is a well-known and successful way to win in the game of blackjack, provided you know what you are doing of course. Because Baccarat uses the same deck of cards as the game of blackjack many players believe that card counting will work at the Baccarat tables. Unfortunately though, card counting while useful in Blackjack is meaningless in Baccarat. In blackjack the used cards are returned to the shoe which is why card counting works and players are able to adapt their bets should a favourable count emerge, but this does not happen in Baccarat.

Baccarat Strategy

While many casino games like blackjack and poker have strategies which can help you to maximize your odds of winning, Baccarat is not a game of skill and therefore no basic strategy exists to improve your game. That said, there are a few winning baccarat tips that can help you play a better game but not to the degree that strategies assist blackjack and poker players.

Baccarat Betting Strategies

Some players adjust their betting strategies according to how the player is performing. They bet with the player if they win and against the player if they are losing because they believe that the luck of both players affects the outcome of the game. Players will also look for patterns and winning trends by the banker and then bet on the win in the next hand.

You can't make money playing Baccarat

In Baccarat, as in most casino games, the casino has an advantage but it is one of the lower house edges that you will find in the non-skill related games. This means that you will have a better chance of winning when playing Baccarat than you would roulette or slots without any specialized Baccarat knowledge or skill.

Blowing on or bending cards

Obviously this superstitious practice cannot take place online but often in land based venues you will notice players bending cards when they are dealt to them without looking at the values of them. In doing this the player will look at the number of suits rather than the edge of the card in order to get an idea of what card they are holding. Cards with higher ranks have 3 suits on their longer sides and 2 on the shorter ends while cards with lower ranks have fewer suits on the ends so if a player is peeking they will turn their cards, have a look and then turn them the right way again, which actually leaves a fold in the card.

Every time this is done, the player leaves a crease in the card, making that card unusable for the next game of baccarat. Then, players may blow in the cards in order to remove the unwanted suits and to get the card they need. In general, the only players that do this are those who play at higher stake games because they are allowed to touch their cards.

Similar to blowing on craps dice, blowing on cards for luck is another superstition that is often encountered in Baccarat.

Using Pens is lucky

Many players use pens to record the hands deal in a game of Baccarat, so many land based casinos will provide these as a courtesy. Superstitious Baccarat players often pierce their cards in the center with their pen for good luck or when the card they want is dealt. While this is frowned up on at lower stakes baccarat tables, high stakes games almost expect this of players.

Other superstitions you may encounter are players tapping their glass or ashtray for luck.

As with many casino games, Baccarat has a number of myths and superstitions but once you know that these are nothing but old wives tales you'll be able to concentrate on playing and enjoying the game.