3 Card Baccarat Strategy

Most live casino players in Kenya probably know Three-Card Poker better than Three-Card Baccarat. For those new to the game, it’s understandable because there are so many casino games to try. Three-Card Baccarat is an exciting, fast-paced twist on the classic baccarat. It’s quite simple to pick up, especially with the right guide. This post will walk you through the rules, strategies, and handy tips for playing Three-Card Baccarat.

What is Three-Card Baccarat?

Three-Card Baccarat is a popular variant of Baccarat, especially in some Asian casino hubs. The game is similar to traditional Baccarat in that both sides get three cards, and the number of picture cards helps determine the winner. Face cards are worth their value.

• That said, Three-Card Baccarat uses a standard 52-card deck, with all cards dealt face-up.
• Before cards are dealt, players must place a wager on either the banker or player position. At this stage, you can also make one of the optional side bets, which we’ll cover later in this guide.
• Keep in mind that face cards and tens don’t have any value. Aces are worth one point, and the remaining cards are worth their face value. This scoring system should be familiar if you’ve played Baccarat before.

3-Card Baccarat vs. Standard Baccarat

So, what makes Three-Card Baccarat different from classic Baccarat? The best possible hand in this game is three face cards of the same rank. For example, you could get three sixes, which might seem like 18, but in Baccarat, it counts as 8, as 9 is the highest score.

The hand with the most points wins the round. If players have equal points, the hand with more face-value cards wins. So, a player with 6+6+6 wins against a player with Q+2+6 because they have more face cards. A tie can occur if both hands have the same face value and pictorial card count.

Three-Card Baccarat Payouts in Kenya

Just like in a classic baccarat game, winning hands typically pay even money (1:1). This means if you bet KES 100 and win, you'll receive KES 200 back (your original KES 100 stake plus KES 100 winnings).

That’s not all pay-wise. If the player makes a winning hand of six (it doesn’t matter the combination), they’ll receive a 2:1 payout. In addition, tie bets pay at 25:1, although the odds of winning these bets are pretty high.

Players at the best live casino sites are also conversant with the 5% commission of banker bet wins. The same applies to the increasingly popular baccarat variant.

Three-Card Baccarat Side Bets

In most cases, Three-Card Baccarat features two optional wagers of Dragon Bonus and 3 Kings. Below is a brief overview:

Kings Bonus

This wager pays out if the player scores an 8 or higher, with a higher hand attracting a much bigger pay. The payout for three Kings is 50:1 and 25:1 for three face cards. Also, scoring any nine and eight pays out at 3:1 and 2:1, respectively.

Dragon Bonus

This side bet wins if the player beats the dealer with at least 5 points. Like with the Three Kings bonus bet, players receive a bigger payout with more winning points.

Below are the payouts:

• Win by 5 points: 1:1
• Win by 6 points: 3:1
• Win by 7 points: 5:1
• Win by 8 points: 10:1
• Win by 9 points: 20:1
• Win by 10 points: 50:1

Three-Card Baccarat Tips and Strategies

There is no proven solution to reduce the losing sessions in Three-Card Baccarat. The thing is that Baccarat is a game of chance, meaning no strategy can increase the Return to Player (RTP) rate. The same applies to all other live online casino games, except maybe video poker and blackjack.

But players don’t have to play blindly just because they cannot decrease the house edge.

• First, avoid the tie bet like the plague because the odds of winning this wager are slim. But the 50:1 maximum payout can be irresistible.
• Another trick, although this won’t do much, is to play the player bet instead of the banker. While the banker's bet often has a slightly lower house edge, the 5% commission on the house makes it an unattractive option. In short, don’t do the donkey work for the casino!
• Lastly, practice bankroll management, knowing that baccarat outcomes are purely luck-based. Create an ample budget and use it responsibly without chasing losses. Players should also consider using betting systems like Martingale and Paroli to manage their finances better.