Baccarat is one of the most popular casino table games and has a history that dates back to the 18th century. Despite being a game of chance, baccarat offers an array of betting strategies that players can use to maximize their chances of winning. Free Online Baccarat for Newbies For new baccarat players, the best way to practice the game is with free online baccarat games. This allows you to make mistakes risk-free and build your confidence until you’re ready to play real money games. These free games also allow you to learn the basic rules and understand how the game works. They’re also a great place to learn how to make new bets and try out new strategies. Using a Tracking Sheet Almost every baccarat table has a baccarat score sheet available. These can vary from simple tracking sheets to complex grids, but they’re essential for any baccarat player looking to maximise their bankroll. They’re also a great resource for learning the strategy of the game and tracking potential patterns in the shoe. Baccarat Strategy for a Reduced House Edge Some of the most effective baccarat strategies are ones that focus on the trends within the shoe. These can help players avoid the high house edge and can even help them stretch their bankroll across more games. For example, a pattern system that uses flat betting can be extremely effective. Start by filling out results from your baccarat score board, then switch to alternate bets when a zigzag or streak pattern appears in the shoe. This strategy can be especially useful if you have a win or loss threshold in place. Another strategy that can be applied to baccarat is the 1-3-2-6 system. This strategy consists of betting on the banker and player hand in alternate rounds. Then, if the player loses a round, they’ll begin at the beginning of the next round. This strategy helps players keep their bankroll stretched across a wider range of baccarat games, and it can also help prevent them from making too big bets on losing streaks. The 1-3-2-4 System A reinvention of the 1-3-2-6 strategy, this system reduces your final bet by two units. It’s an easy-to-implement baccarat strategy that can help you minimize your losses and increase your winnings. This strategy involves combining two of the most common baccarat patterns: the zigzag and the streak. This strategy will reduce your house edge by tracking these patterns and switching to alternate bets on the player and banker hand when a streak or zigzag occurs. This strategy is simple and intuitive, and it’s a great option for new baccarat players who want to get the hang of the game without committing too much cash. It’s not for the faint of heart, though – it can be very tactical and requires a lot of watching and waiting. It’s also not very forgiving of losing streaks, so it’s important to have a win or loss threshold in place.