Don't bet on Patterns in Baccarat

Most myths that arise in casino games are based on something that initially seems logical, until proven wrong. Such is the case with pattern betting in baccarat where players alternate between the banker and player bet based on how things are going.

For example, if the banker hand wins five times in a row, some players might continue wagering on the banker to win because this is a hot bet. However, if the player hand wins five times in a row, people would keep betting on the player to win.

In theory, it's a good idea because a certain wager is on a hot streak and you want to take advantage of this. But the reality of the situation is that not only will this betting system not work, but it will also cost you money in the long-term.

Make the Best Bet

One thing that's important to understand here is that every bet is independent of the last. So just because one wager wins four or fives times in a row does not mean it's any more likely to win again (unless something's wrong with the deck).

This being said, you should simply opt for the best bet every time, which is the banker hand. By wagering on the banker hand to win, you're lowering the house edge to 1.06%. Contrast this to the second best wager in baccarat, the player hand, where you're normally dealing with a 1.24% house edge. As you can see, there's a 0.18% difference here which is in favor of the banker hand.

Have Fun with Patterns

Assuming you still want to bet on patterns in baccarat, you can do so and still maintain the best house edge. All you have to do is vary your bet sizes while wagering on the banker hand every time.

For example, if the player hand keeps winning, you could merely place $1 minimum banker hand bets until the streak ends. If the banker hand continues to win, you could raise your bet to $5 or more in hopes of riding this hot streak.

So as you can see, it's still possible to use the pattern betting system in baccarat without sacrificing the optimal house edge.