Dragon Bonus Baccarat Strategy
- It is usually a version called mini baccarat, in which the user acts against the house, trying to guess the outcome of the round between the banker and the conditional player. The kind of baccarat called Dragon Bonus derives from land-based establishments. Nowadays it is available on the online portals.
- Dragon Bonus: The Dragon Bonus is not exactly a baccarat casino bonus, but rather a side bet that pays out if you win with a natural 9 or 8 or if you win by a large margin – at least four points. The highest baccarat payout is 30 to 1 for a non-natural winning hand that wins by nine points.
An all-time favorite card game among casino lovers is Baccarat. A simple yet complicated game when deciding how to bet, Baccarat, also called Punto Banco, is about betting on either the player, the punto, the banker, the banco, or a tie. With three ways to gamble, it’s hard to decipher the best strategies to win big.
Dragon Bonus is a baccarat side bet that pays when your hand is a natural winner, or when it wins by a large margin. The highest payout, 30 to 1, is for a non-natural that wins by nine points. GETTING STARTED Make the Dragon Bonus Wager by betting in the marked area. You may bet in conjunction with either the Player or Banker hand or the Tie.
Here you’ll find maneuvers, tricks, and systems to improve your betting.
Make sure to also check out our Baccarat Rules Guide.
Side Bets
Perhaps the main reason why Baccarat is so popular is its simplicity compared to other casino table games. It’s an equally risky game, but winnings come from logic and strategic planning.
Because of its straightforward and transparent design, Baccarat can get boring, but casino game developers are regularly creating new twists and rules to the game to spice things up. That’s where side bets jump in.
There are various side bets added to the rules of the game. Now, the actual bets used in each Baccarat version depend entirely on the casino. Check with your casino for a list of side bets and their rules applied to your specific game.
The most popular Baccarat bet selections include but are not limited to the following:
Bellagio Match
Named after a world-famous casino in Las Vegas, this side bet is dealt by an animated dealer in a multi-player game, bet on three-of-a-kind. Payout is 75:1 for a three-of-a-kind player (5.27% house edge) while 68:1 for a banker (8.57% house edge).
3-Card Six
Receive a 100:1 payout if the player and banker have a 3-card 6 hand; the ratio of 8:1 if obtained by one hand only.
Super 6
Applied in British casinos and some online casinos, with a banker hand of a total of six, this bet pays at 12:1. Keep in mind that this is the bet with the largest house edge (29.98%).
Again, these are just a few examples of popularly used bets, but there are tons more, with some bets still in the making.
- Make sure to check out our guide on How To Beat Casino House Edge.
Royal Match
Royal Match is a side bet on the Player or the Banker getting a suited or unsuited King or Queen as one their first two cards. The wager pays out 75:1 for a suited king and queen. For an unsuited king and queen, it pays 30 for 1. Between the two, the house edge is 2.13%, which makes it one of the fairest side bets out there.
First Two Cards Same Suit
Bet on either the player’s or the banker’s hand having both initial two cards be suited. It is available at most online live casinos and land-based venues in Europe. The house edge on this bet is 4.2% for the player and 3.95% for the banker. Usually, the payout is 2.86 for the banker and 2.87 for the player.
The Dragon Bet in Baccarat
Arguably, the most relied-on bet out of the Baccarat bet selection is the dragon bet, also called the Dragon Bonus (DB).
The bet’s name was borrowed from a dragon’s ability to wipe out its opponent completely. Thus, the DB permits the player to wager that either the banker or player side will win, but not just a simple 1- or 2-point win, rather a demolishing win by many points. The wager yields a larger payout according to the margin of the turnout.
To play, make a bet on the player or the banker. The gambler wins if the side on which he/she wagered wins by a natural, or an exact 9 points.
Card Counting in Baccarat Dragon Bet
Baccarat card counting is quite effortless to do since the nature of the game is slow, and players can tally their progress at the table on a tracking sheet. Yes, it’s as easy as reporting the numbers.
When it comes to card counting in Baccarat, there are many methodologies. Everyone has their preferred strategy; however, instead of showing different tables and charts, the main point is that there are hundreds of combinations to count cards which then generate millions of chances for winnings.
