Baccarat is one of the simplest casino games to play: you bet on the Player, the Banker or a Tie, and the cards play themselves. That simplicity is exactly why having a plan makes the game more fun. Here’s the strategy I use, step by step, along with the one rule you should never skip.
The pattern
Bet in this order:
- Player
- Banker
- Banker
- Player
- Player
- Banker
As long as you’re winning, keep your base bet the same and work through the pattern. If you’re still winning when you reach the end, start over: Player, Banker, Banker, Player, Player, Banker.
When you lose: pause the pattern and double on Player
When you lose a round:
- Pause the pattern.
- Bet Player and double your bet. This is a Martingale progression: each loss doubles the next bet.
- Keep betting Player, doubling after every loss, until you win.
When you win: reset
The first win after a losing streak covers the losses from that streak, plus a profit equal to about one base bet. When it happens:
- Go back to your original base bet.
- Continue the pattern on Banker, the second step. You just won on Player, so Banker comes next.
What about ties?
If the hand is a Tie, Banker and Player bets are returned (a “push”). Treat it as if the round didn’t happen: keep the same bet on the same side and play again.
An example with a 10-coin base bet
To keep the math simple, this example ignores the Banker commission (more on that below).
- Hand 1: Player, 10 coins. Win. Running total: +10
- Hand 2: Banker, 10 coins. Win. Running total: +20
- Hand 3: Banker, 10 coins. Loss. Running total: +10. Pause the pattern.
- Hand 4: Player, double to 20. Loss. Running total: −10
- Hand 5: Player, double to 40. Loss. Running total: −50
- Hand 6: Player, double to 80. Win. Running total: +30
- Hand 7: Back to the base bet of 10, continue the pattern on Banker.
Notice how one win at 80 erased three losses in a row and put the session ahead.
Why the recovery bets go on Player
Banker wins usually pay even money minus a 5% commission, so a 40-coin Banker win pays 38, not 40. That’s one reason this strategy does its recovery doubling on Player: Player wins pay a full even money, so the win that ends a losing streak recovers everything you lost.
Why you need a stop loss
The Martingale feels unbeatable while the wins keep coming, but the bet grows fast. Starting at 10 coins:
- After 3 losses in a row, your next bet is 80, and you’ve lost 70.
- After 6 losses, your next bet is 640, and you’ve lost 630.
- After 8 losses, your next bet is 2,560, and you’ve lost 2,550.
Long losing streaks are rarer, but they do happen, and a single one can wipe out many sessions of small wins. Many tables also have a maximum bet that stops you from doubling forever.
That’s why the most important part of this strategy is a stop loss:
- Decide before you start how many losses in a row you’ll chase. Five or six is a common limit.
- Set a session budget, and quit for the session if you hit it.
- Set a win goal too. Walking away when you’re up is part of the plan.
- Never raise your limit mid-session to chase a streak.
A word on the odds
No betting pattern changes the math of baccarat. Every hand is independent, and the house keeps a small edge on every bet: in a typical casino, about 1.06% on Banker and 1.24% on Player. In Orbit Casino, baccarat and the other non-slot games are set to a 97% RTP (return to player), so the house edge is about 3%. A strategy like this one is about structure, discipline and fun, not a guaranteed win. That’s exactly why a free-play game is the perfect place to try it.
Try it in Orbit Casino
Orbit Casino for iPhone and iPad includes classic Baccarat alongside Blackjack, Roulette, Hilo, six themed slots and 11 Orbit Originals. It’s all play money, so you can run this strategy, test your stop loss and see how streaks really play out without risking a cent.
Download Orbit Casino on the App Store
Prefer a dedicated table? Try Baccarat Classic Casino, and if you’re new to free-play games, start with our guide to free casino games with no real money.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Martingale strategy in baccarat?
The Martingale doubles your bet after every loss, so the first win recovers all the losses from the streak plus a profit equal to your original bet.
Does a baccarat betting strategy guarantee a win?
No. Every hand is independent and the house keeps an edge on every bet. A strategy gives structure and discipline, so always use a stop loss.
Where can I practice baccarat without real money?
Orbit Casino and Baccarat Classic Casino for iPhone and iPad let you play baccarat with play money that has no cash value.
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