# In Baccarat does the "banker" play optimally? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 9, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-baccarat-does-the-banker-play-optimally/812084 "2018-04-09T15:34:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-baccarat-does-the-banker-play-optimally/812084/1 "2018-04-09T15:34:25Z")
In Baccarat, the “player” and the “banker” are dealt 2 cards each. 10s and picture cards count as 0, only the last digit of the total counts, (66 and AA are both an identical 2). if either side has 8 or 9 in 2 cards it’s game over. If the player has 0-5 he takes another card, if he has 6-7 he stands. If the player stood, the banker follows the player’s rules and stands on 6 or 7, hits on 0-5 If the player takes another card the banker takes one depending on the players 3rd card ```auto players 3rd card banker stands with 8 3 9, 0, 1 4 2, 3 5 4, 5 6 6, 7 7 ``` Highest total wins Assuming that you were the “banker”, all you are told is whether the player took a 3rd card ad if so what its value was, is this the best possible strategy? ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2018, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-baccarat-does-the-banker-play-optimally/812084/2 "2018-04-09T17:36:54Z")
I _think_ that there are two situations where the banker’s chances are the same with drawing or standing - other than that, the strategy is optimal. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-baccarat-does-the-banker-play-optimally/812084/3 "2018-04-10T14:04:01Z")
You have no choice; Player and Banker must play by those rules. When including the commission on Bank wins it makes for a very well balanced game. Some casinos occasionally play with a commission of less than the standard 5% but it usually doesn’t last very long. Years ago the Sahara in Las Vegas ran a promotion with “No commission” baccarat (maximum bet, I think, was $25 but it may have been $100); the tables filled up with people betting only on Bank and betting the max eligible for the promotion. The promo ended pretty quickly. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-baccarat-does-the-banker-play-optimally/812084/4 "2018-04-10T22:32:45Z")
> [@Turble](#): > > You have no choice; Player and Banker must play by those rules. > > When including the commission on Bank wins it makes for a very well balanced game. > > Some casinos occasionally play with a commission of less than the standard 5% but it usually doesn’t last very long. Years ago the Sahara in Las Vegas ran a promotion with “No commission” baccarat (maximum bet, I think, was $25 but it may have been $100); the tables filled up with people betting only on Bank and betting the max eligible for the promotion. The promo ended pretty quickly. The question wasn’t one of whether either should “choose” to play differently. The question was, is the Banker’s mandated strategy optimal, that is, does it maximize the expected result?