Comprehensive Guide to Baccarat Side Bets

Baccarat side bets are types of wagers placed separately from three main bets – Player, Banker, and Tie. Every side bet wagers on the result of the upcoming round, but the exact goals and nature of these results vary greatly.

For example, some side bets predict the rank and suit of the cards that will be drawn. The Pairs side bet is a common example – its goal is to predict that either the Banker or the Player will draw two cards of the same rank.

On the other hand, some side bets in baccarat directly complement one or more of the main wagers. For example, the Dragon Bonus bet provides additional winnings if the hand you selected wins by a significant point difference.

Note that the outcome of a baccarat side bet does not necessarily depend on the outcome of the actual round of baccarat. For instance, a Pairs bet wins or loses regardless of whether the Banker or the Player wins.

Beyond that, side bets can attempt to predict or wager on any part of a single round of baccarat. They’re only limited by the imaginations of the people designing them, so all sorts of interesting and unique options have popped up over the years.

How Baccarat Side Bets Work

In practical terms, side bets are placed the same way as any other wager. If you already know how to play baccarat, you can easily figure out what to do. If not, we recommend starting with our baccarat tutorial.

If you’re playing baccarat at a physical table in a land-based casino, simply place the chips you wish to wager on the table position for the side bet you wish to make.

In online or live casino baccarat, just use the betting interface in the usual way. Select the size of your stake, then click on the bet you want to make. Some games may also require you to confirm your selections before the round starts.

You can only place side bets during the designated betting period, which happens between two rounds of baccarat. Also, any table limits and stake minimums or maximums apply. Note that bet limits may be different for main bets and side bets, so make sure to check the table rules beforehand.

Beyond that, there aren’t many rules that you need to worry about. However, we still recommend checking the exact set of rules used on the table you’re playing on. Although many common side bets have established standards, small variations still happen. For instance, some tables may not pay as much as others for the same outcome. That’s why you should always check rules and payouts for the specific table you’re playing on, whether online or otherwise.

Popular Baccarat Side Bets Explained

It’s time to get into the real meat of this guide – the side bets themselves. Each section features a detailed explanation of how the bet works, what it pays, and useful statistics.

Importantly, note that different games and casinos may offer different odds for some of these bets. Details such as reduced payouts can severely alter the RTP and statistics of these wagers, so make sure that the table’s rules match what we presented here. All of the statistics provided assume that the payouts are exactly as presented and that the game is using an 8-deck shoe.

Pairs Bet (Player Pair & Banker Pair)

Pairs bets in baccarat win if the first two cards in one of the two main hands are of the same rank. If the hand draws a third card, that card does not count towards winning a Pair bet.

It’s typically split into two individual wagers – Player Pair and Banker Pair. Each of these bets is tied to one of the two main card piles in baccarat and only wins if that particular hand draws a Pair. Either option typically pays 11:1.

For example, if you make a Player Pair bet and the first two cards on the Player pile are 10s, you win. If not, the bet loses. The cards in the opposite Pile (Banker) are completely irrelevant for a Player Pair bet.

This also means that the actual outcome of the round does not matter. Whether the round is a Player win, a Banker win, or a Tie, the Pairs bet wins or loses purely based on its two relevant cards.

This means that Pair wagers can be combined with any main bet, and they can win or lose regardless of whether your main bet wins or loses. You can also play a pair bet exclusively.

Most Player/Banker Pair bets in baccarat pay 11:1. With those odds, the bet shows a low RTP rate of only 89.64%.

The high house edge is due to the bet’s low probability but mediocre payout.

Either Pair

As the name implies, the Either Pair bet wins if either the Banker or Player hands draw two cards of the same rank. Much like the Player/Banker Pair side bet, this wager only looks at the first two cards of either hand.

This variant of the Pairs side bet was first popularized on Playtech tables but can be found in many live casino baccarat games these days.

Compared to Player/Banker Pair bets, it’s much easier to win but pays considerably less. Unfortunately, this means that its overall RTP is also much lower.

Due to these issues, Either Pair offers no benefits over other types of Pair side bets in baccarat.

Perfect Pairs

The Perfect Pairs side bet wins if either the Player or Banker hands draw two cards of the same rank and suit. Like in all other variants of the Pair side bet, only the first two cards drawn by each side count.

Essentially, it’s like an Either Pair bet with higher requirements. This means that it’s even less likely to win than Player/Banker bet, but pays a lot more.

There are two common types of Perfect Pairs bets in live casino baccarat, depending on their potential payouts:

• The first type pays a fixed 25:1 payout for all winning Perfect Pair side bets.
• The second type offers an additional bonus win of 250:1 if both Player and Banker hands draw Perfect Pairs.

Although the difference seems small, the latter variant offers considerably better RTP. Our advice is to always try to find it if you’re planning on playing Perfect Pairs. Consult the table below for more details.

Bellagio Match

The Bellagio Match is a unique variant of Pairs bets that offers increased payouts for three-of-a-kind results. To our knowledge, it’s only found at tables in the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas.