What all the strategies have in common is their noted observation of the first 10 cards displayed on the table before the betting begins. Some have credited this beginning step as the foundation of their methodology.
Baccarat Betting Systems
Betting systems are dividing into two: positive and negative progression systems. Positive progression systems encourage gamblers to wager higher each time they win, whereas the negative progression system encourages the opposite; each loss calls for a lower wager in the next round.
The thing is, there is no hard evidence of this approach’s effectiveness; it actually has been seen to do the opposite, jeopardizing winnings. That being said, players continue to employ this methodology thanks to simple psychology. When you lose, naturally you want to gamble less, out of fear of losing more.
Check out a few of the prominent Baccarat betting systems.
Dragon Bonus Baccarat Strategy
Martingale
A classic method used in many casino games, this strategy recommends players to bet the same amount after winning and double their bet after losing. This system is good for quick gambling sessions where you play small amounts of money. Here, the key is when to start betting.
Paroli
Also applicable to a variety of casino games, this method is the opposite of Martingale. Begin by establishing a fixed betting amount of money. Upon every win, double the amount. Some players only double after three wins back to back, but it’s the gambler’s discretion to decide when to stop.
Labouchere
This is a more complex system that, like Martingale, is focused on recovering from losses by making slow progress, i.e., making smaller wagers. Patience and small bets are key here.
Fibonacci
This negative progression system adopts a more flexible approach. Using the Fibonacci sequence where every number is the sum of the two before it (1,1,2,3,5, etc.), you begin by betting the first number. If you lose, continue to the next number. If you lose again, bet the next two numbers. This pattern will continue until you get a win.
These systems are equally suitable for Baccarat online betting, too. Although Baccarat betting positions aren’t as important online as in person, they can still affect your experience for good or for bad. When gambling in the land-based casino, the best position is sitting right in front of the dealer, avoiding edge seats.
Baccarat Bonus Bets
Bonus bets are glorified side bets, often with extra incentives a more complexity. Common bonus side bets are:
Dragon Bonus
Dragon Bonus
As discussed earlier, it’s the method of waging that the banker or player will be a crush, by a significant amount, by the winning side.
Lucky Bonus
The best part about this bet is being commission-free. This bonus gives the player advantage as wagers are gambled on the bankers’ hands being a winning six. No bets can be placed on the banker exceeding more than 10 percent.
All the different bets can make casino goers unsure what playing tactic to use. The best way to establish a system that works for you is to observe, experience, and adapt. Try all the diverse bets and observe the winnings and losses; then adopt the method that suits your needs. Remember, Baccarat is a game of critical thinking, strategy, and chance at the same time.
Top 5 Best Baccarat Side Bets
Interested in side bets but don’t know where to start? This list of the top 5 best baccarat side bets, chosen for their mix of low house edge and big payout potential, is the perfect way to get started!
Dragon Bonus Baccarat Bet
The most popular baccarat side bet is without a doubt the dragon bonus. This is a bet on either the player or the banker winning with a 9 (natural) or an eight and with a certain point margin. The payout varies based on the margin of the win.
- Payout: 75:1 (Player), 68:1 (Banker)
- House Edge: 2.65% (Player), 9.37% (Banker)
As you can see, armed with a good baccarat dragon bonus strategy, a player may win quite a lot of money without too much risk.
All Black / All Red Baccarat Side Bet
An all black / red side bet is a wager on all of the cards of the player hand consisting of either black cards (spades and clubs) or red cards (hearts and diamonds).
- Payout: 24:1 (All Black), 22:1 (All Red)
- House Edge: 6.53% (All Black), 14% (All Red)
Due to its lower house edge, we only recommend players make the All Black side bet.
Big and Small Baccarat Side Bet
Big and Small is a bet on the total number of cards the player or the banker will finish the round with.
- Payout: 3:2 or 2:1 (depending on the number of cards)
- House Edge:5.28% (Small), 4.35% (Big)
Bellagio Match
A wager on either the player or the banker getting a three of a kind.
