Lila Thorn | November 26, 2020 | Updated on: December 12th, 2023
As a newer version of the popular game, EZ baccarat brings many exciting twists to the table. Since EZ baccarat eliminates the standard baccarat commission, the payouts and house edge (1.02%) are better.
If you want to know more, we’ve compiled the rules, payouts, odds, strategies, and how to play it below. Plus, we’ve listed our favorite online baccarat casinos so you can start testing your skills.
In EZ Baccarat, the aim is to bet on the first hand to get to a total close to nine, be it the banker or player. You can bet on either player or banker or place a tie wager to win in this version.
And because it originated in Macau, there are some interesting bets added to the table. These include Dragon 7 and Panda 8, which are card totals.
Play by the Rules
In EZ Baccarat, the existing drawing rules apply, except for totals over seven. If the banker’s winning hand is a total consisting of seven, the game will push.
Still, like traditional baccarat games, Jack, King, and Queen have no value, and your numbered cards count as their face value and ace counts as one.
To make a winning hand, you need up to three cards to make a winning hand without modifying the total.
S = Stands H = Hits
How to Play EZ Baccarat
EZ baccarat is played with six to eight decks of cards, though it’s usually eight at live casinos. When you factor in that no cards are returned to the shoe (deck), the odds get interesting.
With that said, here’s how to play this card game from start to finish:
Place your bets in the designated areas, either on a banker winning hand or the player’s hand winning. Your side bets will also go on the table at this stage.
The dealer will deal two cards to you and the banker, which could be natural nine or not.
Both hands are then compared, and the highest total wins or pushes if the dealer has seven.
Following the rules of standard games, you can draw a third card if no one wins outright.
Bets, Payouts & Odds
Whether you’re making a player or banker bet, the odds are typically on your side. If the bank wins on a total of 7 consisting of three cards, there will be a push.
Wager
6 Decks
8 Decks
Payout
Banker Bet
1.02%
1.24%
1 to 1
Player Bet
1.02%
1.24%
1 to 1
Tie (6)
14.44%
14.36%
8 to 1
Tie (8)
4.93%
4.84%
9 to 1
Dragon 7
7.61%
7.61%
40 to 1
Panda 8
10.21%
10.19%
25 to 1
EZ Baccarat Strategy
While strategies are tempting, it’s not recommended if you want to make a profit in the long-term. Essentially, you could win more at the beginning, but lose most of it later.
This is simply the law of probability, so use betting systems with caution. Plus, there’s just no way to accurately guess whether the outcome is a winning banker hand, tie, or player win.