The Bellagio bet pays 9:1 if your selected hand draws two cards of the same rank. Additionally, if your hand draws a third card and it also happens to be of the same rank, you win 75:1.

Although the increased payout for triples is nice, the decreased base payout compared to Player/Banker Pairs makes this wager even riskier. However, it has a better RTP rate than classic Paris bets, so it’s a decent option.

A Bellagio Pair bet on Player has better RTP than the Banker counterpart because it’s more likely to draw a third card, so it’s more likely to snag the three-of-a-kind bonus.

Dragon Bonus

The Dragon Bonus bet in baccarat wins if the hand you select wins with a Natural or a point difference of 4+.

The side bet offers two options: Player Dragon Bonus and Banker Dragon Bonus. Naturally, you only win if the relevant hand wins. For instance, Player Bonus wins if Player wins with a Natural hand or sufficient point difference.

As a reminder, a Natural win occurs whenever a hand draws a point total of 8 or 9 with its first two cards. Of course, the hand also has to win.

This is one of the few baccarat side bets that is directly tied to the main bet results. A Player Dragon Bonus bet cannot win unless Player wins, and a Banker Dragon Bonus bet cannot win unless Banker wins.

However, if both sides draw a Natural 8 or 9 and the round results in a Tie, the Dragon Bonus bet pushes. That means all players with an active Dragon Bonus bet get their full stake back.

The Dragon Bonus in baccarat pays differently for various outcomes:

• A Natural Tie is a push
• A Natural Win pays 1:1
• Winning with a point difference of 3 or less means the Dragon Bonus bet loses
• Winning with a point difference of 4 or more pays between 2:1 and 30:1, based on the total difference. Check the table below for more details.

Since the Player and Banker bets don’t have identical chances to win, this means that Player Bonus and Dragon Bonus bets have different odds.

Specifically, Player Bonus enjoys a much lower house edge than the Banker variant. Although the Banker side is more likely to win any given round of Baccarat, the Player is actually more likely to do so with a significant point difference because it’s more likely to draw a third card. That’s why you should only ever play Player Bonus.

Big and Small Bet

The Big and Small bets in baccarat allow the player to predict the total number of cards drawn by both Player and Banker hands.

• The Small side bet wins if the total number of cards drawn by Player and Banker is 4
• The Big side bet wins if the total number of cards drawn by Player and Banker is 5 or 6

Basically, if the third card baccarat rule kicks in, the Big bet wins. If not, the Small bet wins.

This type of side bet is commonly found in Playtech live baccarat tables, but we’ve seen it pop up with other providers as well.

Though seemingly identical, these two side bets have completely different odds. Specifically, Big is much more likely to win, but only pays 0.54:1. Small pays 3:2.

Both are relatively safe, high-probability wagers, perfect for players who don’t want to risk too much. Additionally, both boast relatively high RTP rates compared to most other side betting options in baccarat.

Despite the lower payout, Big is generally the better bet because of its higher RTP and 61% probability of winning.

All Red / All Black

All Red and All Black is a set of relatively rare baccarat side bets that allow players to wager on the color of the cards in a single round. Both are quite simple and easy to understand.

• All Red wins if all four initial cards drawn by Player and Banker are Hearts or Diamonds. It pays 22:1.
• All Black wins if all four initial cards drawn by Player and Banker are Clubs or Spades. It pays 24:1.

Interestingly, both bets have exactly the same chances of winning, which are around 3.7%. However, All Black pays more, which means it offers better value. If you want to make these bets, we highly recommend only ever playing All Black due to its lower house edge.

Combined Value Bets

Combined Value bets in baccarat is an umbrella term that refers to side bets that allow players to predict the sum total value of all cards on the table at the end of the round.

These wagers are based on adding up every card’s rank, regardless of their number or position on the table. They’re quite rare online but can be found on SA Gaming tables.

The most common type of combined value bet in baccarat is Total Points Over/Under 9.5.

• Total Points Under 9.5 wins if all of the cards on the table add up to a total score of 9 or under. It pays 1.23:1.
• Total Points Over 9.5 wins if all of the cards on the table add up to a total score of 10 or over. It pays 0.66:1.

Between the two, Over 9.5 is more likely to win. However, Under 9.5 offers a better payout and a higher overall RTP despite being less likely to win. The table below shows all of the details.

The two wagers are mutually exclusive. If one wins, the other always loses.

Super 6/Lucky Bonus

The Super 6 baccarat side bet is a rare side bet typically found in No Commission tables such as Ezugi’s Super 6 Baccarat. This wager pays 12:1 if the Banker wins with a total of 6.

As a reminder, No Commission baccarat tables remove the 5% fee on Banker wins. However, they also cause every Banker win with a score of 6 to be considered a push. The idea behind the Super 6 baccarat side bet is to tie into this rule.