- Payout: 75:1 (Player), 68:1 (Banker)
- House Edge: 5.27% (Player), 8.57% (Banker)
As you can see, the Player version of this bet offers the best risk-reward ratio.
Golden Frog
Arguably the most legendary baccarat side bet out there, Golden Frog allows players to win up to 200:1. Golden Frog consists of four variations, each of which predicts a very specific outcome. They are: Any 8 beats any 6, 2-card 9 beats 2-card 7, 3-card 9 beats 3-card 1, 3-card 9 beats 3-card 7.
- Payout: Any 8 beats any 6 (25:1), 2-card 9 beats 2-card 7 (50:1), 3-card 9 beats 3-card 1 (150:1), 3-card 9 beats 3-card 7 (200:1).
- House Edge: Any 8 beats any 6 (21.79%), 2-card 9 beats 2-card 7 (8.10%), 3-card 9 beats 3-card 1 (13.87%), 3-card 9 beats 3-card 7 (11.89%).
While this bet does not have the lowest house edge out there, it deserves a mention on this list due to its massive payouts. As you can see, 2-card 9 beats 2-card offers the best risk-reward combination here.
FAQ
What are side bets in baccarat?
Side bets are additional (aka bonus) bets that a player can bet in addition to their main bet on the player or the banker.
How to play with side bets in baccarat?
Side bets can be placed via a simple click on a special button in the online casino software you use to play the game.
Can you use side bets in online live casino baccarat?
Yes, side bets can be placed in both RNG and live casino variants of baccarat.
Do casinos allow to use side bets in baccarat?
They actually encourage it. Side bets make the game more exciting for players and increase average playtime.
What is a dragon bet in baccarat?
A baccarat dragon bet is a wager placed on the dealer’s three card score of 7 beating the player. If successful, the bet pays 40:1.
How to play baccarat dragon bonus bet?
To place a dragon bet in online baccarat, simply press the appropriate button on the user interface.
Why is dragon bet so important?
The dragon bet is important because it offers a player to win 40 times their bet.
What other baccarat strategies can help you win?
Popular baccarat techniques and strategies include advanced betting strategies, such as the Martingale System, the Fibonacci Strategy, the Paroli System, the Labouchere System, D’Alembert System, as well as common sense concepts, such as avoiding all-in bets and only placing bets with a low house edge.
Can card counting help me win in baccarat?
Counting cards does improve your chances of winning to some (minor) extent, but nowhere near to the extent that it does in games like blackjack.
Article updated on 02/03/2021.
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If you have played baccarat before, then perhaps you are aware of the classical rules of baccarat, where players pay 5 percent commission if they win the banker’s bets. This is because the banker’s hand wins more often than the player’s does. This is how the casino earns its money. However, in EZ baccarat strategy, there is no commission that is paid after winning the banker bets. There is a rule where the banker hand does not win on a three-card total of 7. Instead, the bet pushed and players get their original bets back.
This difference drops the house edge of banker bet to 1.02%. While this may not make a huge difference in the short term, it is worth it over the long run.
EZ baccarat strategy also has an ‘insurance bet’ referred to as the dragon bonus bet. This bet pays the banker 40 to 1 on its rare hand with a total of 7 on the three card. Therefore, instead of pushing the hand, you are paid 40 times your original wager. The payout is definitely amazing, but you need to worry about house edge on such a bet.
To most players, the dragon bonus is not worth it, especially since you will be dealing with a house edge of 7.61%. This means, if the banker hand has three cards and is hitting 7, the payout is just 40 to 1 instead of 43.4 to 1 odds.
What makes the live baccarat worth playing is the 1.02% edge that is on the banker bets. Basically, EZ baccarat has to do more with the banker bet than players’.
Dragon Bonus Baccarat Strategy Tactics
Apart from the little difference, EZ is still the ordinary baccarat. The hand that wins is the one that gets closer to a total of 9.
In addition to that, the mode of drawing cards remains the same. Both the banker and player stands on totals of 9 or 8 and hits 5 and less. Players stand on 6 or 7. If player stands, the banker hits 5 or less.
Generally, just like in most side bets, the house edge in EZ baccarat strategy is bigger than that of the main game.