Betting on the Tie outcome in Baccarat is generally considered an extremely high-risk proposition that should be avoided or minimized as part of a solid strategy. Here's how to assess and mitigate the risks:
Assessing the Risks:
- The house edge on Tie bets is massive, around 14.4% for most Baccarat games
- This means for every $100 bet on Ties over the long run, the player will lose around $14.40 on average
- Tie results occur only about 9.5% of the time, making it an infrequent and highly unfavorable bet
- Going on extended streaks without hitting a Tie can rapidly deplete a bankroll
Mitigating the Risks:
1. Avoid Tie bets completely
The optimal strategy is to simply never bet on Ties and only make Player or Banker bets which have much lower house edges.
2. Strict Tie bet allocation
If you do want occasional "hassle" Tie bets, allocate no more than 1-2% of your total baccarat session bankroll specifically for Tie betting.
3. Tie bet as a hedge
Some players make a small Tie bet when holding a large Player or Banker position to hedge against a Tie outcome negating their main bet.
4. Small fixed Tie bets
Rather than rampant Tie betting, make a small fixed Tie bet per hand if you wish, but cap the total amount you're willing to lose on Ties.
5. Try EZ/No Commission Baccarat
These variations slightly reduce the Tie bet house edge down to around 12-13%, but it's still very high.
The key is recognizing the severe house edge and avoiding Tie bets becoming a substantial portion of your overall action. A few small, disciplined Tie bets can be enjoyed recreationally, but overexposure to this high-risk bet is ill-advised from a strategic standpoint. Focusing on Player and Banker bets minimizes the house advantage.
Assessing the Risks:
- The house edge on Tie bets is massive, around 14.4% for most Baccarat games
- This means for every $100 bet on Ties over the long run, the player will lose around $14.40 on average
- Tie results occur only about 9.5% of the time, making it an infrequent and highly unfavorable bet
- Going on extended streaks without hitting a Tie can rapidly deplete a bankroll
Mitigating the Risks:
1. Avoid Tie bets completely
The optimal strategy is to simply never bet on Ties and only make Player or Banker bets which have much lower house edges.
2. Strict Tie bet allocation
If you do want occasional "hassle" Tie bets, allocate no more than 1-2% of your total baccarat session bankroll specifically for Tie betting.
3. Tie bet as a hedge
Some players make a small Tie bet when holding a large Player or Banker position to hedge against a Tie outcome negating their main bet.
4. Small fixed Tie bets
Rather than rampant Tie betting, make a small fixed Tie bet per hand if you wish, but cap the total amount you're willing to lose on Ties.
5. Try EZ/No Commission Baccarat
These variations slightly reduce the Tie bet house edge down to around 12-13%, but it's still very high.
The key is recognizing the severe house edge and avoiding Tie bets becoming a substantial portion of your overall action. A few small, disciplined Tie bets can be enjoyed recreationally, but overexposure to this high-risk bet is ill-advised from a strategic standpoint. Focusing on Player and Banker bets minimizes the house advantage.