However, the side bet never got too popular due to its staggeringly high house edge of up to 29.98%. Reportedly, versions of this same bet that pay up to 15:1 also exist, though we can’t provide concrete examples. Regardless, even with a higher payout, the Super 6 bet suffers very low RTP and is best avoided in most situations.

The Lucky Bonus bet is fundamentally the same wager. However, it offers an increased payout if the Banker draws 3 cards and wins with a total of 6. The Lucky Bonus baccarat bet is slightly better than the Super 6 variant, but still overall disappointing in terms of RTP.

Lucky 8

The Lucky 8 baccarat side bet offers the chance to win additional rewards if your chosen side wins with a card total of 8. It’s a multi-faceted bet with several possible win conditions:

• Lucky 8 – If the chosen hand (Player or Banker) wins with a total of 8, you win 4:1
• Unlucky 8 – If the chosen hand loses with a total of 8, you win 8:1
• Double 8 – If both hands Tie with a total of 8, you win 15:1
• Suited 3-card 8 – If the chosen hand draws 3 cards of the same suit with a total of 8, you win 25:1
• Double suited 3-card 8 – If both Player and Banker draw 3 cards of the same suit with a total of 8 each, you win 200:1. Player cards do not necessarily have to be of the same suit as Banker cards.

The Lucky 8 side bet features two wagering options – Player Lucky 8 and Banker Lucky 8. Each of these is tied only to its relevant hand.

Player Lucky 8 is the better option between the two due to the higher probability of hitting several of the winning outcomes. However, all of the winning conditions are fairly rare, and the difference often comes down to a fraction of a per cent.

Dragon 7

Dragon 7 is a baccarat side bet that wins only if Banker wins with a 3-card hand that totals 7. It’s a high-risk, high-reward type of wager with only a single winning condition, which makes it pretty risky. However, it pays 40:1, which is a strong incentive for ambitious players.

Along with Panda 8, the Dragon 7 bet is unique to a variant of the game called EZ Baccarat. Currently, Ezugi offers an EZ Baccarat table in a live casino setting. EZ Baccarat can also be found in various brick-and-mortar establishments.

A quick overview of Dragon 7 odds tells us that it’s not great in terms of house edge, but still better than quite a few side bets in baccarat. It’s certainly better than Panda 8, which makes it a solid but sub-optimal option if you’re playing EZ Baccarat.

Panda 8

The Panda 8 bet wins only if the Player hand wins with 3 cards and a total hand value of 8. Much like Dragon 7, it’s exclusive to the EZ Baccarat variant.

Panda 8 is also quite risky with just under 3.5% chances of success. Although it’s less risky than the Dragon 7 counterpart, it also features a comparatively even higher house advantage of 10.19%, so it’s probably best avoided.

Same Suit Opening

As the name implies, the Same Suit Opening bet wins if either the Player’s or Banker’s first two cards are of the same suit. It’s a relatively innovative type of side bet that pays dynamic odds based on the remaining cards in the shoe.

Basically, the potential payout of this wager is automatically re-calculated for every betting period. The game calculates the odds based on the suits of the cards that are still in the shoe. The more homogenous the shoe is, the smaller the payout.

Like several other types of baccarat side bets, it’s split into a Player and Banker variant. Both versions only pay if the relevant hand draws same-suit cards. However, the odds for the Banker side start at 2.86 while the odds for the Player start at 2.87 even though both have the same chance of winning. As such, Player Same Suit Opening boasts a higher RTP rate.

*These odds are only offered on the first round after a new shoe is introduced. The odds are dynamically adjusted based on the remaining cards in the shoe.

Three-Card Six

This rare type of baccarat side bet wins if one or both hands draw a 3-card total score of 6. The wager pays 8:1 if only one hand meets the criteria and 100:1 if both do.

Much like the Super 6 side bet, it’s only available on no-commission tables. However, it sadly suffers from the same issues as many no-commission wagers: low RTP.

To sum up, this bet is extremely unlikely to win, and the risk is not worth the 8:1 payout. The 100:1 reward sounds enticing, but this outcome only happens 0.2% of the time, so it’s not worth fishing for either.

Egalite Bets

Egalite bets are special side wagers that predict that the round will result in a Tie with both hands showing a specific score. Tables that offer this bet typically come with 10 betting options – one for each possible hand total.

For example, if you make an Egalite bet on 7, both Player and Banker have to draw a total score of 7. However, it doesn’t matter whether either hand used 2 or 3 cards to get there.

Egalite bets in baccarat use separate odds for each selection. The more likely a certain outcome is, the higher the rewards. However, all of these outcomes are quite unlikely, which is why Egalite bets are some of the highest-paying you can find in baccarat.

Most selections show a high house edge across the board. However, some options are noticeably better than others. We suggest sticking to the most probable hand totals such as 7. However, the Tie bet is universally considered a horrible choice among baccarat pros, and this side wager doesn’t really improve it.

If you want to understand why the Tie bet is bad, check out our collection of baccarat tips and tricks which offers an in-depth explanation.