Hi Everyone,

I am currently living in Macau and love to play and watch live baccarat. I read here about baccarat tournaments but have never seen or played in one. I was wondering if someone could describe the structure and payouts of a baccarat tournament.

How does somebody win? Do they play until only one player has chips left, or is it over after a set period of time or number of hands? What portion of players usually get paid?

I'm also interested to know your strategies since you're competing against other players. If I manage to get a chip lead, why not slow my betting down or simply match the bets of a player trying to catch me? That way he can never catch up - either we both win or we both lose the hand, right?

Finally, where's the best online site I can play a cheap baccarat tournament just to get some experience?

Thanks!

Stanford Wong's "Casino Tournament Strategy" book has the proper strategies for all kinds of tournaments including baccarat. It is the tournament bible for all pro players. It was published about 12 years ago and you can pick up a used copy on Half.com for about $10.

Overall, even though someone has to win a tournament, the player must over come both the other players, and a "pre-paid" commission (for winning or LOSING with PLAYER or banker -bets) just to enter... instead of beating only the usual commission.

More like a lottery, if you ask me.

From my 3 times playing tournament, I've learned that each casino will have a different set of rules relating to the number of elimation rounds, and payout structure. The basic structure is as such: At sign up you draw for your schedule time, table #, and seat #. Everyone starts with the same amount of chip. Everyone take turns making the first bet with the bet on hand #1 to start with seat #1. After seat #1 bet then seat #2 bet, then #3, etc...

Hand #2 seat #2 will bet first, the seat #3, #4, etc...

Typically they play 20 to 25 hands depending on casino. Before the last hand is played, they stop the game and collect the commission and tally up all contestants chip and announce the total to everyone on the table. At that point you will know where you are at the ranking of the chip. The last hand is and the winner(s) with the highest chip move up to the next level of elimination rounds. Depending on how many people enter the tournament, they pick either 1 or 2 highest chip contestant to move up.

Since the object is to be the chip leader, your betting selection and money management will have to take that into consideration.

The last hand is usually a "secret" bet or "public" bet (same as previous bet). The secret bet is a bet that you write a slip of paper provided and other players will not know. The hand/$ is revealed once everyone submitted their secret bet. The public bet is the same as all the previous hand.

Your next round will start over with the same amount of chip as everyone.

In same casino, the elimination is based on the whole round and not by the table. They select the contestants from the pool of players per round (MGM). Others are eliminated by table (Mandalay Bay, Bellagio, & Mirage).
Typically the casinos that have table elimination use "secret" bet on the last hand.

There is also a difference with Big Bac tournament and Mini. Big Bac allows the first 5 or so hands as free and you don't have to bet. Mini you will have to bet on hand 1. Big Bac will allow the highest better to open the cards. Mini, the dealer opens the card.

You need to take these differences into your strategy consideration. So far, I've played 3 tournament and the highest I've got is the Semi Final where I was the chip leader but lost the "secret" bet to the lowest chip holder who bet the unlikely outcome and it came.

Hope this bits help.

This is just my simple STRATEGY but it Really works!..

Im just 22 years old, no job, no work =)

But i Go to Casino everyday, just to get 2,000 Pesos(Philippine Money) or 40-50 dollars per day.. a small amount right? but can you imagine that in just 1 month its 1,200 dollars.. Sorry for my grammar(I HOPE YOU STILL UNDERSTAND) =) It is really really possible that you can get 40 dollars per day if you have atleast 400 dollars. cause in just 2 consecutive wins you'll get the 40 dollars, it is possible right? based on your own experiences,i know you know that it is possible to get that 40 dollars. Once I get the target(40 dollars), I get out of the casino as soon as possible,YOU MUST have a SELF CONTROL, and I'll come back another day to get a 40 dollars again..REMEMBER in 1month it's $1,200. But if you expect to DOUBLE YOU MONEY IN JUST ONE NIGHT, HELL THATS a NO NO! its a 50\50 situation.. =(

This what I always did

My money is 20,000 Pesos or $400
I only bet 40 dollars that is my maximum and that is also my minimum bet.lol even if you loose 3 concecutive bets, you still have to stick to your plan, like what i always did just 40 dollars BET!have PATIENCE!


I hope you get my Point =) that's what i am doing everyday.IM NOT SAYING THAT YOU BET 40 dollars like what i DID.(ITS JUST AN EXAMPLE) The strategy works, because my TARGET is not as BIG like everybody always did. my TARGET IS A SMALL AMOUNT ONLY BUT IT IS SURE THAT YOU WILL GO HOME WINNING THE GAME. Remember in 1 month it's $1,200

Im George NO JOB, NO WORK. But this is my Business

earning 1,200 per month =)