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In this Mini Baccarat game guide, you will learn how to play Mini Baccarat and get an overview of the strategy. I also explain the transition from the outdated rules of traditional baccarat to the more accessible, fast-paced and simplified modern rules of the game.
Mini Baccarat Rules: How to Win at Mini Baccarat?
In Mini Baccarat, you bet money on whether the player or banker’s hand will win, or whether it will result in a draw. If you predict the correct outcome at the end of the game, you win.
The winning hand must have a higher total card value, up to a maximum of 9 points. In Mini Baccarat, 9 is the highest possible score.
The score of a winning hand can be any value, i.e. 1 to 9, while the score of a losing hand can be 0 to 8.
Mini Baccarat winning example:
The banker’s card beats the player’s card by the following ratio: 1-0
The player’s card is better than the banker’s card by the following ratio: 9-8
The winning hand is any of the following nine combinations: 9-8, 8-7, 7-6, 6-5, 5-4, 4-3, 3-2, 2-1, 1- 0.
You can also win bets on tie results when the final total value of both hands reaches one of ten ties: 0-0, 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 6 -6, 7-7, 8-8, 9-9.
You can bet on any draw at odds of 8 to 1. The house edge is as high as 14.36% (statistics based on eight decks of cards).
How are the results of Mini Baccarat determined?
Banker or Player winner:
According to the card drawing rules of baccarat, the dealer will deal two sets of cards to the banker and player, each set of two cards.
The winning result is recorded for the side whose total hand value is 9 (the highest possible total point value), or whose score is closest to 9 but still exceeds the total value of the other hand.
Tie result:
Once both players have drawn their cards, if both players’ cards have the same value (0 to 9), the winning result is declared a tie.
When the first two cards are drawn in each hand, a win may be expected when the value of the first card is higher. However, this can be canceled to zero points when the second card is revealed, and the two cards added together equal 0.
The five possible zero outcomes involving card values 1 to 9 are as follows:
5+5=0
6+4=0
7+3=0
8+2=0
9+1=0
After the first two cards from each hand have been drawn, and the scores from both hands add up to 0-0, two more cards are drawn; one from each hand. And this will also determine the outcome of the game.
If zero cards are drawn in each hand (i.e. 10 and J, Q, K cards), the result will end in a tie.
Mini Baccarat Third Card Draw Rules
As shown in the example above, after drawing two sets of two cards for each hand, the dealer can draw an additional card for one hand or both hands – depending on the total value of each hand. If you want to know the card drawing rules of Baccarat, you can refer to the hand diagram in this How to Play Baccarat article.
What to do after a tie result
In the event of a tie, typically when playing online, the banker or player’s initial bet will be given back to the punter through a process known as “pushing” the bet.
If you play at a land-based casino, the push is not actually given back to the player. So, your options are as follows:
Leave your chips on the hand you last bet on (before a draw result) as a bet on the next game.
Transfer your chips to the other hand for the next game, or bet your chips on another draw.
Remove chips to skip one or more games. Or take the time to decide what to bet on before the next game starts.
It’s worth noting that some land-based casinos only allow tie bets if the banker or player also places a bet, while many online casinos allow tie bets regardless.
read more: Online Baccarat 5 Strategies
Mini Baccarat card values
- Ace card is worth 1 point
Cards numbered 2 to 9 are calculated according to their face value
The values of 10s and chart cards J, Q, and K are each equal to 0
To work out the total value of any hand when two or three cards have been drawn, just ignore the tens and picture cards that function as zeros, unless of course the total value of a hand results in a zero.
Zero value hands are losing ones, except when the opposing hand also results in a zero. In such situations the hand outcome will be a Tie.
In Mini Baccarat, the Player’s hand is revealed first.
Examples of how to add up the points in Mini Baccarat:
Example 1:
P’s first two cards: 7+4=1 (not 11, because the first digit 1 is dropped)
B’s first two cards: J+5=5 (The 10 of the Jack picture card is ignored)
P’s 3rd card is 7 so P’s total score = 8
B’s 3rd card is 5 so B’s total score = 0
And so, Player wins the round with 8 points.
Example 2:
P: 9+7=6
B: 6+A=7 (Ace is worth 1 point)
No third cards are required. Banker wins the round with 7 points.
Example 3:
P: A+9=0
B: A+7=8
No third cards are required. Banker wins the round with 8 points.
Example 4:
P: 8+9=7
B’s first two cards: 8+2=0
B draws a third card which is K, total value of points = 0
Player wins the round with 7 points.
Example 5:
P’s first two cards: 3+2=5
B’s first two cards: 9+4=3
P’s third card is 6 so P’s total score = 1
B’s third card is 9 so B’s total score =2
Banker wins the round with 2 points.
So, you ignore the first digit when seeing double digits, i.e. a 10 or picture card is worth =0, 11=1, 12=2, 13=3, 14=4, 15=5, 16=6, 17=7, 18=8, 19=9, 20=0, 21=1 and so on… up to 30=0
With each set of the first two cards, just because one of the cards might be an 8 or 9, this is not an automatic win. The other card in the hand can cause the total value to be low.
For instance, 9+2=1 and 8+4=2.
So, if you see an 8 or 9 on one of the first two cards in any hand, you should hope for a zero value card to be next because this will seal the hand as a Natural.
Mini Baccarat Strategy
Okay, you’re not going to alter the house edge: Banker bet is 1.06% and 1.24% on the Player bet (stats based on 8 decks).
But it’s possible that a good method for selecting Banker or Player bets – along with a good staking strategy – could enhance your prospects of increasing your bankroll within an average Mini Baccarat gambling session.
Payout odds are not 1 for 1 on Banker wins because of the 5% commission. But they’re 100% even-money payouts for Player wins.
What do baccarat heads say the best strategy is?
You can read thousands of articles telling you that betting on the Banker is the best strategy.
Take any advice to ‘always bet on the Banker side’ with a pinch of salt. Do your own research and assess the facts.
Bear in mind the following about Banker only bets:
- The 5% commission on every Banker win will eat into your bankroll gradually. For instance, the commission deducted for just 20 Banker wins is the equivalent to 1 staking unit.
Banker hands don’t dominate every Baccarat shoe! But even when they do:
Due to the drawing rules, the Banker side only has a slight advantage over the Player side: Probability of a Banker hand win is 45.9% vs. 44.6% for a Player hand win (stats based on 8 decks).
Within one shoe consisting of 80 outcomes, on average the Banker may have around a 4 hand advantage. But this is not true in every shoe. It really depends on the shuffle.
Those 416 shuffled cards secured inside a shoe, most to be used in Mini Baccarat rounds, is key to how results will play out.
Baccarat Game History
To understand why Mini Baccarat was developed, we should look at the structure and history of traditional baccarat games. And these consist of two main variants, namely:
Baccarat en Banque (also known as Baccarat à Deux Tableaux), which is the older form of baccarat.
Baccarat chemin de fer. A later variant.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the invitation requirements to gamble on traditional baccarat, and the rules of the game, were long-winded. For instance, who could play baccarat was determined by a person’s class and/or status in society, and once allowed to play, there were tedious game procedures to decide on, such as:
When bettors can place wagers
On what side bettors can bet on i.e. on Banker or Player hands
Whether cards should be drawn in some games
Evolution of Baccarat Variants
The journey to modernize the game saw the introduction of a variant of baccarat called Punto Banco (Punto=Player & Banco=Banker).
This game was formed in the 1950s in Argentina. Punto Banco spread to casinos in Cuba and then in America.
Thereafter the following variations were invented:
Big Baccarat
Midi Baccarat
Mini Baccarat
The central idea of modern day baccarat makes it easy to bet on either side.
Those gambling on baccarat need only bet Player or Banker. The dealer manages the rest pertaining to the drawing rules. So, baccarat games, especially Mini Baccarat games, progress quickly.
Today, there’s at least 20 variants of baccarat. Mini Baccarat being one of the most popular.
In the 21st century, the rules and procedures of old style baccarat don’t resonate with casino goers. So online, you’re only likely to come across modern versions of baccarat.
Gamblers can still find simplified forms of the old style baccarat games in land-based casinos. Though generally, such games are only available to high rollers or VIPs and played in exclusive gaming rooms.
Table layouts for these traditional baccarat variants differ to modern games like Mini Baccarat. For instance, in some old style baccarat games, two tables, one each side of the dealer, are used to seat up to 16 players.
A Mini Baccarat table seats a cozy seven players.
Mini Baccarat vs Baccarat: Why Mini Baccarat Is The Best Game
Let’s consider Mini Baccarat vs. traditional baccarat. What’s the best type of baccarat game to play?
Look out for Mini Baccarat because:
Games are fast
Rules non-complex
Minimum stakes are low
Table size is smaller than traditional baccarat
If you enjoy staking money in online casino games with even-money payouts (and close to 1 for 1 paying odds when it comes to winning on Banker bets), then Mini Baccarat games are an excellent choice for beginners or system players.
Baccarat system players also love to play Mini Baccarat because the outcome of hands conclude swiftly, especially when playing in an online casino.
You don’t need deep pockets to gamble on a live Mini Baccarat game in online casinos either, since minimum stakes are super low.
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Mini Baccarat Game FAQs
❓What is the Mini Baccarat Game?
Mini Baccarat is a scaled down version of the Baccarat game, usually offered in smaller casinos or online gaming platforms. The rules of the game are the same as traditional Baccarat, but the speed is faster and the amounts players can bet are lower.
❓What are the features of Mini Baccarat game?
Mini Baccarat games usually have one dealer and seven players. The game is fast and the next one starts immediately after each round. In addition, players can choose to automatically deal cards, making the game more convenient.
❓How to win mini baccarat game?
To win the Mini Baccarat game, players need to predict whether the player’s hand, the banker’s hand, or the sum of both hands is closer to 9. Players can bet on the player to win, the banker to win or a draw. Being familiar with the rules of the game and adopting appropriate strategies are the keys to winning the game.
❓Are there any advantages to mini baccarat game?
Compared with traditional baccarat games, mini baccarat games are faster and have lower bet amounts, making them ideal for players who want a fast-paced game. In addition, the game rules are simple and easy to understand, so novices can easily get started.
❓How to start betting on Mini Baccarat?
In the Mini Baccarat game, players need to choose where they want to bet (Player, Banker or Tie), decide on the bet amount and confirm the bet. The dealer will then deal the cards, calculate the winner based on the card points, and pay the bonus based on the result.
